View Full Version : Basha without trees
Hi!
in few weeks time, I am off to the Ligurian Apennine (north-west of Italy, not far from the coast).
The route I am taking will cover some area without trees. I was wandering if there is a way to install a basha in places without trees.
I will carry walking sticks, can these be used to fix the basha together with ropes?
As i do not own the walking sticks to test the method, I was wandering if any of you have experience.
Thank you.
sandbender
16-06-2005, 22:08
It's possible to support a hootchie with walking poles, its all down to keeping tension on the guy lines. Not sure I'd want to try it in a storm though.
MSR produce a lightweight tent which roughly indicates how you should set the hootchie up.
http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/outfitterwing.asp
Have fun in Italia, I'm quite jealous... ;)
arctic hobo
16-06-2005, 22:32
Hi!
in few weeks time, I am off to the Ligurian Apennine (north-west of Italy, not far from the coast).
The route I am taking will cover some area without trees. I was wandering if there is a way to install a basha in places without trees.
I will carry walking sticks, can these be used to fix the basha together with ropes?
As i do not own the walking sticks to test the method, I was wandering if any of you have experience.
Thank you.
I'm doing a similar thing in Norway - I string it between cairns as I don't use poles.
magicaltrevor
17-06-2005, 09:43
Hi there,
My friend and I had a similar problem as we wanted to erect our bashas on Dartmoor. Now neither of us wanted to but walking poles as we consider them a bit 'rambler-esque'. So after much searching we found the perfect solution!
2 fishing rod support poles!!
They're telescopic, very light weight and not bulky at all. In fact I carry them even when I know I'll be tieing up to a tree. Also they are considerably cheaper than walking poles. Then we just erected the bashas like an A frame flysheet with either bungees or para-cord as guylines with a guyline on each end supporting the poles. I found that this is very strong and can stand up to some quite strong winds.
Hope this helps
Andy
sandbender
17-06-2005, 10:33
Hi there,
Now neither of us wanted to but walking poles as we consider them a bit 'rambler-esque'.
The bronze age guy who was chiseled out of the Alpine glacier had a pair of walking poles, so maybe not so 'rambler-esque'. That said I don't use them either, just a big wooden staff for rabid farm dogs and vagabonds, which can also support one end of a hootchie for a basic shelter.
jamesdevine
17-06-2005, 11:21
I got a set of walking poles at christmas and they are still in the packaging. I regreted this and so did my knees after a recent hike up Carlingford hill.
The tradtional Scout stave would be more bushcrafty but the fishing stands sound like a good and lightweight idea. You can buy Basha poles but they can be a little expensive for what they are.
James
steven andrews
17-06-2005, 12:31
http://img70.echo.cx/img70/5601/tarpandpole9up.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
http://img70.echo.cx/img70/8314/tarppoletwo3fm.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
Hope they help
As a previous poster suggested - extending bank sticks from your local fishing tackle outlet.
Light, cheap, various sizes.
Jim.
An excellent technique for this is described in detail in Ray Jardine's book, Beyone Backpacking. As he is hiking, he keeps an eye out for sticks that are long enough for setting up camp. The simple trick is to use sticks with a Y at the top, Your lines sit in the Y but you take one turn around one of the horns of the Y then run your line out to a stake. This will hold your pole and line in place and is surprisingly stable.
in few weeks time, I am off to the Ligurian Apennine (north-west of Italy, not far from the coast).
Hi Mauro,
Just for curiosity, where roughly will you be "bashing out"? I will be living in San Remo from 26th June and would like to know of a few places to go and enjoy the great outdoors.
If I was walking and carrying just the stuff I needed for a couple of days, I would try to find a couple of adjustable aluminum tent poles,say from a four man tent for example. You can buy spares from camping shops. Only the top sections would be needed. There will be a spike on the top for the eyelets. They'd only be roughly half a metre long and wouldn't weigh much at all. Then you could make an A-frame or lean-to basha. They could just slide down the side of your daysack.
Julian.
Now neither of us wanted to but walking poles as we consider them a bit 'rambler-esque'.
Each to their own opinion I know but I use a walking pole, mainly because it's good for two reasons. One is setting up your basha. Two, as well as my interest in bushcraft I do a lot of walking and on a 30 or 40 mile two or three day (or more) hike over the mountains, not only will it take a hell of a lot of weight of your back but it'll keep you a lot more stable on those narrow windy ridges aswell!
However in saying that I llike the fishing rod idea, I can imaging them working really well.
Have you thought of a pole out of a dome tent, alot of the modern lightweight ones only use one pole nowadays, mind you I've never tried it (only thought about it) be interesting to hear if anyone else has though.
Marc
[QUOTE=steven andrews]
...
Hope they help[/QUOTET]
Thanks!! that's what I had in mind!
Just for curiosity, where roughly will you be "bashing out"? I will be living in San Remo from 26th June and would like to know of a few places to go and enjoy the great outdoors.
Hi Julian,
i will be wolking on the "Alta Via dei Monti Liguri" ("High way of Ligurian Mountains".... see the site in English: http://www.altaviadeimontiliguri.it/eng/home.html)
The whole path is 430Km, but I will just do 3 days, from Genoa to Lavagna (east of Genoa). The most interesting part will be going through the Aveto Nature Park.
However, if you are at San Remo I would suggest you to go to the Beigua park (http://www.parks.it/parco.beigua/Eindex.html ... it's in English!). I have never been there, but it looks nice.
If you are _VERY_ lucky you may see the tracks of some wondering Italian Wolf!!! (no chances see it though! they are too clever! :D )
If I was walking and carrying just the stuff I needed for a couple of days, I would try to find a couple of adjustable aluminum tent poles,say from a four man tent for example. You can buy spares from camping shops. Only the top sections would be needed. There will be a spike on the top for the eyelets. They'd only be roughly half a metre long and wouldn't weigh much at all. Then you could make an A-frame or lean-to basha. They could just slide down the side of your daysack.
Julian.
Good idea, thanks. But my father will carry walking poles, so I thought to use those.
Thanks for those websites Mauro, I'll definitely be checking those areas out.
Buon viaggio.