Hammock camping is becoming more and more common. When I camp with my dogs, it's not an option. But I'm close to converting to hammock camping when they aren't around. The advantages are obvious.

• Comfort - You won't sleep on the ground, and you don't have to carry a sleeping pad.
• Less Movement - You aren't as likely to toss and turn while you sleep. Chances are once you get comfortable, you will stay there.
• More Locations - You'll need a couple of trees or large rocks, but otherwise you can put a hammock in a lot of places a tent won't work.
• Goodbye Critters - You don't have to worry about bugs, poison ivy, thorns and other animals that crawl into your sleeping bag at night if you use a hammock.
• Easy Set Up - A good tent isn't hard to set up, but a hammock is just plain easy.
• Weight Savings - Last but not least, a hammock is going to be lighter than most tent and sleeping pad combinations.

I did an overnight trip last weekend with some friends to a beautiful camp site right next to a swimming hole.  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed camping in the summer until I hit the trail.  Warm weather requires so much less gear, it felt like the pack was hardly there.  No need for extra thermals, coats - even pants and long sleeve shirts are optional at this point.  I left the sleeping bag at home, and went for a CoolMax TravelSheet instead.  Some people don't use a sleeping bag or sheet in the summer but I like to have something just in case.  Weighing it at 11 ounces and packing to 3.5 x 7 inches, this thing rocks.  It breaths well so I slept comfortably.  I also use mine in the winter as a liner for my sleeping bag.  If you haven't used one before, I highly recommend it.  I also recommend finding a nice swimming hole and hiding from the heat.  In Asheville at least, this summer is shaping up to be a brutal one.

This is pretty cool.  The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation has just launched an online reservation system for their parks.  You can reserve a camp site anywhere from a few days up to 11 months in advance.  The system is only taking reservations for after July 14th.  Check it out at www.ncparks.gov/Visit/main.php.  There a ton of great parks in NC, and this seems like a good idea. 

I've been pondering hammock camping lately.  TrekLightGear.com is a site I stumbled onto the other day.  They have some pretty cool hammocks and accessories.  A one pound hammock (retails for $54 on their site) can save you a lot of weight over a 4-6 pound tent. 

I've never been much for tarp tents; I like something with a little more substance.  I know most of the places I camp are safe, and I know a tent doesn't provide much protection from critters.  Still, a full tent just has that psychological safe effect.  I don't know how "safe" a hammock feels.  I bet its pretty comfortable, but I'm not sure it would feel very safe.  At least you are off the ground.  It gives you some protection from the crawling critters.  Seems like you would be at the perfect height for a bear to investigate though.  One plus is that you do less damage to the plant life with a hammock than a tent.  What are your thoughts on hammocks?