Samuel R. was camping near Trinidad, Colorado when he was attacked by a bear.
He was sleeping in his hammock at his campsite near the Purgatoire River bottoms when he heard a rustling noise.
Sam turned on his headlamp and realized there was a black bear right next to him. Before he knew it, the bear bit his upper right arm.
After the attack, the bear wandered away, and Sam made his way to a motel where he called for help.
He was treated for a three-inch bite on his arm.
According to Sam, he didn’t have any food or anything else in the camp that would attract bears.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers responded to the scene and set up a trap for the bear.
They also used dogs to attempt to track down the bear.
According to a wildlife official, “Bear attacks are rare, and we take them very seriously. We are doing everything we can to locate this bear.”
It’s still unclear why the bear attacked Sam…
There wasn’t any food in the camp, and the bear was not being threatened by anything.
Sam was simply doing what a lot of folks do, sleeping in a hammock and enjoying the outdoors.
Thankfully, this type of attack is rare.
Especially because hammock camping has skyrocketed in popularity recently.
One of the reasons people enjoy hammock camping is that it can provide stunning views and scenery that might not be available when camping with a traditional tent.
Also, hammocks are lightweight and compact.
Some folks have even turned to hammocks as part of their bug-out gear because they are easier to carry compared to tents.
Considering this, here are a few benefits and disadvantages of using a hammock in a bug-out situation.
Benefits:
Weight:
The most obvious benefit of using a hammock when camping or bugging out is that it’s lightweight and compact.
In a bug out situation, you want to reduce what you carry since it will all be on your back.
Eliminating a tent, sleeping bag, and ground cover from your backpack will remove a lot of weight.
Elevation:
Another benefit of using a hammock is that it gets you off the ground.
This means that you don’t have to worry about clearing an area for a tent or finding even ground to set the tent up on.
Also, in the winter the ground can be frozen, cold, and covered in snow.
Another thing about sleeping elevated is that you can make it as high as you want. What I mean is, in theory, you could climb a tree to secure your hammock ten feet in the air.
This would prevent most animals and people from harassing you. (Unless they wanted to climb the tree.)
Versatility:
For a hammock to work all you need is two trees. This means there are a lot of possibilities when sleeping and setting up.
For instance, you can sleep in any position you find comfortable. Also, you can set the hammock up facing whatever direction you want.
So, if you think a threat might come from a specific direction you can set the hammock up facing that direction.
Also, the setup is fast. Once you find two trees you should be able to have your hammock ready to go in a matter of minutes.
Disadvantages:
Limited places:
The biggest drawback to using a hammock is that you are limited to where you can set it up.
For example, if you are camping in an open valley or desert, you might not have trees to use as anchor points.
Also, if you are bugging out in rocky terrain it can be difficult to find trees that are on even ground.
Temperatures:
Hammocks are ideal for warm weather. But, in cold weather, you will still want to use some sort of insulation.
So, while a hammock can get you off the cold ground, you still have to deal with the cold air underneath the hammock, meaning you still need an underblanket or sleeping bag.
Also, a hammock won’t provide any protection from the elements other than what the tree branches do.
Storage:
Another issue with hammocks is that they don’t provide much room for your extra gear.
You might be able to fit a small backpack in the hammock with you, but probably not all your gear.
So, you will be forced to leave some of your gear on the ground – and in a bug out situation, the last thing you want is for an animal or thief to steal your stuff.
One option is to have suspension systems for your gear, but this will add time, money, and space to your bug out supplies.
When it comes to choosing a hammock or tent for bugging out there is no one perfect choice, they each have their advantages.
The best choice will depend on your climate, ability to find trees, and the amount of gear you want to carry.
But a hammock is something worth considering since it can save a lot of space in your bug out bag.
