HAMMOCK CAMPING NEWS for February 2003
Here you will find the
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IN THIS ISSUE FROM SPEER
HAMMOCKS Feb 2003
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1----------------------------HAMMOCK
CAMPING NEWS-----------------------------
A. DID YOU MISS THE JANUARY ISSUE?
Some of you may have missed the
January issue of Hammock Camping News when I switched to Yahoo Groups to
distribute the newsletters. I may not
have gotten everyone signed up properly on Yahoo Groups in time to get the
posting of the January issue.
If you got this issue as an
email from Yahoo Groups, then you are signed up OK. I will try again this month to sign up all previous subscribers;
please accept my apologies for any inconvenience. Postings of each newsletter on Yahoo Groups will be left on the
home page for subscribers to view anytime (go to our Yahoo Groups Hammock
Camping News home page). Subscribers
and non-subscribers can view the back issues at the hammockcamping.com web site
given above.
A. NEW BOOK PUBLISHED!
Hammock
Camping: The Complete Guide To Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom by Ed Speer has just been published by Speer
Hammocks. Everyone's initial reaction
has been positive and early sales are off to a good start.
The book is based on Ed's
many years of hammock camping around the world and his experience making and
designing his own hammocks. In addition
to key chapters on How To Stay Warm In A Hammock and How To Make Your Own
Hammock, the book contains numerous entries from Ed's trail journals that show
just how hammocks can be used in actual wilderness settings. The book is well documented with numerous
photos, drawings and tables of information.
For those not inclined to make a hammock, one chapter presents brief
reviews of all the commercially available camping hammocks. Appendices give valuable information on Ed's
hammocking tips, hammock manufactures, The Leave No Trace organization, and web
links to additional hammock information.
This book is sure to be a hit.
Free shipping on all orders from Speer Hammocks before March 1, 2003.
Order online at http://www.HammockCamping.com
or call (828) 724-4444, 9-6 workdays.
B. NEW HAMMOCK CAMPING WEB
SITE
http://www.HammockCamping.com. This site provides
a general exchange of hammock camping news and information. Excerpts from Ed's new book and F-R-E-E
copies of these newsletters are featured here, as well as lots of free hammock
camping tips. The site includes
instructions for ordering Ed's book.
Anyone wishing to post information on this site should contact us at: Ed@SpeerHammocks.com.
C. NEW HAMMOCK
CAMPING-L Discussion Group
Join fellow outdoor
enthusiasts in an open discussion on all aspects of hammock camping. Learn from the experts. Learn before you buy
or make your own. Or help others by
sharing your knowledge. The widespread
use of camping hammocks is the latest development in wilderness travel. Be a part of this exciting phenomenon. The Hammock Camping-L is hosted on Yahoo
Groups and works like other online "lists;" however you do not have
to be a member of Yahoo in order to join.
All you need is a valid email address.
NOTE that subscribers to this free Hammock Camping News e-zine are not
automatically signed up for the bulletin board (you must sign up yourself).
To join, send email to: hammockcamping-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Or sign up online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hammockcamping
D. LAWSON FEATURED IN
ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE!
Chris Lawson, owner of
Lawson Hammock Company of Raleigh, NC, maker of the popular Blue Ridge camping
hammock, is featured in the February issue of Entrepreneur magazine. The story focuses on Chris' successful efforts
to buy the Blue Ridge hammock and bring it to market. The article features a picture of Chris lounging in his hammock.
2-----------------Portable
Camping Hammock Stands ---------------------------------------
Have you been caught short
without suitable trees for your hammock?
Have you ever wished you had a uni-pod stand to use with a single
tree? Proper stands can allow hammock
use in treeless backyards, fields, meadows, campgrounds, and even at the
beach. Such stands can greatly extend
our outdoor and indoor use of hammocks.
There's good news for those
interested in buying a portable stand--there are several to choose from. If you are interested in making your own,
you can find some good ideas from the commercially available crop. While a large variety of permanent or
stationary stands are available, we will consider here only portable stands,
those that can be disassembled for transport or storage and reassembled when
needed. True, these portable stands are
not suitable for backpacking since they are too heavy and bulky, but they do
offer convenient home or car-camping use.
They range from $50 up and include the unique "single post"
stand that serves as a second tree, sturdy 5-piece steel frames, and a hammock
with aluminum frame in a carry bag!
Most hammock manufacturer/retailer web sites feature stands, some of
which qualify as portable--searching Google for "hammock stands' will
locate more than you want. The
following sites offer a good selection.
Check 'em out!
Easy
assembly/disassembly, 1.25" tubular steel, 50 lbs. 15' long
Available
from many online sources ($75-130) Search Google for "Hammock Stands"
http://www.walmart.com Search GARDEN section for hammocks, $60,
seasonable
Many
stands to choose from $90-$500, Stand kit for 4X4 boards $90, Second tree
stands $50-$60
Hanging
gear
Listing
of many hammock stands and online sources
Heavy duty tubular steel $390, easy
assembly/disassembly, w/ wall hanging rack
Portable
hammock w/ Al tubular frame, 10' long, in 17lb carry bag
Good
general purpose hammock site--check out the various articles on hammocks; good
listing of stands
Best of luck and happy
hammocking
Ed "Not To Worry"
Speer
3-----------------------------CAMPING
HAMMOCKS IN USE---------------------------------
A. I've been on the
road most of the past month and haven't had much chance to use my hammock in
the backcountry. However, my winter
battle with cold weather continues as I did sleep out some nights in the back
yard. I've been testing a 3"-thick
down-filled air mattress that works very well--still warm at 10 F (hasn't been
colder yet). Those interested in other
cold-weather hammock systems will find lots of useful information on the
Hammock Camping List, where the current topic is How To Stay Warm. Many hammock users have fashioned their own
insulation, such as bottom blankets and interior pads. Some of these folks are outside right now
testing their setup in the current cold weather. Join the discussions and learn from the 'Polar Bear Hammock
Club.' See above to sign up.
