How I Lived in a Hammock for 4 Months on the Appalachian Trail | Thru Hiking Hammock Tips

[@tomscott1159]

If you leave your hammock at night, always wear a headlight... and always leave a small light on under your tarp. That glow may help you find your way back if you get disoriented in the dark.

[@HikingMyHappyAssOff]

Got lost for 2 hours after taking a shit in the middle of the night. Lesson learned...

[@OldNavajoTricks]

Paracord lines from tree to tree from camp to can. Follow the cord 🤘

[@tomscott1159]

Especially good if you use that newer very glow-in-the-dark line. Looks like neon at 3 AM when your headlight shines it on a moonless night.@@OldNavajoTricks

[@OldNavajoTricks]

@@tomscott1159 Good point, yes reflective line WOULD be a smart option for non-StealthElves. Nice one 😀👍

[@elvispressbroberg5437]

Or put reflex tape on the rope of the hammock or something. That could work. Although it would make you visible even when you are done. So a light might be better as you can turn it off.

[@sao9995]

Finally, somebody who knows about the day-to-day realities of camping on the AT rather than these gear-pushing posers. Very informative and honest.

[@t.davidgordon2425]

Thank you for sharing; nicely edited, so that there was a good deal of wisdom-per-minute. I'm retired now, 68-years old, and was out for two nights with my son-in-law last week-end, and will probably solo tomorrow night in a local forest in my hammock. I love the hammock; as you get older, the ground seems to get harder (!). I love to learn from people half my age who have more experience. 2018 was my (previous) best year in the woods; while still teaching, I was out 23 nights in the forest. When Covid came, I was out 38 nights (35 solo). I still have much to learn, and I am doubly delighted to learn from people half my age, both because they also love the woods, and because they teach me new things. Be safe, and love the woods!

[@rickwebermusic]

Great info, Jason! Another benefit of always pitching the tarp (regardless of weather) is that the dew will form on your tarp, and not your hammock and quilts. I've camped with folks who chose to not set up their tarps, and they all woke up wet from the dew. I pitched my tarp and stayed bone-dry.

[@PhilCherry3]

Hammock camping is my favorite mode. There is something special about getting your hang & setup just right.

[@BloodhoundMark]

So happy that you actually made this video! Thanks very much - it is exactly what I needed.

[@smidgen65]

Me and my husband switched to dyneema tarps with doors last year. Best addition to our set ups.

[@waterdog2318]

Thanks...nothing beats getting advice from someone who has lived it...appreciate your thoughts👍

[@otway00]

You gave some good advice, First time I used a hammock was on the AT .. back in 1973. I find that if my feet get cold while in the hammock, I will throw my jacket down to the foot end of the hammock and place my feet on top of the jacket. If you are new to hammocks you need to practice setting up your rig and sleeping in it under controlled conditions to make sure it works. By controlled conditions I mean having a place to escape to if something goes wrong like your house or car ) Nothing worse than being out in the middle of no where only to find that something does not work the way you thought it would..

[@FrozensAdventures]

I do that as well.

[@MoeBergOSS]

I’m a former AT thru-hiker and have over 4,000 miles on the AT. His advice is spot on. Every…. Piece of advice he had in this video was correct.

[@patricktompkins5704]

I also did the AT with a hammock. I opted for a 10x10 tarp over the stock fly for the extra coverage to cook under and to hang out under for lunch breaks on rain days.

[@eristicfreethinker2098]

Nalgene wide mouth collapsible canteen for P bottle win!

[@djSmokeShow]

I subscribed for one reason and one reason only, you actually know what you're talking about. Great video.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Thanks!

[@pauletteskalko5909]

Hi, enjoyed your adventure so much. Your vlogs were so well done, the photography and the description made it very easy to experience the AT with you. I hope you vlog your next hike too. Thank you!

[@lynx7906]

Thanks Frozen! All really good tips for us. I'm with you about putting on cold clothes, I also warm them up.

[@Lewman211]

Thank you Jason, for such an informative video on how to do things, Looking forward to see your PCT hike, and following along. Hope you and the family are doing well. Have a great day! 🙂 And, Happy Hiking!

