[pct-l] Bears and Hammocks

[Bob]

Last summer, as we were hiking several weeks on the southern AT, we ran into
an older hiker who was a carpenter with a long flowing beard. Neat guy...
salt of the earth.  He said he sleeps in a hammock on the trail and that one
night the week before he had been awakened by the feeling and smell of hot
breath on his neck and face. He slowly turned his head and was looking into
the face of a young black bear, who couldn't figure out just what he was,
hanging there in a hammock.  The man said he didn't move a muscle.  Then the
bear lifted a paw and started to gently push on the hammock. The man placed
his palm against the bear's and gently pushed back.  After a second, the
bear repeated the gentle push and the man gently pushed the paw back.  They
had just see-sawed back and forth, without losing contact. When the bear
pushed a third time, the man pushed back much harder and the bear backed up,
looked at him, turned and just ambled away. The old carpenter said that it
was the finest experience he had ever had in the outdoors... almost
spiritual.

Dr Bob 

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Joël Fisler
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 6:06 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Sleeping in a Hammock

Hi,
I have been traveling a lot using hammocks and love it. No problems  
with the back hurting, no problems with wet grounds, rocky grounds or  
annoying animals on the ground (doesnt help against bears of  
course :-) and since I have this ultralight backpackers hammock I even  
have an integrated moscito net and a rainfly. All that for just 1lb. 
15oz or 860g. So... of course I'd love to take the hammock with me on  
the PCT but I dont know if it makes sense. Especially in the desert  
there wont be any trees to put it on I guess :-) and if its rainy I'd  
have to cook in the rain etc. which is totally uncool... What are your  
opinions on that? Anyone did the PCT with a hammock? Maybe just take  
the hammock until I reach the Sierras and then switch to a small tent?

Greetings from snowy Switzerland
Joël

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