Tent or hammock on BC section of TCAT.
 

I was hoping that someone with some knowledge of this section of the TCAT would be able to offer some advice on whether a tent or hammock is the best choice for sleeping in, based on terrain, available campsites, etc. Thanks!

I'm surprised at no replies here..?? I cancelled our 2020 full TCAT assault because of Covid and no flights etc. In a way the aborted trip gave me some breathing space and time to finalise a system I had been looking into for a safer option for sleep. Tent or hammock options could result in yourself being a tasty snack for a Grizzly say ( allowing for paranoia that is). I had on paper designed an elevated system for hoisting up a bell tent or hammock tent using ropes and pulleys, extra luggage and weight but peace of mind for sleep. Not sure if my designs were entirely appropriate and I'm gonna pick the batten up this spring to reach a conclusion on the idea. One thing for sure, I'm totally not at ease sleeping in a tent on most of the intended TCAT route, this much I know......

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I don't have any advice to offer about whether a tent or a hammock would be the more sensible choice on that route (other than the points that MEZ made), but it just amazes me that anyone can sleep in a hammock at all :rofl:

The couple of times I've tried count amongst the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. There's enough people swearing by them (and a million Nelson era sailors can't all be wrong) for me to conclude it's almost certainly me that's the problem, but I'm quite happy to consign hammock sleeping to the (long) list of things I'm never going to do. Tent for me every time.

No hammock system is going to keep you safe from bears--pulleys, counterweights, prayers and positive thoughts notwithstanding. What keeps you safe from bears is maintaining a scrupulously clean camp, along with the fact that they just don't find you that interesting as long as you don't smell like freeze dried dinners or peppermint toothpaste.

Seriously. Use a hammock if you like hammocks (I don't), a tent if you like tents. Either will work fine, with the tent at a bit of an advantage where there are no trees. And worry more about ravens and mice, less about bears. The former will chew holes in everything you own, plus scatter stuff you really need far and wide; the latter will just huff and puff and carry on eating grass, tubers and ants.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

What keeps you safe on the road though is a good night's sleep so if a hairbrain hoisting tent system gives peace of mind and positive sleep then so be it. I'd rather be the idiot that's 20' up of the ground that's stranded because of a technical issue of his setup than the 1/1million bear attack victim. Each to there own.
I totally agree on the scrupulous camp issue, bears have a sniffer far more advanced than any dog and even burger juice tangled in an unwashed beard would draw them in..!!!

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I can't say for the route. I do love hammocks (sometimes in combination with a tarp) - when the conditions for them are great. But, for me hammocks are for trekking only - not motorcycling. On a motorcycle you cover great distances - meaning increased risk that you might be forced to camp in an unplanned location (i.e. due to a break down) - a location where a hammock can prove to be a really poor choice. Or, you might come across an unexpected site you really want to camp, but where a hammock is unsuitable.

In general a tent with a good sleeping mat is the route I go on 100% of my bike trips that may involve camping. I say "may", because I may end up either "having to" or "wanting to" camp even if I didn't plan to do so initially. On longer trips with a lot of long days I find it unsustainable to camp and try to avoid it as much as possible or altogether - but I still bring my tent on those trips - just in case.

If I know I will be camping I will usually bring an ultralight tarp in addition to the tent (i.e. to be able to sit outside close to a fire if it rains, or to have cover over the clothes line, or to get sun shade or protection from the wind, if I have to work on the bike and want to be out of the rain, etc).

For me a self standing tent is the only way to go - preferably one that has room for one more person than the number of occupants (for luggage, being able to move around, cooking, etc).

Unless I know I will be camping a decent amount, or unless I know it will be encountering terrible weather - I will usually bring a cheap one layered festival tent without a vestibule. The main reason is that it will only be used for emergencies or the odd chance that I really want to camp a night with ideal conditions. Further, it is the quickest and easiest to pitch, move arround and to tear down (no need for tie downs). It is light and packs small (one layered). It is also so cheap that I can give it away if I feel the need to shed it. The main drawback of such a tent is that it doesn't stand up well to heavy rain or condensation. In these cases, adding the tarp over the tent will often prove a better setup than even the most expensive two layered tent.

