jakewalczak

My roommate and I live in Grand Rapids MI. We are looking to go in the 3rd weekend of July on an epic camping trip around MI. We don't mind the distance we would have to bike and we can pack light, we just don't know where to go.

We have army style hammocks to sleep in so we wouldn't need a campsite per say- only would need at least 3 trees to set up the hammocks.

Were pretty adventurous, but sort of want to have places planned out where we are going to sleep so we don't get screwed.

Has anyone gone on a camping trip like this before? Know of any tips, websites, or wisdom from personal experiences?

Thanks

masiman

You'd probably be better off with a tent since you can't guarantee trees with enough size and the right distance apart.Sleeping under a lean-to with a sleeping bag and a pad is pretty light and will cover almost anything. Food, tools and repair items are about all else you need. You could drop the sleeping bags and just bring warm clothes with a space blanket for emergencies.

I tried going without a tent once. Lucky for me and my buddy, our other partners packed tents. We hopped in the second night @2am when a storm rolled across the valley. There is not much worse than feeling like a leech on a week long hike. Good times, lol.

seagullplayer

Get a map of MI state parks and start planning!

Just planning a ride along the lake sounds cool to me.

arej00dazed

friends of mine goes to the smokeys all the time w/o tents. in fact this last time they used camping hammocks, extra rope and tarps to block wind. look for biking/back packing trails. you generally hike for around 10+ aday, set up camp at selected spots then pack up and head out the next morning. unless u plan to eat granola bars the whole time, you will need a fire. but everytime they went mtn biking, they went to a campground and rode off on trails.

Velo Dog

You can also Google "camping" and the area you want to go--you'll get more information than you can use. Be sure you pick real camping sites, not RV campgrounds (though those are OK if they'll allow you to stay there--they have showers and usually coffee etc).
As far as sleeping, hammocks are fine if you like them, but I don't. You're pretty much locked into one position, and if it's cool (gets into the 30s here even in summer). you've got air circulating under you, which can make you cold. I'd try a night or two before I took off with no tent or pad. I have a backpacking tent that only weighs a couple of pounds--gives a little privacy and keeps the bugs off. Or you can string a tarp either as a lean-to or inverted V. And some kind of pad, like a Thermarest, is worth the money and weight to me (but I'm 64 years old--i slept on the ground a lot until I was about 40)..

arej00dazed

tip for using the hammock, ball up something under your knees! another, if its cold, lay on top of a blanket or something. will help fend off cold. bring tarps and tie them up as wind blockers. as long as you keep a fire goin all night, which isnt that hard, and set up camp right, you'll stay cozy even if its 30deg out. I've done it, friends of mine does it all the time.

I've done the sleeping on the ground thing and you can keep it!