Wondering if anyone has had to solve for the difficult confluence of finding no hanging trees, and no nearby alternate campsites?

Not me. There are very few sites where you cannot hang somehow.

Only been on four trips since I started hanging and have had to look a little when on knife (blowdown area) but always found suitable trees.

I plan to practice a 'going to ground' setup before I go out. 2 paddles, stakes, and rope.

Unless you are traveling above the treeline in the Rockies or through a fresh burn, late at night, and have to settle for a site, I can't imagine having to put your hammock on the ground in the BWCA.

You might not have a view of the lake but if you walk enough, you'll find 2 trees to hang from for a night.

We had to look for a different site when we found the woods so dense it wouldn't work. I think it might be a problem in the rain because the floor may not be waterproof. But I think if I put the hammock on my pad on the ground (or pad inside, on the hammock), then tied the net to posts of some sort (my net is attached), it would work. Might want to tie out the sides of the hammock also, to afford more space. Tarp would be set up above, somehow.

I think you could call them voodoo sticks, but you could use a walking stick or length of stick/branch and tie your hammock out on each side so the netting pulls away and tie your tarp out in some fashion. You might need two, possibly three stakes on each side to tie out to, but it should work in a pinch.

I'd be worried about ripping or puncturing the tarp on the ground... Which brings up carrying a ground cloth...tyvek? Contractor grade garbage bag?

Unless you are in a burnt out area, there is plenty of trees out and around the campsite.

I'm pretty sure I could come up with a place or way to hang, just about anywhere. I worried about this before my 1st trip, not anymore.