Hammock Camping

I’ve been hammock camping since 2018. The advantages are increased comfort and the flexibility of camping site choices. The disadvantages are the time it takes setting up and breaking down camp, and once I am in my hammock it is so comfy and cosy I don’t want to get out!

Journal: Hercules Glades in the snow, January 2025. A forecast winter storm in Southwest Missouri on January 9 and 10 was just what was needed to let me get some time out when the trail conditions would be a bit more challenging. 15-minute read, +44

Camped in the snow above ‘Twin Falls Hollow.’ I set my tarp in ‘Porch mode’ as there was no more snowfall forecast. Oops. I forgot about all the loose snow falling off of the branches above!

Camped in the snow above ‘Twin Falls Hollow.’

A snowy view from my hammock.

Camped in the snow above ‘Twin Falls Hollow’ — I did ponder the potential downsides (or should that be downslides?) of camping on the side of a steep ravine. And I ignored them. I survived.

Camped in the snow above ‘Twin Falls Hollow’ — I did ponder the potential dowsides (or should that be downslides?) of camping on the side of a steep ravine. And I ignored them. I survived.

First Breakfast (in the hammock). Yes, I am taking a page from the Hobbits’ playbook and having a first and second breakfast! One-minute read, +2

Gary camped here. There was a fair buildup of snow around the edge of the tarp from where the snow kept sliding off.

Hammock camping in the snow, January 2025. The ‘doors’ on my bad weather tarp help keep the weather out and the warmth in. I could have set the tarp closer to the ground, but I prefer more standing room.

Hammock camping in the snow, January 2025.

Hammock camping in the snow, January 2025.

Wintery view from my hammock.

Hammock camping in the snow. 7:20 a.m. and it’s been snowing for around nine hours. I was nice and cozy in my hammock.

Breakfast treat, a Pop-Tart.

View from my hammock. The Berryman Trail, December 2024.

Day Four — Making breakfast. It was quite cold last night — 36 Degrees — and it’s pretty damp, too, so it feels colder than it is. A Pop-Tart, ginger and orange tea, with biscuits and gravy will soon warm things up.

Camped at sunset. The colors were glorious.

Camped at sunset. The colors were glorious.

Trail-side pretties. Unfortunately, my cell phone camera couldn’t do it justice. One-minute read.

Packing up camp. After a breakfast of biscuits and gravy and a cup of Ginger and Orange tea, I packed up camp and was back on my way just before eleven-thirty. It felt cold, with a brisk wind and damp air.

A tiny bit of sunshine.

Day Three — Planning the day’s hike. It was a wet and misty morning. Last night, six hours of rain fell, which bodes well for water availability on the trail.

Day Two, breaking camp. Do I return to the trailhead or carry on? Two-minute read.

Day Four — Misty, damp morning. I was planning on spending the night at Fiddler Spring, but there was a hunting camp set up there (no one was at home). I grabbed three liters of water from the much slower than usual spring and decided I’d head away from the hunters to this established primitive campsite around three quarters of a mile away.

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