Best way to setup a tarp

[jonnno]

I know this gets discussed to death but I'm always interested in how people set their tarps up. So lets say you have a 3x3 tarp (so a little large for some convenient configs), plenty of guyline and 2 walking poles but no trees! - what way would you set yours up.

I'm a fan of the this sort of setup because it gives plenty of shelter from the wind and rain, although it doesn't give so much room to sit around

 

[eel28]

having just bought my first tarp from the DD group buy, i shall be watching this thread with great interest

 

[stooboy]

I try to lassoo to whatever is at hand, here im on the side of a mound and using one walking pole

And here near the same spot its lassoed around the peak of two big rocks,

if trying to bivy i like to find a bit of natural shelter, so can tie off to bushes, fence posts, gates, stone dykes, but if in the direct open then i would go with the shape that you have shown in your first post.

There used to be a tarpology pdf on the home page of the site, and Jed as done good demo of some at the moot.

 

[Dexter]

Here's a link to the tarpology pdf that Jed put together

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4vD5yvT0cOYYmY2YmI5ZjItN2VjMS00NjA5LWEzNGUtMzhiM2I1ODgzMWQ5&hl=en

 

[rcastillo]

Good link, great doc! Thanks, Dexter. Like eel28, I was keen to watch this thread having just bought my first tarp through the recent DD group buy.

 

[foxtrot]

Have a look at DD Hammocks site, there is an entire section devoted to this.

 

[eel28]

just browsing youtube, and amongst others, this one looks quite informative - will have to have a bit of a practice i think

 

[Paul_B]

I tried a few different styles on my first trip out. I had never put one up before and tried it for real on the side of the hill. I ended up with the only style I got to work after about half an hour of trying everything to get a taut shelter up. That was a simpe A frame with two trekking poles.

I'd have pasted a pic but can't do it.

The A frame had its back about 6-8 inches from the wall of a crag.Just enough room for a steep guyline and to squeeze out if needed. The front is open to the view towards the coast in the Lakes, The sides were a little off the floor but only about 2-4inches or so. It was a good pitch so anyone could have put something up there.

I intend to do the style with the back and sides to the ground and the front held open with two trekking poles later this year. There are styles where there is excess tarp which is tucked under to form your groundsheet. If you look on youtube there are vids of this and other styles.

 

[sensi5446]

http://www.bushcraftnorthwest.com/articles/articles.htm

This link may help, it did for me

 

[bushblade]

I did a a tutorial quite some time ago that Sandbender kindly converted to pdf and Overlander30 has hosted. Follow this link and use the password 'bushcraft'. It is also available via woodsmoke here. It was supposed to be made available as a download from the BCUK main site but I've no idea whats going on with that. I'm gonna request that the link be made a sticky as I still get requests for it.

I would host it on my site, but don't have the space.

Hope you find it of use.

 

[C_Claycomb]

For a number of years Jed Yarnold of Truenorth has given his "Tarpology" talk at the Moot. He has made his notes available and they have been posted up here:
http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/tarpology

 

[sensi5446]

Thanks Bushblade that helps a lot just downloaded it

 

[jonnno]

Some great links, thanks.

After some further experimentation I think My favourite setup is one of the numerous adaptations of the flying V where one corner attaches to a pole or tree and the other 3 corners peg to the ground. It's good in rain and strong wind and you can also use a pole to lift another corner to just sit under.