I’ve been thinking this summer of doing more hammock camping. The idea would be to pack a small day pack with some food, the hammock, matches, flashlight, and maybe a backup battery pack for smartphone (for music/entertainment). I would hike back along a trail somewhere, find a place to spend the night along the trail, build a fire, cook on a small lightweight frying pan.
I did something similar for Memorial Day Weekend 2023, when I camped up on Cole Hill State Forest. It was a lot of fun, not too much work to set up and take down. Some nice sunsets and evenings in the woods, with a very simple camping set up and good meals cooked over a small open fire. I should consider other state forests and land around where I can do something similar.
I’ve stayed away from doing a lot of backpacking in the past, because i have memories of camping in Boy Scouts, where a night in the woods meant a heavy pack, loaded down with gear, and a tired back after hours of walking int he wilderness. But I don’t think I need to bring big pack frame with me for most trips, I could go much lighter, and camp much more minimally especially during warm summer nights.
