thehammockyear

[thehammockyear]

December 2020, Trip 1

Location: Pocomoke State Park, MD (with a side trip to Assateague to scope out future camp sites)

Dates: December 11-13, 2020

Gear: Eno DoubleNest Hammock, Eno ProFly Rain Tarp, Eno Ember Underquilt, REI Coop Women’s AirRail Plus Sleeping Pad, REI Coop Trailbreak Foam Pillow, Kelty sleeping bag rated to 34, Dutch Gear Hammock Sock, Rumpl camp blanket

I wandered out to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to camp at Shad’s Landing in the Pocomoke River State Park.

It was love at first sight for me with this gorgeous park. It’s huge, and I imagine in the summer it swarms with people, but in the winter I had the place to myself. The water was as smooth as glass, and I spent hours sitting on the dock just watching the clouds roll by in the reflection on the surface.

I made a side trip to Snow Hill where I rented a kayak from @pocomokerivercanoe (check them out on Instagram) — they were so kind and I thoroughly enjoyed my jaunt down the river.

I also ran over to Assateague National Seashore to scope out campsites for a future trip — in fact, that horse is standing in the site I reserved fort March ‘21 trip (more on that later).

[thehammockyear]

September 2020

Location: G&R Campground, a black- and family-owned campground in Houston, Delaware (link below post)

Dates: September 24-27

Gear: Eno DoubleNest Hammock, Eno ProFly Rain Tarp, REI Coop Women’s AirRail Plus Sleeping Pad, REI Coop Trailbreak Foam Pillow, Kelty sleeping bag rated to 34

This was the camping trip that inspired this challenge. After 6 months in the pandemic, by chance I found myself out among the trees.

Despite mosquitos the size of helicopters and a little bit of rain, I found myself feeling happier and more at peace than I had in months. And I decided I needed to make a conscious effort to get outside, no matter the weather or my mood.

I decided then to embark on a year in my hammock* with camping trips once a month.

*ok, not a literal year, as in 365 days of camping — I do have a day job. But the idea was to get out in all seasons and all kinds of weather.

Learn more about G&R Campground:

[thehammockyear]

Hi there! Wondering what this is all about?

What:

A year of hammock camping — once a month in whatever weather is thrown my way.

Who:

A 30-something gal building her camping skills, testing her limits, and justifying her REI/hammock gear habit.

Why:

Getting outside is a huge part of how I care for my physical and mental well-being. After discovering hammock camping in 2019 and then plunging right into a pandemic, camping and hiking became important ways to stay healthy while staying socially distant. And I decided to keep myself accountable to that by turning it into a challenge.

When:

Technically speaking, this challenge runs January - December 2021, but I got a head start in September 2020.

Caveats/Boundaries:

We’re mid-pandemic, so while I sure wish this journey could take me nation-wide, I’ll be sticking close to home hitting up state and regional National parks until it becomes safe to do otherwise

If I have to skip a month (or many) because of COVID safety precautions or restrictions, I will. I’m here to have fun, but only if I can do that in a way that’s safe for me and other people.

I love a good challenge, but I reserve the right to bailout and sleep in my car or a cabin if the weather gets to wicked. There’s pushing yourself and then there’s unnecessary risk.