BP watercolor (up at start of session)

C Names/Councils (slide 3)

C Ben Franklin quote (slide 4)

J Jeff introduces self (slides 5-9)

C Charlie introduces self (10-12)

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C End of slide 12 Charlie asks

“What kind of science do we have

about the impacts of hammock use?”

​

J Jeff explains the current science on this

(slides 13-21)

​

C Charlie discusses hammock hang structures

(slides 22-29)

​

C Charlie introduces questions about hammock safety

(slide 30)

​

CJ Charlie and Jeff discuss safety questions and

BSA hammock safety guidelines (slides 30-32)

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C Charlie introduces general questions slide (slide 33)

​

CJ Charlie and Jeff discuss general questions and

segue into Q&A for remaining time

​

BP watercolor (up at end of session)

Introduction

Understanding

hammock

impact

solutions

This slide for planning only, not part of the show!

Hammock

science

General

hammock

questions

Jeff Marion Blue Ridge Mountains Council

​

Charlie Thorpe Greater Alabama Council

​

With contributions from fellow Scouting hammock hangers:

​

Dan Deakin Nevada Area Council

​

Ralph Oborn Gand Teton Council

We must, indeed, all hang together

or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.

Benjamin Franklin

“No Trace” Camping

Jeff Marion

Typical A.T. campsite while section-hiking

Hammocks are great for dispersed pristine site camping

My Venture Crew youth

BSA National Scout Jamborees

2005

2010

2013

2017

VenturingFest

2018

World Scout Jamborees

2019 - USA

(Summit)

2015 - Japan

2011 - Sweden

2007 - England

What kinds of questions

come up as we think about

using hammocks?

Questions?

Tree damage always comes up

Dispersed Pristine Site Camping

Use Pristine Sites in

Low Use Areas

Disperse activities

Avoid permanent disturbance

Camp on the most resistant surfaces available that show no signs of previous camping use. Disperse away from popular locations, trails, campsites, and at least 200 ft from water.

Dispersed Pristine Site Camping Guidance

• Choose a durable spot (rock, deep shade with few plants, or sunny/grassy) out-of-sight from trails and campsites with NO prior evidence of human use.
• Avoid all lasting disturbance while camping.
• Before departing naturalize the spot so that others will not find or reuse it.

Hammock Strap Tree Impact

​

Is this really a problem?

Hammock Strap Tree Impact Study

Study done by Venture Crew youth Shayla Utzinger for an AP High School research class.

• Tested paracord (.16”), 1”, and 2” Eno straps.
• Tested a tight hang (20^o) and a loose hang (47^o).
• For an avg U.S. male of 198 lbs the force exerted on a tree from the loose hang is 135 lbs and from a tight hang is 298 lbs (i.e., more than double!).
• Trials found inconsistent results using a hammock on trees due to straps sliding, folding, or angling into the high-density foam selected to mimic tree bark. A vertical arrangement was therefore used.
• Depth of indentation into the foam was measured with a caliper in millimeters for each foam block.
• I served as Shayla’s scientific advisor for this study. She is now a Freshman Engineering student at the University of Virginia.

​

​

Hammock Strap Tree Impact Study

Foam Indentation (mm)

Taut Paracord

Loose Paracord

Taut 1” Strap

Loose 1” Strap

Taut 2” Strap

Loose 2” Strap

Foam Axis

Hammock Strap Tree Impact Study

Results and LNT Implications

• Paracord or rope should not be used for hammocks.
• One-inch straps are acceptable, but 2-inch straps are best at distributing the weight.
• A tight hang substantially increases (291%) the force that a hammock places on trees compared to a loose hang. A hang angle of 30^o is optimal.
• Choose trees ≥6” diameter, preferably w/hard bark and no lichen.
• Protect soft bark with 8 inch sticks under the webbing on the sides and back of the trees.

On campsites:

• Select well-established legal campsites away from formal trails and other campsites.
• When possible, stay within campsite boundaries or use another campsite. Setting up outside campsite boundaries risks creating new campsites or enlarging campsites.
• Place hammocks over barren spots that are least suitable for tenting.

Leave No Trace Tips for Hammock Campers

Dispersed “Pristine Site” Camping:

• Search for areas with durable surfaces like rock, grass, or non-vegetated leaf litter that’s far from campsites and more than 200 feet from trails and water. Use remote spots that are unlikely to be found and reused by others, preferably in sloping/uneven terrain.
• Forgo campfires, cook/eat on the most durable surface available.
• Disperse your traffic; avoid stepping on plants or moving branches and logs.
• Before leaving, naturalize the site to leave no evidence of your visit.

