NEWS

Clark Hammocks Prove Durability in Amazon Rainforest

If you were headed into the Amazon rainforest, you would be pretty particular about the shelter you chose to bring along. The Wilderness Classroom Organization has chosen to use the same Clark Tropical Hammocks they have used in two previous expeditions as they prepare for another 3,000 mile journey. The following letter from the head of their team explains why.

Dear Clark Jungle Hammock Co.,

In 2005 we used 6 of your tropical hammocks for a 350 mile canoe expedition through the Peruvian Amazon. In 2006 we returned to the Peruvian Amazon and traveled for another 5 weeks by canoe through the flooded rainforest. The flood waters were even higher than the previous year, and on many nights our 5 member team could be found snug in our hammocks strung over water because we were unable to find any dry land on which to camp. At one point we went for 9 days with out seeing dry land, and night after night we were forced to hang our hammocks over water. In these situations the outside pockets were indispensable because they allowed us to store our clothing, and personal items in a dry, secure, and organized fashion.

Insects are a constant concern on these expeditions, and zipped up tight in my hammock was one of the few times I felt completely safe from the wide range of disease carrying, as well as poisonous insects that we encountered on a daily basis. Your hammock’s sturdy design, and full length bug net make it a piece of equipment I would never care to enter the jungle without. Weather I find myself on a river boat, in a small village, or in the middle of the flooded forest with no dry land for miles your hammock is my shelter of choice in the Rainforest.

We have also been very pleased with your rain fly design. It is always hot in the Amazon, and on clear nights it is easy to leave half of the rain fly unhooked, which makes sleeping much cooler. If it starts to rain you can have the fly fully tied out and storm proof in less than a minute. At one point during last year’s journey it rained over 10 inches in 48 hours. I am pleased to report that even under these extreme conditions I was able to keep my self and my sleeping bag totally dry by setting up the fly first and then hanging the hammock under the fly at night, and taking down the hammock and packing it way before taking down the rain fly each morning.

This spring I am leading a six member team on the first stage of the Trans-Amazon Expedition, a 3,000 mile journey on foot and by canoe from the Pacific Ocean in Peru to the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. Over the next three school years our team will cross South America with the help of thousands of school children from around the world. Children will participate in the expedition by logging onto our website www.wildernessclassroom.com to look at photos, videos, and content that we gather from the field, and help us make decisions about where our team should go, and what we should study.

We are looking forward to many more nights in our Clark Jungle Hammocks during the Trans-Amazon Expedition. Thank you for making such a great product.

Keep Exploring!

Dave Freeman
Co-Director
The Wilderness Classroom
Western Springs, IL