Mapping the Sheltowee

headchangestudio · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject: Question for Sheltowee Wander.

I was looking through your thru hike journal and I noticed that you had a picture of you Hennessy Hammcock.

I am a big time hammock camper and much prefer a hammock over a tent. I was wondering if you used your hammock through the entire thru hike?

I would also like to invite you and any others here who may be interested in hammock camping to check out www.hammockforums.net . This is a new site that is a sister site to White Blaze, forum devoted to hiking the Appalachian Trail. It's basically a collection of hikers who are fanatical about hammock camping. Come check us out.

Congrats on the thru hike.

Very Happy

Boyd · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject:

I never used one, but they look comfortable and maybe warm in winter since you're not on the ground. I prefer carrying the Kiva shelter by Mountain Hardware. No floor, lots of space, and good here in cold weather.

sheltowee wanderer · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:35 am Post subject: Hammocks are the best!

headchangestudio,

Sorry about the extremely long delay! I have not been on here in a while but to answer your question, yes. I can honestly say that i will probably never use a tent again when I am backpacking. I have found hammocks to be especially useful during the winter when hung in the right place.

Do you have a Hennessy Hammcock?

-Jim

headchangestudio · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:20 am Post subject:

Yes I have a Hennessy Hammock Ultralight Backpaker Asym. I will never use a tent if I don't have to. I also have a few homemade hammocks that I use. I make a lot of my own gear like silnylon tarps.

I recently picked up a set or down underquilts so that I can use my hammock in the winter months. I am planning on taking my setup to Mt. Rogers, VA at the end of this month. A group of us hammockers are doing a winter campout. You are welcome to join us (or anyone else who wants to go, no hammock required). It will be a great place to learn about hammocks for those who are curious. Here the info:

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=396

There will also be several hammock campouts in the Red River Gorge this spring. I can keep you guys updated if any are interested.

Here's a couple of pics:

This is my Hennessy Hammock with the down underquilt installed and a DIY top cover that helps to retain heat in cold conditions. Also pictured is a silnylon gear hammock (the gray thing on the side of the hammock) that doubles as a pack cover in the rain and will also hold 1+ gallons of water:

You can also look through my gallery and see a lot of my hammock gear here:
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=27

Jason

headchangestudio · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

Boyd · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info and your rig looks damn comfortable. I would have thought not touching the ground would prevent heat loss...but then few people lay on naked ground. If it's not windy, is it warmer?

I like the silnylon pack cover and water haul. I use a siphon ceramic water filter and if that bag you show can hold 2 gallons of water...that's nice. I use a plastic bag to hang water for filtering, but it looks so cheap. I tried various dromedary bags but they were too big or the filter wouldn't fit.

Mt Rogers is great and guaranteed to be snow I'm sure. I was there in late March and a good 2 feet buried the summit.

headchangestudio · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:54 am Post subject:

I thought you guys might like to see some pics from my Mt. Rogers trip. It was cold but I stayed warm and toasty all weekend.

Mt. Rogers Photo Gallery:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/Winter%20Campout/

Boyd · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:47 am Post subject:

Nice shots. Looks cold...clear days and snowy nights. The mountains!

Did you break one of those wild ponies?