Leave No Trace Tips for Hammock Campers

Appalachian Trail Hammock Impact Assessment

Class 1: No visible damage to tree bark that can be attributed to hammock use.

Class 2: Minor damage consisting of a few flaked patches of bark or minor bark compression.

Class 3: Intermediate damage consisting of missing and broken pieces of bark and visually obvious compression of bark.

Class 4: Substantial damage consisting of substantial loss or damage to bark and/or wear and severe compression of bark.

• Hammock use along the A.T. is increasing (10-15% of thru-hikers).
• Assessed hammock-associated impacts to all campsites and adjacent off-site areas in the southern third of the A.T. in 2016.
• Only 13 occurrences of “minor” visible hammock-associated damage were documented among 362 campsites.

Not using trees?

(How about lightweight trekking or tent poles?)

Hang at 30° gives us

200 lbs tension on each strap

45°

173 lbs vertical

173 lbs horizontal

​

244 lbs tension on the stake!!

Using a bipod at one end might be strong enough - the stake is the weak link!

173 lb horizontal

Stake

200 lb

Not using trees?�(How about posts, pipes, columns, etc.?)

200 lb person

30 °

30 °

200 lb

200 lb

Not using trees?�(How about posts, pipes, columns, etc.?)

Posts must either be strong and deep in the ground

or

use a top ridge pole to help handle the loads

200 lb person

30 °

30 °

200 lb

200 lb

BTW, why

the ridge line?

30°

30°

45°

45°

60°

60°

200 lb person

200 lb person

200 lb person

200 lb

200 lb

Sag in the Hang is Good!

141 lb

141 lb

115 lb

115 lb

Without the ridge line!

30°

30°

45°

45°

60°

60°

200 lb person

200 lb person

200 lb person

200 lb

200 lb

141 lb

141 lb

115 lb

115 lb

Some Safety Questions

​

Could the trees fall over?

​

Can a strong wind be a problem?

​

What if the trees are lightening rods?

​

What about overhead limbs falling down?

​

Do you have to clear away the sharp stuff underneath?

​

Can you hang over soggy ground or water?

​

Do you become a burrito for the bears?

SUMMARY

Camping in hammocks has gained in popularity over the past 10 years. More camping equipment manufacturers are offering hammock-style tents as a way of reducing the “footprint” on the camping area. This is helpful from a Leave No Trace standpoint. However, hammocks are not without their risks.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following hammock safety points should be taken into consideration:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maximum and minimum hanging distances (the distances between solid supports such as trees).
• Hang hammocks in secure locations, such as to trees or solid posts. Never attach a hammock to any object that could move, such as vehicle bumpers or trailers.
• Securely fasten and check all knots prior to getting into a hammock.
• Never “stack” hammocks one above another.
• Hammocks should not be hung such that the lowest point is more than 3 feet above the ground. Severe injuries have resulted from elevated falls.
• Do not hang a hammock above water, including at a waterfront, lake, river, or stream.
• Never swing or stand in a hammock. Falls from hammocks can cause serious or fatal injuries.
• Do not use a hammock that has frayed or damaged ropes. Use only the manufacturer’s replacement ropes.
• Do not put more weight into a hammock than recommended by the manufacturer.
• Small children should be supervised when using a hammock.

​

If you are using solid, living trees, special care should be taken not to damage the outer bark. Some hammock-tents have wide bands for securing them around living trees. These bands of material help to spread out the stress of the hammock-tent.

https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/hammock-camping/

• Never “stack” hammocks one above another.
• Hammocks should not be hung such that the lowest point is more than 3 feet above the ground….
• Do not hang a hammock above water….

Some of these BSA hammock safety guidelines

are definitely worth repeating -

Some General Questions

Do you have to sleep like a banana?

​

What about the rumors that you sleep cold?

​

How do you get privacy for changing clothes?

​

Do you take your boots and pack inside the hammock?

​

What if the right kinds of trees aren’t available?

​

Isn’t hammock camping too expensive?

​

Can you double in a hammock?

We use the discussion on the general questions

(and any additional questions which might come up)

to fill the remaining time for our session.

​

We end with an invitation to join us at the hammocks set up outside

to do their homework by trying them out!

This slide for planning only, not part of the show!

Our House in the Woods 2023?