Firsts | Backpacking and Hammocks

I was typing a post over at the Hammock Forums when I started to get lost in nostalgia. It was my first official backpacking trip out in the Mojave Desert and my pack was 60+ pounds… OUCH!

Scene from the top of "Sawtooth"

The place was known to us as “Sawtooth”, because of all the jagged rocks. I somewhat grew up out in the Mojave Desert and this place was our equivalent of “Being out there”.  You had to scramble up Boulder mountains similar to Joshua Tree, CA but much bigger mountains and more jagged.

I love the outdoors (20 years of Land Surveying probably helped that). I loaded my first pack late in my life…1992. I had an external frame pack loaded to some astronomical proportion, making me wish I had astronomical propulsion… I think it was like 60 pounds or so. I headed out through the Mojave Desert to climb the mountains at Sawtooth, as we called it. This place was in between Barstow, CA and Big Bear, CA. Despite the weight, I was hooked on the wild freedom of bushwacking where no man has been.

First Backpacking Camp

I climbed until I finally found a flat ledge that fit my tent and a 3 foot area for a fire. It was perfect. I set up camp, made a fire and enjoyed the evening. After going to bed, I was rudely awakened by a wind storm…not uncommon in the desert. What was so alarming about this was that the wind was blowing so hard on my cheep-o, two-man, Costco tent that the wall had me smashed against the opposite wall. I tried my best to push and hold that wall back, but eventually the heavy fiberglass poles snapped. I had to pack up and walk out of there by the light of my little REI candle lantern…but I digress.

Not sure how I found out about hammock camping, but I did and I bought a Hennessy Backpacker Ultralight A-Sym. Not knowing what to expect, as I had never really been in a hammock before, I decided to try it out while car camping with the family.

We camp a whole lot and I always wake up a million times through the night with sore shoulders. I brought the hammock on one of our trips and tried it out. I was amazed at how comfortable it was. I decided I would never sleep on the ground again.

First Hammock Camp

I have used the hammock since 2008 and have got my son into it as well. I have also decided there are some things about the HH I really don’t like and am gearin’ up to hop into the DIY’er arena to make what I want (removable netting, simpler suspension and a top entry).

I never realized there where that many hangers or the cottage industry until I found the Hammock Forums. That is one place FULL of useful info. I have also noticed, or so it appears, that the majority of people on there are East coasters… or at least people from THAT side of the Rockies.

I am looking forward to getting others hooked on “hanging” in the woods as well as hooking up with some PacWest hangers for events & etc.

Hammocking in the Waldo Lake Wilderness…