B. The Georgia Ruck 2003 was held the weekend of Jan 18 at Amicalola
Falls State Park, near the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. This is a social gathering of long-distance
hikers and those who want to be. I
demo'ed my hammocks briefly on Saturday and numerous hikers got their first
taste of a really comfortable wilderness bed.
C. The Pennsylvania Ruck 2003 was held the weekend of Jan 25 at
Furnace Grove State Park, near the middle of the Appalachian Trail. This is also a social gathering for
long-distance hikers. I introduced my
Hammock Camping book, which was well received.
Ed "Not To Worry"
Speer
4---------------------------
HAMMOCK CAMPING THOUGHTS-----------------------------
Hammock
campers have hang ups
Never
sleep on the ground again and you can forget about snakes and spiders
You
won't believe it's so comfortable
You'll
love a camping hammock; it's comfort fit for a king!
Take
a hammock on your next wilderness trip and experience the wonder of Nature all
over again!
Both
comfort and warmth are possible in a hammock
Make
your own hammock and be the envy of the wilderness crowd
Take
a hammock instead of a tent;
the
earth and your bones will thank you.
Trail
Wisdom:
You
may leave the trail, but the trail never leaves you
It
ain't about the miles; it's all about the smiles
Drink
before thirst. Eat before hunger. Rest before exhaustion.
If
you aren't there yet, keep walking
Two
paths diverged in the woods; I took the one with white blazes: And that made
all the difference.
5---------------------------HAMMOCK
CAMPING RESOURCES----------------------------
From the book: Hammock Camping: The Complete Guide To
Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom
Camping Hammock
Manufacturers
The following is a list of manufacturers
that make and sell camping hammocks (only secure, comfortable and complete
hammocks with bug net and rain canopy are included).
Speer Hammocks, Inc.
34 Clear
Creek Road
Marion, NC
28752-6407
828-724-4444
Email: info@speerhammocks.com
Hennessy Hammock Co.
637
Southwind Road
Galiano
Island, BC
Canada, V0N
1P0
888-539-2930
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/
Email: info@hennessyhammock.com
Clark Outdoor Products
4637 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
800-468-4635
Email: info@junglehammock.com
Lawson
Hammock Co.
PO Box
12602
Raleigh, NC
27605
919-829-7076
http://www.lawsonhammockco.com/
http://www.tbcinc.com/hammocks/hamindex.html
Crazy Creek Products
PO Box 1050
1401 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068
800-331-0304
Email: chairs@crazycreek.com
Terrelogic, Inc.
477 Brunswick Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada, M5R 2Z6
888-693-7923
Email: mdj@terrelogic.com
Laid Back Designs, Ltd.
Suite 160, Unit 3
304 Stone Road
Guelph, Ontario
Canada N1G 4W4
800-465-7519
http://www.travelsource.com/travelstore/lbd/lbd.html
Email: sammyd@mgl.ca
New Tribe, Inc.
5517 Riverbanks Road
Grants Pass, OR 97527
866-223-3371
541-476-5804
Email: newtribe@cdsnet.net
Four Season Hammocks
1236 Oxborough Lane
Fort Collins, CO 80525
877-282-7145
Email: mrhammock@verinet.com
Siam Hammock
Tawatchai Jaranai (Eff)
80/2 Prachachuen Road 33
Ladyao Jatujak Bangkok 10900 Thailand
+66-1869-8988
Email: f_goodfeeling@yahoo.com
New Online
Resources
The following web links
supplement similar lists in the book Hammock Camping, The Complete Guide to
Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom. See web page http://www.hammockcamping.com/Tips/Tips.htm
for the full lists.
How To Make A Hammock
·
http://www.uniqueprojects.com/projects/hammock/hammock.htm
· http://www.hammocksamerica.com/how_to_make_a_hammock/how_to_make_a_hammock.html
History of Hammocks
·
http://www.hammocksamerica.com/portable_hammock/portable_hammock.html
Camping Hammock Use
·
http://www.hammocksamerica.com/Camping_Hammocks/Camping_Hammocks.html
· http://www.hammocksamerica.com/jungle_hammock/jungle_hammock.html
·
http://hikinghq.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=eb636c936eeab6df3780773543424349&forumid=74 Discussion Forum
·
http://hikinghq.net Sgt Rock's hiking site w/ valuable
hammock use info
6---------------------------
SPEER HAMMOCKS CALENDAR-------------------------------
Meet Ed Speer, buy a signed
copy of the Hammock Camping book, and see the complete line of camping hammocks
and Pea Pod sleeping bags from Speer Hammocks at the following events:
A. March/April 2003
Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi (outfitter), Neels Gap, GA. Various
weekends during the northbound AT hiker wave.
E. Oct 2003
ALDHA The Gathering, Hanover, NH, How To Stay Warm workshop (free), How
To Make Your Own Hammock workshop (free).
7------------------------------UPCOMING
FEATURE ARTICLES-----------------------------
Mar 2003---How To Avoid
Bears with Camping Hammocks
Apr 2003---How To Get Laid
in a Hammock!
Don't miss a single
issue--sign up now at: Hammock Camping News
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Thanks for your time and
happy hammocking
Ed "Not To Worry"
Speer
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