[at-l] Hammock Setup

[janl2@mindspring.com (Jan Leitschuh)]

David,
Thanks you. This is excellent info, and even knot-challenged I can
understand it. You are a good teacher.
What knot do you use to tie the biner on, or doesn't it matter?
Any thoughts on how to incorporate the Hennessey web tree hugger? To just
clip it through the web loops as someone (who?) suggested leaves the entire
structure vulnerable to slipping down. You can try wrapping twice, but few
trees match that exact dimension.
Sorry to be so thick about this, I am a visual learner. I'm sure in two
seconds I could see all I need to know.

Quoleldil wrote:
> 
> I don't know anything about Hennesy's hammock.
> 
> The simplest hammock has two loose ends, one at the head and the other at the foot, and you tie a
> beener on each end.
> 
> fig. 1:
> 
> beener  foot     hammock     head   beener
> O----------|||||||||||||||||||-----------O
> 
> You now have several choices, depending on how long the tie-off is:
> 
> 1. Pass beener around the tree and clip off on the webbing/rope. This is a slip knot with the rope
> passing through the beener. It won't move on the tree, but the beener can injure the bark as it
> tightens against the tree.
> 
> 2. Pass beener around the tree twice (or more times) and clip off on the webbing/rope. Note: the
> more times around the tree, the harder it is to slip it up or down the tree as needed to create a
> level hanging hammock. With beener tightening against the webbing, less danger to tree.
> 
> 3. Pass beener around the tree twice and clip off where the webbing/rope ties to the hammock. My
> home-made model has a loop already set at the hammock into which I clip the beener. No harm to
> tree. This is my preferred method, though it requires extra webbing/rope.
> 
> This gives you a LOT of choices regarding how far apart the trees: each method uses less or more
> webbing/rope. The object, generally, is to put the hammock in the middle between the two trees to
> make the hammock hang as close to center as possible. The goal is to have the foot and the head
> the same distance from the center of gravity, and this *usually* means the head and foot of the
> hammock are the same distance from each tree. Notice I don't say "from the ground" because I don't
> tie off on level ground, so you can't use the ground as a point of reference. The line between the
> the tie off at each tree should *usually* be level. This means you can shift the tie off at either
> tree up or down as necessary. Each method provides and easy way to losen the loops around the
> trees to allow you to shift the tie off up or down as needed.
> 
> When you get good at it, you shift your focus to the line between the tie-off at the head and the
> foot of the hammock, not at the tree; and finally, the focus shifts to the center of gravity, with
> you in the hammock which is an imaginary sighting since you aren't in the hammock when you hang
> it. You can put a sleeping bag and pad in the hammock while you hang it to help with this
> sighting. When you don't get the center of gravity right, your body shifts during sleep towards
> the head or the foot as the case may be. Make a note of that for the next time you hang your
> hammock and make appropriate adjustments.
> 
> I've hung a hammock from a single branch of a single tree; from the trunk of a tree to a branch
> from the same tree; and between two or more trees/branches. Two trees on level ground is simplest.
> I don't like thick trunks. Best are trunks 6-8 inches circumfrence. Smaller than 6" and you're
> likely to have the tree bend a bit when you get into your hammock. That's when you need to tie off
> that end on more than a single tree. When you tie off an end on more than one tree, the second or
> third tree is used to provide support to the first and you sight from the first tree. The hammock
> swings from the first tree.
> 
> Always make certain your tree is alive and well. DO NOT TIE OFF TO A DEAD TREE OR BRANCH. In the
> night you cannot always judge the health of the tree, even with a photon light. If there's any
> question, hang the hammock closer to the ground than usual and make sure you have a soft spot of
> ground on which to fall, should either of your tie offs or trees fail.
> 
> Branch hanging in a single tree produces the nicest swaying motion in the wind.
> Next best is with smaller trees at both ends.
> 
> Any tarp/hammock that requires three or more tie offs reduces the swaying and pleasure potential.
> Tying the tarp to the hammock, instead of the trees, eliminates this problem. My best sleeps are
> in hammock/tarp combos where the tarp is a poncho and ties off at the head and foot of the
> hammock. Velcro keeps the untied corners of the poncho together beneath the hammock.
> 
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