Hammocks are prime examples of a minimum-impact shelter. They require no floor leveling, trenching or staking. When used with a tree-friendly suspension system, hammocks don’t alter the pure surroundings. And the smaller your tenting footprint, the much less doubtless you might be to affect crops or wildlife.
Our associates at ENO and Go away No Hint share the following pointers for hammock-camping the precise means:
Tip #1: Use “tree saver” straps. These extensive nylon/polyester webbing straps go across the tree to reduce girdling and harm to the bark and cambium layer, which might trigger wood-tissue loss of life. By no means use something made out of a non-tree-friendly materials, equivalent to plastic zip cords. By no means hammer or screw something into bushes.
Tip #2: Arrange hammock camp at the least 200 ft from any water supply. These riparian areas present distinctive plant habitats and communities and are important in soil stabilization.
Tip #three: Search for an established (pre-existing) campsite to arrange your hammock. Per Go away No Hint ideas: “Good campsites are discovered, not made. Altering a web site is just not mandatory.” Giant hammocking teams ought to cut up into smaller teams to forestall pointless disturbance. Go away No Hint advises: “Maintain campsites small. Focus exercise in areas the place vegetation is absent.”
Tip #four: Don’t grasp your hammock from useless bushes. You may injured your self and alter the world round you if the tree had been to fall or break. Even when your chosen bushes look alive, examine above you for useless branches and/or fruit that would fall.
Tip #5: Test with native land managers to be certain that the world permits hammocks.
Tip #6: If you discover 2 good hammocking bushes (thick trunks, alive, little or no floor cowl between them), rigorously examine for delicate vegetation (particularly very important at increased elevations), wildlife habitat and hazards equivalent to insect nests or toxic crops. Keep away from stepping on roots and lichen, and decrease transporting non-native species by cleansing sneakers between journeys.
Tip #7: Cling your hammock so it is not more than 18” off the bottom to forestall accidents and to keep away from harm to increased branches and leaves. Use the thickest a part of the tree trunk and keep away from bushes that bend or are present in moist areas (moist soils are extra prone to affect than dry floor).
Tip #eight: Take down your hammock everytime you depart your campsite. This prevents animals or babies from getting tousled in it.
Tip #9: When your journey is ending, pack all the pieces up and examine your campsite and surrounding space for something left behind. Make sure all trash is packed up and brought with you. Go away the spot simply the best way you discovered it.