[@RicMor200]

Great video and excellent advice in general, not just for the AT. I don’t usually get fog where I do my tramping, but you got me thinking that that’s just another good reason to have an UQ protector. About peeing in/from the hammock, my suggestion is to just get a proper pee bottle at a pharmacy or on Amazon, designed for the job at hand, with a big diameter mouth that is angled ergonomically so that you don’t risk spilling the contents. My hammock has zippers on both sides so I designate on side as my porch and the other as my backyard. Porch is where I get in and out, and place my pack on the ground. The backyard is where I carefully empty the bottle from the hammock. I’ve tried balancing on the edge of the hammock to pee, but for me that requires a lot of concentration, which I usually don’t have when I’m sleeping. So I just wake up for good. At that point I might as well get up and go for a leak outside, check out the stars and the sounds around before getting back in the hammock.

[@ianfrye8988]

That little montage at the end gave me good feels!

[@CasperJLT707]

I read the book "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson and the whole time I was thinking to someday do the hike in a hammock.

[@jays7318]

Some great tips for the Appalachian trail conditions. Thank you!

[@MeOutside]

I have four hammocks including a bridge and two backpacking tents. I go back and forth on what I want to use. Hammocks give me the best sleep but my Duplex sets up in half the time.

[@db.mc2]

Thank you Jason 👊always great to hear from you, appreciate you, stay safe and take care 🙏Hope you and family are well my friend 🙂👋

[@claramullen]

Another grand adventure thanks Steve.❤

[@aranha9365]

Fantastic! Yep the site selection is priority, the four "W" are the best guide Wind, Widow makers, Water, Wood. I'm kayak camper, and frequently see people setting their tents in the open.... a sheltered spot comes first then the view. I like the pee bottle you don't need to open the hammock or come out of your blanket, also you don't risk to mess with your sleep system that I assume wont be washed for a while., and in the end you have a cozy hot water bottle to warm your hands or feet😊. Tarp always, if the weather is good, the bird are always up there....

[@user-mm1vq3iy1b]

@@aranha9365 hard for females :(

[@MelchizedekKohen]

Im doing this in Scotland this summer. Thanks for the info ✌️

[@TravelingOutsideTheBaatz]

Always good to hear from you man. Great video buddy.

[@Loner2012AT]

Nice vid and info. I like the hack where you use the top of your trekking pole to support the tarp in the wind.

[@davidschmude]

Perfect timing for a video. No point in watching the Penguins now. It’s the end of the first period against the Blue Jackets. Watch you or listen to Jay Caufield? That’s an easy choice !! Nice video.

[@FrozensAdventures]

RIP 2023 season

[@wolf1066]

Porch mode is my default mode for the tarp. So far it's been sufficient to keep the rain off on those occasions it's rained - moderate/steady rain, not windy enough to blow the rain under the porch. I like being able to lie or sit in my hammock and look around.

[@kennethwilson8633]

Nice thanks…Have fun stay safe.

[@dewdrop6400]

Hey Frozen, I got into hammock camping after searching out videos for the ANF a number of years back and came across yours for Morrison and Tracey Ridge. Those and subsequent videos really piqued my interest and I became hooked. I agree about tarps with doors and if you can't afford DCF there are other sil/poly alternatives available that are very affordable. I have a UGQ Winterdream that is lightweight nd gives great coverage.

[@chriscon8463]

My buddy & I just camped at Tracy Ridge last Friday night with our boys! It went down to 23 degrees that night & a lot of “character” was built…

[@toddolson-cn1eb]

For the male hikers, carefully micturating into a zip top plastic bag (without leaving your quilt) is entirely doable. One arm stuck outside to drop it is the only part that gets momentarily cold. Worx for moi.

[@nibcrib]

Bro this requires some bravery😂😂👍

[@timlois]

come back to the hammock side, Frozen!

[@Hikergy16]

He can’t on the PCT 😔

[@subcook]

I’m looking forward to trying hammock camping. I’m waiting on my DutchWare Banyan Bridge hammock to be shipped. Thanks for all the tips throughout the years.