A self standing tent can be set up on hard surfaces (i.e. indoors or on a parking lot). It can easily be moved after having been set up. Reasons for wanting to do so include:

• Wind direction changes in relation to you camp fire (heat and smoke)
• It starts to rain and surface water accumulates where the tent was originally set up
• Move it to get out of the sun, or into it - all depending
• It gets very windy and you want to move away from trees or branches that could potentially fall on you, or move the tent to a location with better cover from the wind (a hammock may give you no option to do either)
• You don't like the neighbor on the camp ground, a better location opens up, or you need to make room for another camper
• Etc

Some of the reasons I prefer a tent over a hammock when motorcycling:

• A hammock limits you to set it up in a location with appropriate trees that also are spaced out properly - which sometimes can be hard to find. A self standing tent, especially a small one without a vestibule - usually needs less real estate than a hammock. To date it has never ever been a struggle to find a flat plot large enough to pitch a small tent.
• Even though there are perfectly spaced trees around for a hammock, the trees' location relative to amenities (a fire pit, a lake to swim in, a view, or a camp ground toilet) - may be poorer than for a tent. When travelling with a motorcycle you might also have to leave it vulnerable if you are unable to park close to where you plan to sleep, etc.
• Mosquitoes
• Getting all my gear out of the elements (a tarp can aid somewhat, but not if it rains sideways or the ground is drenched)
• Being able to change clothes out of the dirt and elements, or out of view from pervs or Karens

Don't get me wrong, I really love hammocks - I just don't think they are for motorcycling (unless you plan on a short ride to a location you are familiar with and the weather forecast is pretty much ideal).

Nothing like a good bears-in-camp debate! Since that's just one small aspect of the OP's presenting issue, I'll merely point out that black bears are present almost everywhere along this route, and they climb trees rather well--like squirrels, in my experience. Grizzlys can also climb, but their claws don't work as well for this purpose.

And black bears that have become habituated to humans because they live around campsites are well aware that the presence of ropes in trees often indicates food bags in the vicinity. I've seen them climb a spindly little tree and swipe at ropes until they hear the "thunk" of a food bag hitting the ground, then climb down and amble over for a well-earned meal. I'm not sure what would happen if the "thunk" represented a hammocked adventure rider, but I'll look forward to the trip report. Photos, please!

Of course I agree: To each their own. I consider myself fortunate to have met up with black and grizzly bears at close range--in camp, on trails, and along roadsides. Hardly anything bad has ever come of it (there was one notable exception), because hardly anything ever does.

If the link works, here's a black bear scampering up a tree--top of the Google search results. I suggest viewing this at the close of each day as you set up your treetop campsite.

Edit to add: Of course the video didn't work; I'm a technocratic toddler. But you can Google as well as I can, using search terms like "how fast can a bear climb a tree?"

http://www.reddit.com/r/interestinga...ear_can_climb/

I don't think I would like to be mistanken for a food bag!!!

Getting a hammock high enough off the ground so a bear can't get to you -simply by standing up on its hind legs - that would also mean it would be very impossible for you to get in and out of it yourself - especially after the few obligatory camp site beers beer

So, even if one could argue that a hammock that was high enough would be very difficult for a bear to get onto - i.e. by climbing up a tree and then across the rope, it isn't exactly relevant.

I think in bear country I would take a tent any day - put up an early warning system, barbed wire, land mines - put on riot gear and sleep with bear spray in one hand and a taurus judge (gun) in the other, let my drunk friend sleep outside away from the tent with the food bag as a pillow. Better still, find a hotel! :rofl:

The link works for me fine, Wow..!! That's some climbing speed for sure. It has strengthened my resolve to keep on track and try to at least eliminate the possibility of a hoisted system.

You have me at a disadvantage 2-fold, I've never been to Canada or had a bear encounter so I can only partially debate this to any degree, working on the theory that prevention is better than cure I'll forge ahead, there aren't any first aid kits to my knowledge suitable for a grizzly attack..

To add, my theoretical system doesn't use a hammock or is located adjacent to a tree trunk and has several fail-to-safety aspects inherent in the design. I'm probably being over cautious and a tad paranoid but I appreciate your knowledge and input on bears and bear territory... might be 2023 now for the TCAT trip, plenty of time to play and experiment.


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Bears? LOL.

I've camped I don't know how many times in BC, and as long as you aren't dumb enough to have food near your tent (or hammock), bears aren't interested in coming anywhere near your smelly human carcass.