Portland to Seattle by bike, Are there Trees to hang?

[vincethebutcher]

I'm in McMinville, OR now and will be traveling to Sumas, WA next. I'd like to use my hammock setup but I'm worried about having trees. Are there areas along this stretch that don't have trees. I will be using the Pacific Coast maps to get up there. I dont have my maps yet due to errors of the USPS. but should have them monday 11/3. So if anyone has experience on this route and can tell me wait I might be in store for I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Vince

[freightbike]

Given the environment of the area of your proposed route, I would have to take a guess that trees would be quite abundant.

[22hornet]

I live in Washington and am also a hanger. You should be good to go on your route. Have fun and be safe. Jim

[p nut]

From this trip report, seems like an abundance of trees.  May want to reach out to these guys for specifics.  Looks like an awesome ride.

http://www.boyzonthehoods.com/?p=2428

[PeteJack]

There are definitely suitable trees in the state park in Humptulips. I've used them for a Hennesy Hammock. I've given up in the thing because it is so damned cold. Whatever i put under me ends up slipping out and i wake up freezing, have you cracked that problem? Any solution I've seen defeats the big advantage of a hammock i.e. its small size and weight.

[22hornet]

Use a hammock specific under quilt that attaches underneath the hammock, they are super light and pack down small. Hammock forums has lots of info and it's a great site to learn

[paddleboy17]

I am going a different route...

Big Agnes has a line of sleeping bags where there is a pocket to put your mat in.  I did a fall hang where it got down to 32F both nights and I was quite comfortable in my Big Agnes bag.
Wherever my bag went, my mat was forced to follow.

[etsisk]

As far as the OP's original question, I don't know about trees there, but Derek Hansen (The Ultimate Hammock book and website) turned me on to the Handy Hammock hammock stand. The thing is light and breaks down small - well packable on a bike (or backpack, for that matter). Google it and see what ya think. I'll be taking one, for sure, on my rides.

As for the cold problem, yep - underquilt or other below-hammock insulation is the way to go. Hennessy makes an insulation system, but an underquilt would only be about a hundred more. I've got the Hennessy system and will likely use a smaller sleeping bag stuffed into the under sheet.

[22hornet]

I use a Jarbridge quilt from Arrowhead Equipment it's rated to 30 degrees and was about 100 bucks it's synthetic and feels like a heater on your back when you lay in the hammock. Way better than a pad. Jim

[PeteJack]

I am going a different route...

Big Agnes has a line of sleeping bags where there is a pocket to put your mat in.  I did a fall hang where it got down to 32F both nights and I was quite comfortable in my Big Agnes bag.
Wherever my bag went, my mat was forced to follow.

This sounds like a good way to go. Now, does the BA pocket work with Thermarest pads or do you have to use the BA pad? I suppose I could ask them at REI but they have been wrong before today.

[paddleboy17]

I had a Thermarest pad.  Big Agnes claims any 20" pad will work.  I have to put mine in slightly inflated, it won't go in fully inflated.  I did my fall trip with a 15F down bag.  I was so impressed that I retired my MSR 45F summer bag and replaced it with a BA 45F synthetic bag.  It seems to make a lot of sense to have the pad be part of the bag.