[@timber4560]

My buddy has a Dyneema tarp for his hammock. Every time we hike together I try to set up far from him bc dyneema tarps are loud! Wind and rain make so much noise on those tarps. For a small weight difference I much prefer a sil poly tarp. Pro tip: earplugs are worth their wait in gold

[@freethinker5225]

Lived in maine my whole life and hes not kidding about the weather. Keep an eye on it and dont trust it 100% always be ready to set up camp at a moments notice because it can get really brutal really quick

[@FrozensAdventures]

That being said I thought it was the best state on the AT.

[@sheilahenry7279]

No pain No rain No Maine

[@joecola6487]

Hammock enthusiasts : Take an old hammock that has ripped or worn out . Go to a seamstress and get them to sew a channel at the end and form a mini hammock ... like eno underbelly but more robust . It can be used to hold boots and even pack .. too much weight will screw with the hang . It also can be used inside hammock with shock cord on double ridge line as a gear or topquilt holder . I found thisnusefull .

[@TheP1rata]

Great video. I don’t see many hammocking the AT videos out there. Thanks for sharing.

[@atgirl]

I REALLY needed this video..ty SO MUCH. My husband and I are planning our thruhike of the AT and I'm all hammock and he's a tenter. I have most of the fears you spoke about, especially rain and wind, so I've debated to switching to a tent, but uve calmed me down, ty. I also worried about putting my stuff on the ground and mice eating my bag...which is the exact bag u have in the video byw. I LOVE my liteaf. But anyway, I just wanted to ty for this video, it helped immensely.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Leave the pockets open and the bag accessible. You won't have a problem. Can also just bring a soft shackle (like my evo loops) and clip your backpack to your hammock suspension if you are worried.

[@toddevans4667]

one wind, wind sock along with a underquilt protector to help besides a bigger tarp

[@amorphousblob6105]

Thanks for all this advice Frozen...This video is gold! :-)

[@sundaymorninghikes6275]

Good stuff, man! I really enjoyed your AT videos - as well as your hammock info videos! There was one AT video where you were getting absolutely hammered by a thunderstorm. You were hunkered down, but damn... it was wild. Had a couple of nights like that myself. It's all fun and games- even when lightning is striking 100 get away. Do you know the video I'm talking about? I think you were in the Whites

[@GemintheMud]

Brilliant, inspirational advice; thank you. 😊

[@payakadventures]

Not sure if you'll have the same ability to upload every couple days on the PCT as you did on the AT, but I remember always being excited to check out your new videos when they popped up on your AT trip. I sure hope they don't get the snow next year they did this year for your sake. People will be hiking in snow till July this year.

[@FrozensAdventures]

I'll be delaying videos by 2 weeks this time more than likely(I delayed 1.5 weeks on the AT and it was difficult to stay consistent). Towns are a bit farther between but I'm able to hike farther (depending on snow)

[@Superduper666]

I bought a ridgeline gear sling organizer and put my shoes in there at night. It's at the foot of my hammock. That way I had no insect worries, no worries my shoes would be carried away by a critter, and my shoes never froze.

[@pharaohsmagician8329]

It would be good to heat yourself with a tealight candle inside, and setup very low, and tie other tarps up like squares to block and break any wind first. Wool blankets over you too.

[@SparkyOne549]

Not ideal for through hiking, too heavy.

[@westcoastdean]

Great info!

[@bird.1980]

just ordered a hammock gear tarp and underquilt ($600), a dream hammock darien ($200) and dutchware gear ridgeline, straps, and tieouts plus clips ($230). So all in around $1000 for this set up.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you for this video! I've very recently made the switch to hammock from years in a tent, and can't believe how well I slept. Then came the conundrum: how am I going to be able to endure going back to my tent for a planned short thru hike next year?? Your video has answered that question for me....I don't have to!! Thank you for all the details explaining what your process was like. GREAT video!

