There are only about a bazillion trees in the Boundary Waters. i'm surprised then at how often I find myself wandering around a campsite, looking for just the right two. I feel like Goldilocks....these two are a bit too far apart....these two are a bit too close. Do you run into that as well?

Of course. Then the right pair shows up but a stump or something is right in the middle. Being picky about where I nest is part of the ritual. But in a pinch it is always easier to find a pair of trees than a decent tent pad.

sometimes i find myself close to the water edge, not a usual place to look for a hang, but worth it with the water talk at night.

quote bhouse46: "Of course. Then the right pair shows up but a stump or something is right in the middle. Being picky about where I nest is part of the ritual. But in a pinch it is always easier to find a pair of trees than a decent tent pad."

A stump in the middle....or a widowmaker overhead!

I made seven camps on my last trip and had good luck with this. Two years ago in the BW I had a couple of hangs with bushes next to me. It mainly interfered with the tarp hang but for one night it was ok.

I like the creative aspect of finding a good spot. Now, if I was with say three others who also used hammocks, things might get dicey.

When I look at all of the great pictures on this site I see so many good spots to hang. But when I'm up there I find that finding those two trees so hard to find. But when you do it is so cool.

Yeah, sometimes it's a lot harder than you'd think. I always find something though. I've always been the only hammock and there is always one good hang.

Yep. I agree.

In this pic, I'm under the tarp on the upper left. It was a nice spot with the water lapping on the shore all night.

Most of the people that I've canoed with over the past 7-8 years never understood when we'd get to camp and I'd say "Wow. This is a great hammock site!" I've come across many great hammock sites over the years, but some needed trimming or imagination to make them work. One just has to be open minded, and if necessary, go find a spot to hang in the woods. Often the hammock isn't the problem. It's the tarp lines that cross the path to the latrine or someones tent etc.

I have noticed brush cleared out in narrow strips between two really good trees and no tent pad on the ground the past two trips. People are using hammocks now more than ever and I'm seeing evidence of this at sites.
I will not clear brush or create a hanging site by tearing up a campsite and sometimes that means hanging off a side hill or over some obstacle. The best I've done yet was two trees about 20 feet apart with a huge rock formation right between them about 5 ft high.
We shimmied up the trees to set the straps, climbed up on the rocks and had a great place to hang.

Usually, I have no problem though, and found that a tree even slightly bigger than a 4" diameter will do the trick in a pinch.

At some point someone cleared every tent pad. As long as its clearly in the site personally I would consider it maintenance and don't really have a problem with that.

I was just stating that I would not go out of my way or break any rules by hacking up a site just to hang a hammock. I was just saying that I have been noticing more use between those sweet trees that draws a hammockers eyes immediatley. Right or wrong, as a hanger, I have seen evidence that those who hang have been there before me and are starting to permanently accomodate for it. As a decade long hanger, this shows me the shift to hanging as an alternative to traditional tent camping. that's really what I was going for here.

As far as maintenance, I would have to disagree due to the fact that sites are closed down due to overuse and erosion. I have seen those sites and seen others that should be shut down and rehabilitated. Too much clearing is no good. I believe there is also rules as to cutting live trees/brush while utilizing a site also.

As a lifelong LNT camper, I find the hammock to be handy even if I have to look a little harder.