Tent or Hennessy Hammock?
 

I am headed to the Great Allegheny Passage in 9 days and I can't decide whether to take a tent or my Hennessy Hammock.

I typically sleep better in the hammock and can take a lighter sleeping pad (for insulation only) but I don't really know what to expect from the campgrounds along the GAP trail. Are they mostly open and grassy or are there plenty of trees from which to hang a hammock?

I've been thinking about buying a hammock but only for short weekend trips where ill be camping in the state forests where there are plenty of trees. Hammocks being lighter, whats the point of hauling heavy tent gear out for a short trip.

I guess it boils down to how long you'll be gone, if you're gone for a lenthy peroid of time id say bring the tent because who knows when you won't have trees to sling your hammock from. If you're gone for just a few days call the campsites you'll be at and just ask em i suppose. I'm unfamilliar with the GAP but hope to tour it some day, looks great. Have a fun trip!

I took both, a very light tent and a hammock, because I often had areas where one or the other was essential. Forested steep areas where the hammock was necesarry, but also campgrounds where a hammock would have been awkward. More recently I had a problem where my neck froze, it has never happened heretofore. Nothing to do with a hammock, other than it happened when sleeping in a sagging bed. My doc said it was due to an inability to roll around due to the sag. I don't know what to do with the hammock now. Can't end up with a seized neck...

I've done the Gap twice and hanging a hammock would not be problem without having to become too creative. Both tent and hammock have their pluses and minuses so as one fine fellow stated here before, think of them as different tools.

Check out http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCamping.html . Better work backwards from your actual planned stops, then choose the solution.

Not sure what would work better for you, but here is a link of someone that road that and does discuss sleeping. Might be some help.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...c_id=5763&v=6M

Well, that's kind of the problem; I don't really have planned stops. I have the campgrounds marked but since I have never done this particular trail, I don't know what to expect.

The Boy Scout in me wants to be prepared and take a tent so that if it rains, I can bring panniers, etc. inside with me. The free spirit in me wants to travel light and improvise as needed.

I thought I had ruled out the hammock but after reading robow's comment, I'm conflicted. I definitely don't want to take both a tent AND a hammock. Hmmm...more contemplation required.

I wouldn't carry both. The area you will be traveling is mostly forested so I can't imagine having much trouble hanging the hammock. WRT, bringing panniers in at night if it rains... I personally don't see any advantage to that. Mine stay on the bike for the duration of most trips. Stuff needed for sleeping, clothes for the morning, and my handlebar bag are the extent of what comes inside for me.

I am not a hammock kind of guy though, other than that I did lust after the ultralight (12 ounce?) one some other campers had in Camp 4 in Yosemite for lounging during the day. I didn't miss the 12 ounces when climbing Tioga Pass the next day though :)

Wildergeek, if you do decide on a hammock, you can always store your panniers beneath you and under your tarp. (I'm assuming you will be using a secondary tarp.) But again, I'm like staehpj1, I rarely take my panniers off the bike at night. Hammockforums.net is a great place to hang out (pardon the pun) and I'm sure you can glean much information there. Also if you do a search on this forum, you will find this topic has come been spoken about in depth in the past.

Eh, I guess this is where my backpacking habits overlap onto cycling. I assumed I would be hanging my panniers to keep them away from critters.