[@samsmith8870]

Very informative, thank you. Do you think you could have pulled that off with a 3/4 length under quilt. That's what I have and I have an underquilt protector. I just haven't dealt with anything too intense yet.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Personally I don't think I could have done 3/4 and a protector. I reached nice that were close to the teens and I don't really enjoy my 40F 3/4 underquilt in anything below 50

[@pcgaminghelp]

Between the need for an under quilt and the need to shield yourself from wind and rain ➡️I may go back to a tent ⛺😅

[@mas8443]

Thanks for the good info.

[@OregonMikeH]

Jason, I've been along for the ride for many years now and so seldom comment often enough. This video is prime! Your Host Demeanor, skills at presentation and valuable content are exceedingly Pro. I so enjoy and vastly benefit from so much of what you produce. Deepest thanks, and I'll be using very few links that are not provided by you. Blessings Always pal and warm regards from Oregon. .. Mike.

[@fatcapital88]

Super helpful video, thank you!

[@deerless999]

Great tips, very helpful !

[@dannynye1731]

No reason to ever leave your gear on the ground. I woke up one morning with a flash flood under my tent. My pack was hanging against my tree. I had breakfast ans watched miserable tent people wander around with wet gear. We set our hammocks between cypress trees on the Wacamaw in the Green Swamp. Stood in the canoe and set up our hammocks. Of course we had to make our beds while sitting in our hammocks, change clothes etc. Reversing it was a mite tippy but it was 30F do we took care. FYI, we cooked in the canoes in a small sandbox.

[@dominiknycz7912]

Vv! Very valuable!

[@chrisarchilla9260]

I have been watching your Appalachian trail walk everyday for a month...every episode iv seen atleast 10 times..lol...it's awesome..Do u still talk to Murica,toggs,and lucky?

[@FrozensAdventures]

Yes we all talk at least weekly. Things have definitely slowed but we always keep in touch.

[@chrisarchilla9260]

@Outdoor Adventures I just watched videos of the woman who got lost in Maine in 2013,I can't wrap my head around how she wasn't found...So close to the trail

[@FrozensAdventures]

Yes it's sad. Maine is very dense you can easily get turned around taking a pee.

[@jeffmyers7062]

Nice video and thanks for the advice

[@aikirunner]

Another reason to always pitch your tarp is birdshit. You don't want to wake up with a bird shitting through your bugnet.

[@chriscon8463]

That’s a good reason!

[@lowlifeNPC]

Great vid. Will I ever do the Ap trail? Absolutely not.

[@boulevardmonsterdame]

Watched your video and you talk about the wind factor and the rain. I guess the best way to protect from the wind and rain is to get a good tent with a floor.

[@FrozensAdventures]

A good tarp will suffice.

[@JeremiahBlasi]

Glad to hear I’m not the only one who just pees out the side of the hammock!

[@calibos3329]

I've slept in a hammock for the past 12 years. Most every night. I cannot sleep in a bed anymore.

[@johnqpublic3165]

Love your videos! You and others advocate using a pad and under quilt on an AT thru hike to enable going to ground when needed and also for hostels, churches, huts (indoor opportunities on the floor). What combination of those did you use? I don't see that info in your videos and knowing what worked for you would be helpful since its a good place to start.

[@FrozensAdventures]

I didn't use a pad in my hammock at all. I carried a pad through the smokies to stay legal. Other than that i would have also carried a pad through the whites.

[@johnqpublic3165]

@@FrozensAdventures Thanks for replying. So when you needed the pad (required) what did you use? My family owned a camp just north of fools creek between the upper and lower sheriffs on rt 666. The NCT and tan bark trail went right by our place back in the 70's. Not sure about now. I especially enjoy your ANF vids because its like going home.

[@FrozensAdventures]

I carried my thermarest neoair xtherm along with my entire hammock setup.

[@derbybushcraftandoutdoors3176]

Great video

[@donaldstone540]

An advantage to peeing in a bottle is that bottle then becomes a heater in your sleep system, however mildly gross that might seem.

