Does anyone know of any studies done on tree damage from hammock  camping?

Short or long term?

Thanks







************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am not aware of an studies for hammocks, but I brought this topic up

during a hike leadership training course I attended last year.  The

only thing the instructor could say was that in his opinion it was far

less damaging than using a tent.  However, some parks do not allow

hammocks.



Extensive studies have gone into tents and trails.  I forgot the exact

details, but a typical tent spot, which is used many times in one

season can take 10-15 years to recover to it's original state.



In my personal opinion, I agree with the instructor.



--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, amendment2@... wrote:

>

> Does anyone know of any studies done on tree damage from hammock

camping?

> Short or long term?

> Thanks

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

Here in Florida and I believe at least one other state prohibits tying  or

nailing anything to their trees. The US Forrest Service has no problem with

it in Florida. I feel that the ban on tying anything to trees came from the

use of thin line for clothes lines and tarp hanging. A tarp in the wind

makes a good motor for a line saw. Florida State Parks get a lot of use.

This ban on tying anything to the trees is the ONLY rule pointed out to me

out of about ten when we registered for campsite. They are serious about it.



I have heard that rangers are impressed when you take the time to show them

how the wide webbing spreads the load and minimizes impact to the tree. But

rules are rules and you still have to pitch that hammock like a tarp tent.



By the way, a palm is a grass and not a tree. Maybe that's related.



Also, when the test site is a park site, you are sleeping on sand anyway, so

nothing is harmed beyond the original development. The trees on the other

hand are needed to shade that sand.



In a back country situation the hammock might win the impact contest, but

that's if you don't spread a ground cloth under it, and live on that like it

were a tent.



   -----Original Message-----

   From: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

[mailto:hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of hacktorious

   Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 2:03 PM

   To: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

   Subject: [Hammock Camping] Re: Studies





   I am not aware of an studies for hammocks, but I brought this topic up

   during a hike leadership training course I attended last year. The

   only thing the instructor could say was that in his opinion it was far

   less damaging than using a tent. However, some parks do not allow

   hammocks.



   Extensive studies have gone into tents and trails. I forgot the exact

   details, but a typical tent spot, which is used many times in one

   season can take 10-15 years to recover to it's original state.



   In my personal opinion, I agree with the instructor.



   --- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, amendment2@... wrote:

   >

   > Does anyone know of any studies done on tree damage from hammock

   camping?

   > Short or long term?

   > Thanks

   >

   >

   >

   > ************************************** See what's free at

   http://www.aol.com.

   >

   >

   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

   >













[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yes, I agree. Generally we hammock owners feel our way is less damaging  than

overused tentsites. I am trying to determine whether there is any basis in

the idea though. I wonder how to even set up an experiment like  that..







************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Style determines impact.  Wearing trail runners rather than boots

reduces impact.  When I have dinner next to a stream then hike an hour

to camp I only have to hang the hammock and bear bag.  I typically leave

camp the next morning and hike to warm up before breakfast.  My style

has close to ZERO impact.



I have camped with boy scouts that can trash a pristine area in a single

night.



The shelter part of camping is low impact whether tent or hammock.



Dick Matthews

















mendment2@... wrote:



> Yes, I agree. Generally we hammock owners feel our way is less

> damaging than

> overused tentsites. I am trying to determine whether there is any

> basis in

> the idea though. I wonder how to even set up an experiment like that..

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

> http://www.aol.com. <http://www.aol.com.>

>

> [

>







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If the law states you cannot tie to a tree and the Palm is a grass not

a tree does that mean you can tie to a palm? ;)





--- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, "Carey Parks" <cjp129@...> wrote:

>

> Here in Florida and I believe at least one other state prohibits

tying  or

> nailing anything to their trees. The US Forrest Service has no

problem with

> it in Florida. I feel that the ban on tying anything to trees came

from the

> use of thin line for clothes lines and tarp hanging. A tarp in the wind

> makes a good motor for a line saw. Florida State Parks get a lot of use.

> This ban on tying anything to the trees is the ONLY rule pointed out

to me

> out of about ten when we registered for campsite. They are serious

about it.

