Hammocking in the Sierra

Bearpaw, Moraine Lake, Junction Meadow: Plenty of trees.

Guitar Lake: Guitar is above treeline, there won't be anywhere to hang. You could either stop near the Crabtree Ranger Station or stay at Lower Crabtree Lake. Upper Crabtree Lake is above treeline.

Trail Camp: Also above treeline. The first trees you encounter will be at Mirror Lake. However, there is no camping allowed here. The first place to camp with trees will be Outpost Camp.

Andrew pretty much nailed it. Once you leave Kern Canyon, you won't find very many trees.

"Guitar or Crabtree Lakes"

Lower Crabtree Lake would be excellent for a hammock; lots of campsites in the wooded area on the north shore of the lake. However, it will add an at least an hour and a half to your hiking time, when compared to Guitar Lake, possibly two. But you will find Lower Crabtree Lake to be a much more enjoyable place to camp. Guitar Lake has long since been "loved to death".

"I generally hang when backpacking solo. Is this going to be a viable option? I know there are a few camps above treeline where it just won't work, but is it worth bringing the Hammock at all?"

You can make it work, but you will find your options much more limited than with a tarp or tent due the nature of the southern Sierra, where so much of your route is above treeline. If you end up ready to camp, but are at a location other than one of your pre chosen camp areas, you may not find a suitable place to hang. Tough call.

Others have talked about your options. I will add that when I hammocked in the Sierra, I made 6 foot plus straps. I'm not sure about Crabtree lake, but in many places there are fewer, bigger trees.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will just go with a tarp. One of the primary reasons I love hanging is because of the flexibility it gives me to set up camp anywhere on the heavily forested and little-above-treeline East Coast. I don't want to do anything that will seriously limit my choices. I don't have a suitable tarp for ground dwelling (I have a Hennessy Asym tarp which is only marginally suitable for use with the hammock) so this will give me a nice MYOG project for the summer.

Judging from what I've read on BPL and elsewhere, I believe that I won't need to worry about bug protection by mid-September. Would you agree with that assessment?

"One of the primary reasons I love hanging is because of the flexibility it gives me to set up camp anywhere…"

You'll find a tarp will let you do that in the Sierra. There's nearly an infinite number of good sites to sleep in where you're going.

Especially in this low water year, all the bugs will be gone by September. I did the HST in September a few years ago and cowboy camped every night.