[@brianjones4983]

Peeing out the hammock 😂😂 nah fam I’m getting lost before I do that 🤣🤣🤣

[@oddoutdoors]

I hammocked the AT in 2022

[@simoninkin9090]

Why so much trouble with de freezing the shoes, when you can always keep them nice and warm, even at temperatures below 20F? All you have to do is put your (wet and dirty) shoes inside a drybag and that drybag goes inside your sleeping bag. Same for liquids, batteries, etc. You can also dry wet socks this way by putting the wet socks between your body and the base layer and simply sleeping this way. Takes a little to get used to, but it works like a charm in winter!

[@leetnessgaming9751]

Thank you

[@TooTall_hikes]

So you took a full underquilt, not a half? I thought it was full. hmmm.. Great video, Jason. Thank you for posting.

[@FrozensAdventures]

I took a full for versatility. Some nights got down to 32 or close to it. My 3/4 is only a 40F quilt.

[@6foot8jesuspilledpureblood82]

Dude some of this stuff I've never heard and I've seen loads of hiking videos

[@billseay6399]

Hey Thanks Love it big guy

[@randyshaw1832]

I don't understand the tracking pole in the wind please explain again

[@FrozensAdventures]

Hey Randy I'm literally hiking right now but wanted to answer you. Whenever you're in heavy wind your tarp is going to behave in one of two ways either the wind is going to be barreling from the outside outside of the tarp trying to get in or the wind is going to be getting in your tarp and trying to get out Based on the behavior of your tarp if the tarp is blowing in you want to put your trekking pole at the spot the wind is hitting your tarp so the wind cannot move your tarp and thus can't get in. Meaning that if your tarp is blowing in to you place an angle the trekking Pole to the spot where the tarp is blowing. Vice versa if wind is blowing through your tarp and the tarp is angled out you want to place your trekking pole on the outside so when can't get out so this way it doesn't make a wind tunnel.. let me know if you need me to clarify more I'm done hiking in about three more days

[@t.davidgordon2425]

Thanks, this is very helpful, even though I rarely hike significant distances at my age (almost 68). But I do get out into a local state forest 20-40 nights/year, hiking in and sleeping in a hammock. I ordinarily elect the porch approach (less wind in western PA than in New England), and if the sky is clear, unhook the porch side before bedtime, and throw it over the ridgeline with the other side that stays staked in. I can watch (half of) the stars, and if I hear/smell rain coming, I can pull that part back over, and hook it to the stakes where the tarp was before, and the tautline hitch is already about right. Keep safe, and enjoy the trail.

[@SonnyCrocket-p6h]

that's a feat, the AT in 4 months. averaging 17 miles per day in the mountains is harder than 30 miles per day in the flat lands. Lugging 30 lbs or so to do that with (on average) takes a very fit person. You're going to get sick, you're going to have injuries, etc, which require you to take 1- or several days off-trail. hurting your average mileage

[@Coletta123]

Can you hammock camp in the Smokies too?

[@FrozensAdventures]

Check the rules. When I went you could only camp if the shelters were full.

[@GlimisTechProducts]

Where can you get a tarp with doors? I definitely want one

[@techguy9023]

With under quilt, top quilt, tarp and hammock what did it weigh? What hammock?

[@mraworland]

Have you used a windsock? Makes wind chill a non factor. They weigh hardly anything so a high return on investment

[@FrozensAdventures]

Yes I have but found that it greatly increased condensation for me. Much prefer just an underquilt protector.

[@Erskinegc]

Were you ever concerned about bears coming under the tarp? I plan to hammock camp my AT trip in 2025, and bears under my tarp are my biggest and probably unfounded fear

[@mraworland]

Did you always use your underquilt or did u have nights warm enough to not use it? Did u ever have a problem with mosquitoes biting u through the bottom of the hammock?

[@FrozensAdventures]

I always used it. I vent it when it's too hot though.

[@Natural1ntelligence]

This is wild

[@userslinx6865]

Unless you need to dump a donation to nature, I would recommend to do #1 in "bottle, container" or near at "eye sight" of your tent or hammock(you will no live there for ever). Instead of running the risk to go sleep with big foot...

[@ajglenn03]

Greetings, I do a podcast called the Hammock Hangers Podcast and Organize an event called Hangcon. We would love to have you on our podcast to talk about your hammock adventures and AT hike. Would you be interested coming on and recording with us?