>

> I have heard that rangers are impressed when you take the time to

show them

> how the wide webbing spreads the load and minimizes impact to the

tree. But

> rules are rules and you still have to pitch that hammock like a tarp

tent.

>

> By the way, a palm is a grass and not a tree. Maybe that's related.

>

> Also, when the test site is a park site, you are sleeping on sand

anyway, so

> nothing is harmed beyond the original development. The trees on the

other

> hand are needed to shade that sand.

>

> In a back country situation the hammock might win the impact

contest, but

> that's if you don't spread a ground cloth under it, and live on that

like it

> were a tent.

>

>   -----Original Message-----

>   From: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

> [mailto:hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of hacktorious

>   Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 2:03 PM

>   To: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

>   Subject: [Hammock Camping] Re: Studies

>

>

>   I am not aware of an studies for hammocks, but I brought this topic up

>   during a hike leadership training course I attended last year. The

>   only thing the instructor could say was that in his opinion it was far

>   less damaging than using a tent. However, some parks do not allow

>   hammocks.

>

>   Extensive studies have gone into tents and trails. I forgot the exact

>   details, but a typical tent spot, which is used many times in one

>   season can take 10-15 years to recover to it's original state.

>

>   In my personal opinion, I agree with the instructor.

>

>   --- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, amendment2@ wrote:

>   >

>   > Does anyone know of any studies done on tree damage from hammock

>   camping?

>   > Short or long term?

>   > Thanks

>   >

>   >

>   >

>   > ************************************** See what's free at

>   http://www.aol.com.

>   >

>   >

>   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>   >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

Very good question!



  ----Original Message-----

From: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

[mailto:hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of mrbyer

Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 6:47 PM

To: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [Hammock Camping] Re: Studies





   If the law states you cannot tie to a tree and the Palm is a grass not

   a tree does that mean you can tie to a palm? ;)



   --- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, "Carey Parks" <cjp129@...> wrote:

   >

   > Here in Florida and I believe at least one other state prohibits

   tying or

   > nailing anything to their trees. The US Forrest Service has no

   problem with

   > it in Florida. I feel that the ban on tying anything to trees came

   from the

   > use of thin line for clothes lines and tarp hanging. A tarp in the wind

   > makes a good motor for a line saw. Florida State Parks get a lot of use.

   > This ban on tying anything to the trees is the ONLY rule pointed out

   to me

   > out of about ten when we registered for campsite. They are serious

   about it.

   >

   > I have heard that rangers are impressed when you take the time to

   show them

   > how the wide webbing spreads the load and minimizes impact to the

   tree. But

   > rules are rules and you still have to pitch that hammock like a tarp

   tent.

   >

   > By the way, a palm is a grass and not a tree. Maybe that's related.

   >

   > Also, when the test site is a park site, you are sleeping on sand

   anyway, so

   > nothing is harmed beyond the original development. The trees on the

   other

   > hand are needed to shade that sand.

   >

   > In a back country situation the hammock might win the impact

   contest, but

   > that's if you don't spread a ground cloth under it, and live on that

   like it

   > were a tent.

   >

   > -----Original Message-----

   > From: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

   > [mailto:hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of hacktorious

   > Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 2:03 PM

   > To: hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com

   > Subject: [Hammock Camping] Re: Studies

   >

   >

   > I am not aware of an studies for hammocks, but I brought this topic up

   > during a hike leadership training course I attended last year. The

   > only thing the instructor could say was that in his opinion it was far

   > less damaging than using a tent. However, some parks do not allow

   > hammocks.

   >

   > Extensive studies have gone into tents and trails. I forgot the exact

   > details, but a typical tent spot, which is used many times in one

   > season can take 10-15 years to recover to it's original state.

   >

   > In my personal opinion, I agree with the instructor.

   >

   > --- In hammockcamping@yahoogroups.com, amendment2@ wrote:

   > >

   > > Does anyone know of any studies done on tree damage from hammock

   > camping?

   > > Short or long term?

   > > Thanks

   > >

   > >

   > >

   > > ************************************** See what's free at

   > http://www.aol.com.

   > >

   > >

   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

   > >

   >

   >

   >

   >

   >

   >

   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

   >













[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bring the botany book to court with you..........lol



On 4/3/07, Carey Parks <cjp129@...> wrote:

>

>   Very good question!

