#hammocker

This is a guest post contributed by Leigh Marcos, Freelance Writer. We all love being outdoors, but throw in a little spook into the equation and we all have a perfect recipe for adventure. There are many places in United States that are known for being haunted or too scary to even visit. But some daredevils like to take it up a notch! Here are some of the most haunted trails where spending a night and making out of it alive will be an adventure of a lifetime. All you need is bravado, a camp and a hammock to set your very own “Blair Witch Project” in motion.

7 Of The Most Spooky Hiking Trails to Pitch your Hammock

Hammock Trail #1 The Old Zoo Trail:

Not sure if you will be allowed to hammock here, but why not give the Old Zoo Trail in Los Angeles a go? You have ghostly men on staircases, a man on horseback, and other spirits including of caged animals to test you. You can either do the whole trail at night starting at Crystal Springs Ranger HQ through the ruins of the Old Zoo to Bee Rock, or stop part way for the night. Hammock Trail #2: Transept Trail

If you thought that legend of a wailing woman at the transept trail was nothing more than a spooky story, then you are in for a rude shock. While traversing the trail, don't be surprised if you are accosted by a crying woman in a white, blue flowered dress. You can find a perfect hammock spot in one of the many archaeological ruins along the way. Hammock Trail #3: Mammoth Cave:

What better place to pitch your hammock than a cave? But this spot may not be as laidback as it sounds. Mammoth cave is the largest cave system in the world that also used to be a tuberculosis center for suffering patients long time ago. Needless to say, there were many who died due to their ailment and continue to haunt this place. As many as 150 paranormal incidents have been listed in these caves, one that is sure to give even the bravest one a chill down their spine. Hammock Trail #4 Ghost House Trail:

What good is a spooky trail list that doesn’t have a cemetery in it? This trail is haunted by a panting dog that is often heard in Hutchinson compound of Ghost House Trail, but never seen. Feeling adventurous? How about spending the night at the family cemetery? Who knows, the dead family might keep you company! Hammock Trail #5 Grouse Lake:

Located in Yosemite National Park, this hiking trail has a tragic past. According to the native legend, a young local boy drowned in this lake while taking a leisurely swim. Since then, many hikers who have heard the cries for rescue, jump into the water to save the boy, only to drown themselves. Walking these trails are in itself a daring act, let alone sleeping the night. But what better way to end a spooky night, than to sleep amid nature and under the veil of stars, gently rocking on your hammock? Hammock Trail #6 Murphy Ranch:

Head over to Santa Monica for a ranch shaped by pure evil and a ton of ghosts to boot. Built by Nazi sympathizers, it was supposed to be an Aryan utopia. Being the 1930s, this was fueled by the occult, which has left its mark in the landscape, in the odd architecture, and the ghostly children with red eyes. Will you last a night with a hammock slung between 2 trees? Hammock Place #7  The Ohio State Reformatory:

Every list has to have the large, asylum, hospital or reformatory. This is the quintessential American horror house. Built in 1896, this mammoth building had the best of intentions but turned into a "warehouse of despair." It is now said to be filled with the ghosts of angry men, so if you would like to camp out indoors, this is a good one to try.

Would you hammock these trails?

The Hammocker: You can find Jon DeMeo on Instagram @jondemeo. How long have you been hammocking?

I've been hammock camping for over 5 years now

How did you get started with hammocking?

A friend had one and once I got inside I was hooked! I've been hanging up hammocks whenever I can and am always searching for an excuse to go hammock camping with the family.

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I love spending time in the woods of Western Pennsylvania. My wife and I hammock camped this past winter and absolutely loved it!

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10

What do you think hammocks will look like in 20 years? 100 years?

I think there will be more and more add-on features to the hammock including lights, gear storage, etc.

If you could hang up your hammock anywhere in the world where would it be?

I would love to be hanging on the International Space Station (if that is even possible with physics).

What are your go to hammock accessories?

Bug Net. I love being able to rest in peace knowing I am not going to get bit or have something crawling all over me.

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Do you represent a particular hammock brand or are you constantly searching for innovative products?

I have done a lot of blogging for ENO Hammocks but always on the lookout for other great quality hammocks!

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I love to work with companies who have a bigger vision than just having fun in the outdoors. Companies like Miir and BioLite whom I've worked with have a great vision to help people around the world through their love and passion for the outdoors.

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National Hammock Day is July 22nd 2017 and it's your chance to win FREE hammocks from Hammock Town and our participating Hammock Manufacturers.

We've held many contests in the past from Snapchat Contests to Instagram Contests but this is the hammock contest to rival them all! Previous years these contests have only been open to our USA customers and this year Hammock Town goes international opening this contest in Canada too!

9 Winners will enjoy 9 different unique prizes, entering to win only takes a few second and the winners will be drawn at random.

The National Hammock Day Contest will run from July 15th - July 31st and the winners will be announced August 1st!

🇺🇸 (at Hammock Town)

These twisted root tree straps are pretty dope. 

15 connection points

No Knots

500lb weight capacity (2 straps)

Right now it’s on sale for 20 bucks

The hammocker? 

Follow this hammocker on Instagram @geobigelow82.

What is Your Name?

