While working with Green Earth Survival School, I got another chance to use my Skeeter Beeter Pro. 
I’ve long since discovered the evolution of sleeping options while camping:
- The Ground
- Inflatable Mattress
- Cot
- Hammock
The last two are my only viable options any more, unless I am in a serious situation. As to normal camping, cots are my preferred family camping option, and hammocks for times when the family is not along.
The Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter Pro was my first purchased hammock, with my other hammock being one I made from silnylon purchased at WalMart. I opted for this hammock mainly for two reasons, its weight bearing capacity or 400 lbs and its integrated mosquito netting. The class was a single night sleepover, so was perfect for me to get to use my hammock again.
Since I was on private property, I took the opportunity to set up my hammock in an unorthodox manner. Using a tree on one side and my truck be on another, I proved the theory that I could hammock camp out of my truck with a single tree.
Using a 1″ PVC pipe, I also set up a pair of stretchers made with palm limbs to hold the netting out away from me while inside. This worked remarkably well, and due to one strand being elastic, held the tension well during my entry and exit of the hammock. This is a technique I’ll be using again.
The final result – Success! I slept well, there was some minor sagging, but at no time did I touch the ground. I slept well, and look forward to doing it again, whenever I need to do so.
I don’t know why, but when I see those hammocks I think: human pinata. Ever get whacked with a stick?
No, and I wouldn’t recommend doing that. State parks have some silly restrictions, tying hammocks to trees being one of them, carrying firearms is another. So if you see me in a hammock, know that both items are allowed. Draw your own conclusions 🙂
I don’t think even you would shoot a guy in a blindfold.
IT would be dark….might not see the blindfold…
Now that winter is slowly getting behind us people set off planning their summer bbq’s and holidays. And no matter if your planning a backyard gathering, day jaunt or full fledge camping excursion your inventory of important objects will always include a few critical gear. We always plan on packing tents, all weather outfits and the cooler for refreshments. But one item that should never be overlooked is the method to start a fire. I can only recommend that each one make sure that they have trusty firestarters with them because you never see what mother nature may throw at you.
I agree!
And I’m glad you said “firestarters” as in plural. Always have redundancy in your fire making options.