>





--

Scott

www.AntiFuel.com



Minds are like parachutes, they only function when they are open.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Can you tell me the recovery time from frequently used tent campsites?

Please cite studies, not anecdotal evidence.

Thanks,

Dave Fox





In a message dated 4/4/2007 2:38:15 PM Central Daylight Time,

source2sea@... writes:



I'll  poke through some of my stuff back at the office. We're (ladyfriend and

I)  are working on PhD's in Parks and Rec. She deal more with  recreation

ecology than I do though. I deal more with trail systems,  greenways, and

that sort of stuff.



There is scads of info about tent  and campsite impacts, but I don't remember

anything specifically about  hammocks.



-John

www.SourcetoSea.www













************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

amendment2@... wrote:

  > Can you tell me the recovery time from frequently used tent campsites?

  > Please cite studies, not anecdotal evidence.





Won't recovery time depend on use (amount and type), habitat, substrate,

and climate?



I'd expect recover times in the GSMNP to be different from those in

Grand Canyon NP.

The leadership course I took, which I previously mentioned, was taught by Leave

No Trace <http://www.lnt.org/main.html>.



Here are some articles I dug up from their website, which may contain the

info your looking for.



Recreation Impacts and Management in Wilderness: A State-of-Knowledge

Review<http://www.lnt.org/training/resources/documents/SOKWildernesspap.pdf>

Recreation Ecology Research Findings - Implications for Wilderness and Park

Managers<http://www.lnt.org/training/resources/documents/RecEcolResFindings.pdf>



The link to more of their resources is:

http://www.lnt.org/training/resources/index.html



If you cannot what your looking for you can browse their main website by

visiting: http://www.lnt.org



I am sure you can find something there.  You can also email them and ask any

further questions you might have.  They are more then  willing to help.

Good Luck!



PS:

I am digging through my paperwork from the course in hopes I might find

something for you.



--

Scott

www.AntiFuel.com



Minds are like parachutes, they only function when they are open.



On 4/4/07, amendment2@... <amendment2@...> wrote:

>

>

>

> Can you tell me the recovery time from frequently used tent campsites?

> Please cite studies, not anecdotal evidence.

> Thanks,

> Dave Fox

>

> In a message dated 4/4/2007 2:38:15 PM Central Daylight Time,

> source2sea@... <source2sea%40gmail.com> writes:

>

> I'll poke through some of my stuff back at the office. We're (ladyfriend

> and

> I) are working on PhD's in Parks and Rec. She deal more with recreation

> ecology than I do though. I deal more with trail systems, greenways, and

> that sort of stuff.

>

> There is scads of info about tent and campsite impacts, but I don't

> remember

> anything specifically about hammocks.

>

> -John

> www.SourcetoSea.www

>

>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks, I already have found in the studies you cited, that tent camping

recovery depending on the resiliancy of the site can take from 3 to 30 years.

More importantly, in the report bibliographies, I have more names of people to

contact for current information.







************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

amendment2@... wrote:

  > Does anyone know of any studies done on tree damage from hammock

camping?

  > Short or long term?





Nope, I'm monitoring the effects of one night's camping on Cryptomeria

sp.  The tree-huggers compacted the bark, which tends to be spongy,

especially in the rain which was when I camped there.  Half a year

later, it is still easy to see where the tree-huggers had gripped the

tree.  Whether this damaged the tree, I don't know.  I doubt most people

would notice the effect.  Probably the biggest effect was scraping moss

off the tree, leaving a lighter-colored ring.



Every time I return to the site, I snap a fresh set of pictures.



So, the type of tree probably does matter.  I doubt shag-bark hickories

are good hammock trees...



CL

I'll poke through some of my stuff back at the office. We're (ladyfriend and

I) are working on PhD's in Parks and Rec. She deal more with recreation

ecology than I do though. I deal more with trail systems, greenways, and

that sort of stuff.



There is scads of info about tent and campsite impacts, but I don't remember

anything specifically about hammocks.



-John

www.SourcetoSea.net



--

Visit www.SourcetoSea.net for more information about our 2,150 mile

expedition down the Mississippi River to benefit the Audubon Society.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]