Geo Bigelow.

Did you choose the hammock life? Or did the hammock life choose you? When and how did your start hammocking?!

Ive owned a hammock since 2003 but was not part of #hanglife until 2016. In the beginning of spring I randomly brought the old hammock out and hung it in my son's room...watching him do some unorthodox entry and exit methods I was inspired to hang more often...within weeks I was hooked and I've been pushing hammocking to the limit ever since.

What is your absolute favorite place to hang your hammock at? Do you hammock indoors or outdoors?

This is a hard one...if I have to choose one..hmm..uh...I'll have to go with Sedona Arizona...place is a Hammockers dream...vortexes, crazy rock formations which led to cam usage..so much fun! Also some really cool rivers and Indian ruins...beautiful sunsets...ahhhhh...hammock bliss.

One a scale of 1-10 how much do you freakin' LOVE hammocks?

10

  What do you think hammocks will look like in 20 years? 100 years? What is your dream hammock?

Quick hang hammock straps made out of same material as those bracelets kids have that u slap on your wrist to put on...solar panels and battery packs providing electricity when needed. Lights. Chameleon material that changes color to match surroundings.... I could go on and on.

If you could hammock anywhere in the world where would you hang your hammock up at?

Mount Roraima area in South America

What do you always bring with you on a hammock adventure?

At least 1 extra hammock, Extra hammock straps, Cams if there r rocks in play, blue tooth speaker and Spotify!

Do you represent a particular hammock brand or are you constantly searching for innovative product? If you represent a brand, please give add a brief description why you represent them and if not describe the ideal brand you would want to represent.

Right now I am reppin' a Costa Rican brand called teo4life. I have field tested over 10 brands in the last year and in my opinion teo offers the best value on the market...it's comparable to the quality/performance of an Eno Hammock for half the price. Only downside at the moment is limited color choices.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Hammocking is more than just some random activity..it's become a lifestyle and philosophy that impacts lives.. I love taking people hammocking for the first time...I do it often and so far every cherry I popped procured a hammock and joined the tribe.

I love the convos that would never take place with 2 feet on the ground... I see people out hiking without a hammock and I feel compelled to show them the light 😃 such a beautifully simple tool for creating amazing comfort on all my adventures.

Don't forget to follow Geo on Instagram!

The word “hammock” refers to a long piece of nettings or canvas hung up by the four edges and always suspended and it is used as a bed other definitions refer to the word as a ‘furniture’ that is used as a place to sleep and suspended in the length and is codded with nettings and supported on the sides to provide strength.

The English Word Hammock

The English word came from the Spanish form of the word ‘hamaca’. The Spanish had noted the frequent use of the name during the colonial period of its South Americans natives. The exact origin of the word was from the ‘Taino’ culture of the Arawakan tribe which is understood to mean probably fishing net. But why could a bed be called a hammock? Earlier on, the nettings on the hammock were made using threads from the back of a hamack tree. The choice of the tree was however not a mere coincidence but was popular because the tree was believed to be a protection against many perils including snake bites, bites from other insects and protection from other poisonous creatures. The introduction of the hammocks to Europe is attributed to Christopher Columbus who availed them to Spain on his way from a South American island where the present day Bahamas lie.

Hammocks In The United States

The origin of the word in United States can be traced back to the 18th century and can be lifted from the English-sources dated then and afterwards. The Saxons, in evidence by Samuel Johnson said to be the originators of the word. The later evidence of the 19th century however, claims that the origin of this word was from the Athenian politician ‘Alcibiades’. In the 16th century the use of the hammocks was extended to include the use in the ships. They became a preference because they would provide a well-balanced sleep onshore and the accidents that were there before due to falling were highly reduced. During the Second World War, The soldiers used the hammocks to not only enjoy the comfort it offered but also to increase the capacity of a single vessel tool. The hammocks later were used as leisure. Accustomed to its use, sailors who were on leave carried it offshore. As they did not work, they just slept on them all they did was relax. This was precedence to the current day meaning attached to the hammock that have seen then become widely known and used by people for different purpose.  

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Portuguese Hammocks

In Portugal, ‘Pero Vaz de Caminha’ was attracted to the sleeping style of the native Taino and the way they warmed themselves by placing a fire underneath. The fire, as he describe in his 1500 journal was to keep them warm and scare away insects like mosquitos. He also note the nettings on the bedding and gives a Portuguese expression ‘rede de dormir’ to mean that the nets used to sleep over. The other people from Europe also got to South America mostly to mine gold. Hammock was inevitable and they could never fail to mention it in almost any journal they wrote about the life in that part of the world. It is then obvious that the much widespread of the word all-over Europe was achieved. It was sooner than later and the word was legally accepted in the English language. In general, after a long interaction with the hammock by the major European language speakers and most notably the English where the American English borrows from, it is quite logic to understand how the word came into play. It originated from the bark of a hamak tree.

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We are so happy our friends are Treble Hammocks got their 2nd Kickstarter Campaign Fully Funded! With 14 hours to go they have raised over $20,000 for the Tree-O Hammock Frame - One Frame for Three Hammocks.

If you are into hammocking with your friends consider backing the Tree-O Hammock to get first dibs.