King of ants

[j0hannes]

On my first solo hammock trip, I thought I found the perfect pair of trees. Great spacing, nice shade and a view of the creek. I was feeling pretty proud of myself… until night fell and I realized one of those trees was basically the main highway for ants. Let’s just say I spent more time swatting than snoozing that night!

Has anyone else picked what seemed like the ideal spot, only to discover hidden friends that ruined the hang?

 

[cougarmeat]

j0hannes - I always use a bug net at night. The built-in kind is more secure than the 3rd-party variety with a Velcro® closure at the ends where the hammock suspension exits. It may work okay against mosquitoes and bees, but maybe not smaller invaders - unless you pay very close attention to the closure.

But the problem with the built-in zipped closed bug net is that sometimes the occupant, laden with sleep, cannot discern that the critter on the netting, be it a mosquito, ant, spider, or other crawler, is outside the netting, not inside.

Once, at night, I was sure I felt some large animal pass under and brush up against my hammock. I checked for tracks the next day and didn't find any. Months later, I was hanging where there was a bit of wind. A strong breeze passed through, creating a slight shift in my suspension. Amazing but true, it felt exactly like it did when that "animal" passed under my hammock. So it was just the wind. And my imagination.