the same plane, and centered as viewed from between the guyline pairs; confirm this
after all adjustments. The poles should lean roughly as shown viewed from the side.
More upright poles achieve greater height, while more leaned poles stress the
ground anchors less, lowering their end of the hammock. Assure that the feet of
steeply leaned poles will not slide inward by digging small divots in the ground for
them to settle into. In all but hard ground, place hard flat objects such as stones or
the snow baskets beneath the feet to prevent the poles sinking under load. To
achieve more height difference between head and foot ends (typically to lower the
head end) either lengthen the suspension on the end to be lowered, set up on a slope,
or omit the extension segment from the lower end pole (107g less to carry!). Never
lengthen a pole in hammock mode with two extension segments.
6. Carefully sit in the hammock to test the anchors and stretch guylines tight. Bounce a
little to simulate tossing and turning in the hammock while watching all anchors. If
any anchor fails or threatens (look for gaps behind the anchors), loosen the attached
guyline, and re-set the anchor farther away to try again, repeating as necessary. In the
worst case, select another site with firmer ground, or get creative. For example, if one
or more guylines can attach to boulders or the bases of woody shrubs, then you can
use the spare ground anchors to double up in spots of looser soil. You can even tie to
an anchor crosswise on the surface behind a pile of rocks. Send pics of your most
unlikely “you can’t hammock here!” hangs!
7. When satisfied with the hang and anchor strength, re-tension the guylines to remove
the slack the test sitting produced. To prevent the guylines from slipping later, for
example if some person or other creature bumps into them in the night, tie a slippery
half hitch in the orange line tail where it enters the black constrictor section.
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