252.9km +14,317m -13,194m
On the insanity that is Hammock Camping:
The hammock itself is a single layer gathered-end from Dream Hammock; my second one from the company and I highly recommend them. The infinite customisation they offer can be daunting for the newbie, and they’re not the cheapest, but in my opinion well worth it. Their fit and finish is without equal.
To scrimp on weight, mine is 10ft long, which is about as short as you’d ever want to go for someone of my 176cm and 80kg.
Mine has a bug net with zips on both sides, an organiser hanging from the ridgeline, and a peak shelf made of netting for chucking clothes in.
Hammocks need insulation underneath in all but the hottest weather. You can get by with chucking a sleeping mat in there to start with, but it’s not ideal. An underquilt snugs up underneath and keeps you toasty. I made my down underquilt and top quilt myself from reclaimed high quality down.
The hammock hangs from the trees by a pair of tree straps. There are a few options when it comes to rigging, but you want 1” straps or wider where you wrap around the trees, partly to stop them from rolling down, but mostly to avoid hurting the tree’s cambium layer. I’m using titanium clips and buckles from Dutchware Gear, because I’m a sucker for bling. A spare strap is good to have in case of failure, and I’ve used it twice so far this trip to extend my reach around extra-big trees.
Here’s my MYOG (make your own gear) tarp laid out on top of the Warbonnet Thunderfly I’ve been using (and on which mine is modelled).
Because the little doors at the ends enclose the ends of the hammock, it’s my belief that you can get away with a much shorter tarp than if you were using the standard “hex” tarp. I chickened out on using the one I made for the last section, but the unwieldy size and absorbent properties of the Thunderfly have convinced me to give it a go. The ability of my shorter tarp to fit between narrower tree spacing also opens more opportunities for places to pitch.
I’ve also been annoyed at the fiddly guy lines I’ve been using. So far they’ve been separate and used a Dutch Hookworm to tie off. Instead I’ve attached them to the tarp corners using a tautline hitch. The slippery dyneema line needed five wraps to get a decent hold going. I’ve used a similar setup before and it should prove much less fiddly.
Another huge dinner (I ordered two meals, actually) at The General to cram as many calories as possible down my craw, and there’s nothing left to do but wait for morning and start walking again.
The food at The General has been absolutely phenomenal, and Emily the lodge manager at Marouka Lodge has been extremely friendly and helpful. Marouka plays host to many AAWT hikers, as well as those doing shorter hikes in the region over the summer months. It would be very easy to get comfortable here.
