I was always under the impression that snakes are not that aggressive, unless you really anger them. But waking up with one in your face is way different, you startling can startle it. I still think a hammock is a great choice. Like Lori said, look in to War bonnet, Hennessy, clark...They have fully enclosed bug nets and different entries. I have a Hennessy with a bottom entry that Velcros up. No snake will be able to get to you unless he was a sickly deranged zombie snake.

Made me laugh alot......admittedly probably more than it should have:P

And If I were in snake country (well other than grass snake country) I would get a hammock, and that Hennessey sounds/looks like a good idea.

They're not aggressive, but at night to them a person sleeping in the open just looks like a nice warm place for them to curl up against. I had an uncle that woke up with a rattler sleeping on top of his sleeping bag down near his feet... he said the thought of it crawling into his sleeping bag scared him enough so he never slept on the ground without a tent again.

I've also seen a couple rattlers in trees before. It's not common, but if there's a nest or some other food on a low branch they will get up there.

The REI bug net looks best, but look at this Texsport one person tent
http://www.texsport.net/texsport-tents-1/saguaro-bivy-shelter-tent-p-1127.html
Weighs 4 lb or so, and $34

WBO, I know the country and the pests. Grew up around Alpena Pass in the North Arkansas Ozarks, and worked three months as a cowboy on a little ranch in Adair County (Watts, Ballard, Chance area, don't know if any of those towns still exist). Had lots of discussions with copperheads, like Bill and others here, I saw the occasional mocasin while I was giggin' frogs at night (yes the legs are great, breaded, like fried chicken) Got bit in the palm of my hand by a scorpion (swelled up like a basketball). Lots of spiders, but most i'm sure were not recluse variety. I've heard the stories of people being chased by snakes but since no snake I've ever encountered could be properly described as aggressive I think those stories are BS. But I have woken up with snakes trying to share my warmth, a couple of whom were copperheads, so I know how you feel.

For exactly the reasons you described (and for defense against shelter mice), I used an ID South Col Bivy (765 gr -- about 25 oz.) for one of my AT thru-hikes. I thought it worked very well indeed and the netting over the face was substantial enough to let one feel safe. And it is still in good shape. I believe they are still made (I think I saw one in MEC last trip). Don't use it any more because I have a much lighter one from MLD (though it's not as much protection as you're looking for). Hope this helps, best, jcp

WBO-

You have received lots of recommendations. Add one more recommendation for a hammock. I'm predjudiced for Hennessys. You could leave the fly off to see stars at night and be free of bugs, snakes, and other critters. I tested a tent and woke up to slime trails from slugs. Eww! No slugs, no critters in my Hennessy.

CM

I am glad you said that Campermom, makes me feel good considering I am a new HH Exped asym owner - and I have heard a lot of people say I should have went with a WBonnet.

Nonsense. Everybody is partial to their own hammocks/tastes.
I have two Hennessey's and they work great...never saw a reason to change. I'm sure WBonnets are fine too.

I have to tell you all that I have friends who own WB's but have never climbed into one. I started using Hennessys over 10 years ago. Remember the Remington commercial with the man saying he liked his shaver so much that he bought the company? We don't have that kind of capital, but I liked my first Hennessy so much that I started showing them to friends, then wrote to Tom to ask him if he could make some of the smaller East coast gatherings, offering to host and chauffeur him around. He couldn't make the travel arrangements in time, but authorized me to start showing hammocks for him on a limited basis. Now, I try to go help out at Trail Days and am basically limited to lightweight demos for Scout Troops and selling an occasional hammock.

CM