[@KOCombo]

whats the outro audio?

[@j3hikes444]

did you bring a pad for the shelters?

[@FrozensAdventures]

In the smokies I did yes.

[@snakeB8]

How heavy is your whole gear?

[@FrozensAdventures]

My At gear was right around 10 lbs, excluding food, water and fuel.

[@yousweetpotato1]

Lucky to be able to pee into a bottle or out the side of the tent.

[@sheilahenry7279]

Bears are attracted to urine. No way is it gonna be close to me. Pee bottle & put lid on then toss away from me. In the morning I can pick it up & dump. 😂😂

[@OurDee]

I never drink Gatorade while camping. I will buy someone else a Gatorade with the caveat that the bottle is still mine and it is the only one I am buying.

[@ivanpopovic1266]

Have you thought that sleeping in a hammock, your body just doesn't like it? I've done the angle, insulation, tension, etc. Fact is, body doesn't like being contorted like hammock. Its good as an emergency or a have to night, more, really for a break during day. I can't say I've ever needed ibuprofen to sleep while camping. Ever. I'm 46 and still camp.

[@FrozensAdventures]

I actually sleep better and feel better in my hammock than my bed. I wasn't taking ibuprofen for any other reason other than than doing 20 mile days on the AT most days was wrecking havoc on my body. I wasn't stretching properly in the evenings and mornings which I'm sure added to my problems.

[@tumblewheed5994]

IDK about body naturally rejecting the positioning...many generations of Polynesian and Amazonians might disagree. Maybe the body can be conditioned to accept it.

[@ivanpopovic1266]

@tumblewheed5994 Makes sense. If your body really doesn't know any better. But, also, aren't they generally super short?

[@FrozensAdventures]

The popular newbie hammocks are 9.5 feet which is long enough for a person 4' 5" which is why I think a lot of people think hammocks suck. I sleep in a 10 footer at 5'6" and could be even more comfortable in an 11 footer. Because of the length I choose to use a wide fabric of 63" which is the sweet spot for me to lay flat.

[@jayempress4203]

Leani g out to pee doesn't work for women🤔

[@dniemi58]

No way am I going to leave my backpack, shoes & other gear out in the open.

[@danmertz3734]

If 4 months you could never sleep in a bed again. Lifer hammock sleeper.

[@littlemanoo]

I wonder if anyone ever got hurt by a deer in the hammock?

[@jeromebullard6123]

Cons of a hammock: Can’t bang the wife in one. Can’t side or belly sleep. Pain in the ass to set up. Total kit is heavy even for the best ones. Constantly worried about it ripping or a line snapping and falling. These are just a few of the many reasons I went back to a tent.

[@FrozensAdventures]

False False False My kit is under 2lbs including stakes False

[@jeromebullard6123]

@@FrozensAdventures i am 6’ 2” 220 lbs. my wife is 5’ 8” 135 lbs. trust me, that hammock cannot handle it 🤣 Also, side sleeping is very uncomfortable, and please explain how you can sleep on your belly in a hammock?!?!

[@FrozensAdventures]

Long and wide hammocks or even bridge hammocks can accommodate stomach sleepers. I find a 10 foot 63" wide to accommodate me but I am short at 5'6" and would need an 11 footer to stomach sleep.

[@jeromebullard6123]

@@FrozensAdventures they’re nice for car camping. They CAN be nice in some situations where you’re off grid camping and can’t find a nice spot for a tent. I have yet to have any issues with my big Agnes Tiger wall 2 and Nemo tensor pad. SUPER comfortable and light.

[@FrozensAdventures]

I love tensor pad too. I enjoy sleeping in both. Big pro for the tent is less space especially in cold temperatures.

[@corecass]

4 month .. how did you guy's do it with food ?? mind i have never even thought of hiking nor do i know the trail. purely out of interest

[@FrozensAdventures]

You pass a road every 8 miles or so. Some roads lead towns and you get a ressupply and then get back on trail.

[@dirtbagoutside]

love my pee bottle!!