Iam planning a thru hike for the end of summer 2012. I was wondering if there are enough areas with trees to be able to use a 3 season hammock? Can be use as a tent if need be.
Shamrock
Hammocks - The Colorado Trail
system
#2
No problems except for 1-2 nights in the San Juans which will be above timberline. You could rig it up as a tent on those nights.
bearcreek
system
#3
Agreed, for most of the trail there’s no shortage of trees, and you just need to improvise for a couple of nights (cowboy camping is probably the easiest option). However, having used both a hammock and a tent for a number of years, I’d advise you to bring sufficient insulation for your hammock, as I awoke to frost on three mornings last August and I also had a couple of nights that were rather windy. Since I was using my tent, none of this was a real problem for me, but I most certainly would have frozen my butt off in my hammock.
Loup
system
#4
I used my hammock on the CT this year and brought my ground pad for insulation. Some peeps are starting to bring an under quilt instead of a ground pad. Either way you will need insulation as the wind goes right through your hammock and sleeping bag.
Pacemaker
system
#5
I hiked the trail last summer with my Black Bird and a Neo Air and had no problems with just a little daily planning. In fact I feel that the hammock allowed for more options for stopping for the night. However I was hiking with ground dwellers and had to find a spot suitable for them. One night I climbed up a six foot snow drift and hung about ten feet up in the trees. If I were to do the trail again which I am pondering I would bring the hammock again.
Wolf