(Semi-)enclosed tarp setup using trekking poles

[Parnakra]

After a lot of reading, researching and general fannying about, I decided to ditch my tent and become a full-on tarper. I ordered a DD 3x3 tarp, had it delivered this week and I've spent today and yesterday experimenting with it.

Though I like the normal A-frame setup (over a ridgeline using either trees or poles), I feel it could be a bit too open, either when camping on a public campsite with lots of other people or in bad weather (though you can pitch low to the ground to cope with that). So I decided to try out some enclosed set-ups, using only my poles to simulate a worst case scenario where I have no trees close-by.

At first I tried to recreate the setup bigzee posted here (http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?953-Enclosed-tarp-setup), but I completely borked it up and ended up with something like this:
http://i.imgur.com/9Rnwml.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/9Rnwm.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/EtgRXl.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/EtgRX.jpg)

Not too bad, but getting in and out was a bit of a hassle and I lost quite a lot of space because it was so low to the ground (you can't really tell from the second picture, but I put my second pole under the second loop in the middle row to raise it up a bit). So, I decided to have another go and got to setup #2:
http://i.imgur.com/ifPWAl.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/ifPWA.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/BAr8xl.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/BAr8x.jpg)
This actually had one trekking pole in the middle and was quite sturdy, even without guy lines. I'd have to try it out in some windy conditions to be sure it could withstand some gusts. On the inside, it was quite roomy, though the excess tarp divided in two distinct areas. I'm also not sure what would happen in case of rain: puddles could start forming at the bottom of the 'inlet' and spread inside.

I also remembered reading about the MLD Trailstar (http://goinglighter.blogspot.com/2011/04/first-impressions-mld-trailstar.html) and decided to try a similar setup using the square tarp:
http://i.imgur.com/DLSxSl.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/DLSxS.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/74vcUl.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/74vcU.jpg)
This was actually the best setup, in my opinion: loads of space, a large opening that can be closed up almost completely and depending on the weather, it could be set up quite high - providing extra headroom - or down low.

But I have a question on how I used my poles to set this (and some of the other setups) up:
http://i.imgur.com/rl2Vll.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/rl2Vl.jpg)
I'm pretty sure using the (broad) handle of the pole will prevent any ripping of the fabric, but should I be worried about water/condensation coming in by the pole?

All in all, I had a great time playing around with the tarp (and getting to grips with some of the more common knots used to set it up) and am looking forward to any advice you could give me - either on these set-ups or suggestions for new ones (I'll have another go at bigzee's setup too, eventually, I just ended up mucking about and trying other things).

[Martin]

Some nice set ups there Parnakra. Makes me want to get out and experiment with some tarp set ups for our forthcoming Dartmoor trip. I've used this set up once before up there, on the NBC video 'Camping on Dartmoor With Friends', and it was just fine but haven't ventured out with it since.

Thanks for sharing your experiments.

Martin

[jus_young]

With your pole in the position its in ie directly under the additional waterproof taping applied to stitching, I don't think you would have any problems with water coming in. Might have a look at a few setups myself ready for Dartmoor. Either that or carry the 1.5 kilo Banshee, not sure which yet.

[fish]

like the look of the ideas,would like to see it in te person.

[bigzee]

In my setup, what is perhaps not very clear is the amount of slack in the fabric left around the doorway. This is of course necessary (to get in/out), but looks very untidy when first set up. When the tarp is open the bottom edges of the entrance are rolled-up on the inside and pulled tight at the ends. They are then wrapped round the nearest peg a couple of times, with the top apex hung onto a clip near the top of the pole (a plastic shop display thingy). When closing, take the centre down off the clip, and pull in any extra slack round the peg to make tight along the bottom edge.

I use my pole upside down, with spike fed through guyline loop where it meets tarp's cental loop. I have tried this with a newer pole and it looked awful (too low), then realised the pole was shorter than my original one. Length of pole (ooh.. matron!) relative to size of tarp of course dictates angle of ridges and sides. As you cannot easily change pegging points (as they are always set at the ege of the tarp) then it leaves only different pole heights to dictate ridge angles. I assume some of the trees have now grown back "in Flanders field" and may yield a pole of required height.

If you had a massive length tarp I suppose you could fold one end under a horizontal line at ground level. That may even produce enough internal area for an integral groundsheet??!! OOhh....now that's set me on one of those trains of thought.....hhmmm?....

[mooseyou]

nice looking set up

[jus_young]

If you had a massive length tarp I suppose you could fold one end under a horizontal line at ground level. That may even produce enough internal area for an integral groundsheet??!! OOhh....now that's set me on one of those trains of thought.....hhmmm?....

Thats the one concern I have with a tarp setup. If it does happen to poor down, what prevents the sleeping bag from getting soaked from run off coming inside the shelter? I know you could use a bivvy for additional protection but I have tried using them and ended up soaked through sweat :ashamed: (I am a hot sleeper). On the other side I tried sleeping with less inside the bivvy and froze so I guess I just can't win. I use a mat to sleep on but the bag never really stays completely on. Do you end up taking another tarp to sleep on? If so how do you benefit weight wise when the overall weight carried must be getting close to my Banshee 200?

Love to know peoples experiences and thoughts on this one.

[bigzee]

I tried taking a separate nylon sheet for the ground first time out, and yes I did get wet. It was because I had let it stick-out under the sides and was lying in the centre of my own home made funnel when it rained.