A night in the woods.

[lostplanet]

Never ceases to amaze me some peoples ingenuity,




Check out the klemheist for your ridgeline http://www.animatedknots.com/klemheist/index.php It's a version of a prussik, I find it grips better and you can add extra turns to increase friction depending on what cord you use. once in place it just stays there and works.

If you are using pegs or sticks to tie the tarp guy lines to, you can use the clove hitch effectively. Ultra quick to tie and untie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na-8lj26mCs

I have guy lines with adjustable knots (three turn tautline) already on the tarp loops so I just de-hank and then clove hitch to a peg and then adjust tension at the tarp. If I have a tree nearby I Evenk and then adjust at the tarp.

Having the adjusters near the tarp also saves wandering round and round the whole outside of the guy lines chasing the tarp tension you are happy with. Also try adjusting on the diagonal. Adjust your ridgeline and tarp prussiks, then adjust left front then right rear, then right front and then left rear.

Great thing about wild camping/BC is you get to try and practice all sorts of stuff and eventually choose what works for you and knowledge weighs nothing.

Also it worth getting decent cord to tie knots in, cheaper stuff has caused me all sorts of problems in the past.

Good job getting out there! and having a go.

[hog]

Bummer that you got wet, nothing worse than being wet at night, still it was a valuble learning curve and I hope that the next tarp venture is dry and comfy, tasty looking victuals by the way.

[s'étonner]

Smashing photos, make me want to be there! If after taking the advice contained in this thread (including reproofing the tarp) you are still getting wet in heavy rain, then it may be time to think about getting a new tarp. I note from the photos that yours is not a genuine issue one, and may suffer from a poor hydrostatic head no matter what you do to it (save maybe coating the whole lot with silicone sealant watered down with white spirit). Genuine issue bahas can be picked up fairly cheaply from the likes of ebay, and will give you much greater leeway/more options when pitching (i.e. you won't need to achieve such steep sides to keep dry).

Thanks for the advice! It has been worrying me that water can seep through the actual material itself, particularly when touched from the inside. I'm guessing that this should not be able to happen unless the tarp is pitched so poorly that rain is able to collect on it?

Now that I've bought the sealant, I plan to use it on the leaky seam, then take it out again in the rain and see how it holds up (possibly tomorrow night!).

I've been eyeing up this basha on the woodlore site, but it's pricey! I may have to have a mooch on ebay as you suggested!

http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Pr...chie-Flysheet/


Thanks again for the tips!

[s'étonner]

Great pictures and good on you for not getting disheartened.

Like you I didn't know any knots when I first started 'tarping' but now I know loads. That said I only really ever use 4 knots, the evenk, truckers hitch, prusik and a sliding knot I use for pegging out that I got from Ray Mears book.

Most of the fun is in the learning.


Sent from my phone.

Thanks! I was a bit overwhelmed initially by the amount of knots and pitching variations out there. I've just been trying to take on board new techniques slowly, and then try them out for myself, and I love it- I never want to use a tent again!

Never ceases to amaze me some peoples ingenuity,




Check out the klemheist for your ridgeline http://www.animatedknots.com/klemheist/index.php It's a version of a prussik, I find it grips better and you can add extra turns to increase friction depending on what cord you use. once in place it just stays there and works.

If you are using pegs or sticks to tie the tarp guy lines to, you can use the clove hitch effectively. Ultra quick to tie and untie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na-8lj26mCs

I have guy lines with adjustable knots (three turn tautline) already on the tarp loops so I just de-hank and then clove hitch to a peg and then adjust tension at the tarp. If I have a tree nearby I Evenk and then adjust at the tarp.

Having the adjusters near the tarp also saves wandering round and round the whole outside of the guy lines chasing the tarp tension you are happy with. Also try adjusting on the diagonal. Adjust your ridgeline and tarp prussiks, then adjust left front then right rear, then right front and then left rear.

Great thing about wild camping/BC is you get to try and practice all sorts of stuff and eventually choose what works for you and knowledge weighs nothing.

Also it worth getting decent cord to tie knots in, cheaper stuff has caused me all sorts of problems in the past.

Good job getting out there! and having a go.

Cheers, some great info there! I've been thinking about heading out on a bike with my tarp for a few days so that setup may come in handy! haha!

Bummer that you got wet, nothing worse than being wet at night, still it was a valuble learning curve and I hope that the next tarp venture is dry and comfy, tasty looking victuals by the way.

It was a bit grim but luckily the rain only started in the morning after dawn, so I wasn't too inconvenienced! I'm thinking about heading out tomorrow (today actually, since it's 2am!) and there's rain forecast, so fingers crossed the tarp holds up this time!

[spandit]

Have you thought about buying a bivi bag to keep you dry? Looks like you had fun anyway

[s'étonner]

Have you thought about buying a bivi bag to keep you dry? Looks like you had fun anyway

I actually purchased one a few weeks back, and the last two times I've camped out, that's all I've used! It's only a cheap hi gear one but so far I'm impressed with it. Still need to test it in the rain though!