Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
Alternative To Nails ... August 30, 2008 ... view of Barry Bridgeford.
When at a backcountry campsite, it's definitely convenient to have hooks on the trees, from which to hang towels, coats, pots and pans. However, achieving these hooks by driving nails into the trees is both damaging and dangerous.
What I'm proposing is an alternative to the use of nails.
With conventional medium-weight or heavy-weight metal coat-hangers and a pair of needle-nose-pliers, temporary campsite tree-hooks can be formed.
They can be secured onto tree trunks with wrap-around elastics .. multiple 'postal' elastic bands for light-weight loads ... or bungi-cords for heavier-weight loads.
The two curled ends eliminate the otherwise sharp ends from puncturing one's pack. Typically, two such hooks can be made from one coat-hanger.
Given the time taken to fabricate these hooks, it's intended that they be taken down when breaking camp and that one re-use them at subsequent campsites. Likewise, the elastics or bungie cords should be re-used or carried out as garbage if they break or wear out.
These hooks have resiliency, aren't rigidly attached to the tree and have a 'curved' end. As a result, they don't have much potential for injury when one inadvertantly bumps into them.
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