Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything.
Charles Kuralt (1934 – 1997)
Having heard a picture is worth a thousand of these wee rascals that have to be typed and spellchecked, what follows is an array of places and situations where I have set up a “sling.” I admit to always seeking out a spot to set up, even when I do not have a hammock with me – a somewhat rare occurrence. Trees, fences, signposts, and solar array supports, increasingly common in California parking lots, are all fair game.
It’s great to be out and about, while still bringing so much comfort with me. While waiting anywhere, I need a book, but even then my patience has a definite limit. Let me set up a hammock, and I am perfectly content to spend the afternoon. Maybe even the evening.
While the IDEAL distance for most hammock connections is about ten feet or six of my paces, with my Prius and a two by four brace, almost anyplace can provide comfort!
Above is a car sling just out the back of a hotel. A sunshade provided additional comfort. I always prefer to tie up to non-trees in these situations, as no one could accuse me of damaging branches or trees. I was once accused of “stressing the guests” by a hotel clerk who – eventually – determined I was not a threat, or a vagabond, but actually a registered guest who just wanted to be out in the fresh air.
Sports Spectating
Above is a 360 degree shot of the car sling, with a fence for the other support. I was watching my son play softball. The caption is linked to the actual 360 photo.
This is clearly a tree sling, but unique in that it is using just one branch. I am using my “Homers,” foam doughnuts with duct tape hides around one inch webbing. This time, it was soccer! And for the record, it was lunchtime. What an amazing branch.
Then there is the track, field, and hammock event. Also for the record, I am glad to hop out and run a stopwatch as needed.
Taking to the Wilds
Ah, the babble of a cool Connecticut river (the Mount Hope), making just enough noise to drown out the drone of mosquitoes (sometimes). I do have a mosquito net designed to totally enclose the hammock environment. This particular spot so delighted me, I spent the night there. The river was actually flowing directly beneath the hammock. Where did I put that old fishing rod?
Woodland slings I have known, at Lake Tahoe (above) and Monterey (below). The Tahoe scene has a cooler bag (with West Virginia U. logo), filled with chilled beverages, just within reach of the reclining wood nymph.
A Nautical Tradition
Twice now, I have taken European river cruises with hammock – and sought permission to sling out on deck. The first Captain asked me why, and accepted my “soothes the back” reasoning. The second Captain called a meeting, with his First Mate and his Safety Officer, to evaluate and inspect my intentions. They checked it out, conferred, and swiftly granted permission. A lovely way to enjoy passing scenery.
Below is another view on board the other ship, with a great example of the overhead line, loaded with water, spectacles, and a good book. The remains of a glass of wine and a tablet within reach complete the scene. This is one of my favorite photos with, I believe, Cologne in the background. My wife snuck up on me during a delightful nap.
Chilling in the Mountains
Hammocking in winter involves a bit more preparation. My father has a belief about snow. His opinion is that God put it there, and she can take it away. I prefer to cross-country ski on it.
For a few years, I have been an Ookpik Instructor for the Boy Scouts. We teach adult leaders how to safely camp with the troop in the winter. This photo shows the Silnylon hammock tarp my wife helped me create, with turnbuckles at each end to transfer the weight from the tree down to the hammock, and still keep the rain out. I have another tarp wrapped around from below to keep some of the breeze out – the “Taco Tent.”
Here is what it looks like on the inside:
Below is a close-up of the suspension system showing the turnbuckles that take the weight of the hammock up through the silnylon tarp to the straps and trees. There are grommets in the silnylon, reinforced with a wide webbing strap, and I’ve placed a rubber washer and a large flat washer on either side to make sure no water leaks into the hammock area. The green cord is just a convenient place to clip stuff sacks and other items at each end of the shelter, off of the snow.
The only issue I have with the turnbuckles is weight. If anyone knows about a chunk of hardware in which two rings are connected by a screw thread (a metal figure eight that screws together?) I would be delighted to know about it. Perhaps some sailing rig? I actually purchased a set of swivels, which are great in preventing twisted hammock ends but do NOT screw together, so could never be run through a grommet.
I’ve assembled a bit more information on winter camping over here.
My lovely niece has figured out a way to keep the hammock warm. Actually, Eskimos discovered this many years ago, and when it got really cold, they called it a three dog night. Yes there was a band. She likes slinging out with a good friend; perfect for nap time. This picture was taken in the Red River Gorge in eastern Kentucky.
She definitely deserves extra points for sunscreen accessibility.
The Great Backyard
There is no place like home. Here are a couple of shots of the backyard sling, one a panoramic view from deep inside the curve. Note my beer cap collection lining the ground, an attempt to channel Bottlecap Alley from my student days at Texas A&M (Gig ’em, Aggies!) The tarp is like a stage curtain, raised or lowered with pulleys.
The view from inside, showing the speakers, fan, and infrastructure. Yes, the news was on display.
Going Treeless
I have developed two “treeless” hammock stands.
The first “treeless” stand I came up with (below) used two sections of conduit, with four big stakes at each corner. Webbing ties it all together. Here we were up on Mount Diablo, the local peak. The lower photo shows a hybrid setup with Subaru and pole, rigged on a treeless hillside at Laguna Seca Raceway. These rigs are quite stable, but stubbing a toe on the big stakes is a bad mistake.
Another treeless stand started out as a hammock stand for a small and wimpy hammock – with (shudder) spreader bars. I extended the ends with two long pieces of metal conduit, and while a bit wobbly, it works and does not involve heavy stakes. I do think some cords out to small stakes at each side would reduce its tendency to tip.
Finally an obligatory scene or two from Hawai’i.
Mi Mayan Hamaca 