No one has said this yet so I'll add it: it's a pleasurable bushcraft skill to master.
It's an excuse to learn, do and practice knots & handle/collect rope; and the art of learning, designing, pitching and situating a tarp is a survival skillset which some people find inherently interesting. I often go into the hills, put up a tarp for fun, read for a bit and then go home.
I don't tarp camp, but I do always have mine with me on adventures. Keeping sun or rain off leaves you more energy, and it's also useful for outdoor DIY in bad weather, or to save an outdoor party, or to give a baby or toddler more comfort. It can also be used as a poncho or a groundsheet. Some bushcrafters just can't get enough of having the right tool at the right moment, doubly so when it's versatile!
This week I:
- rigged up a tarp to keep my rescue bunny safe(r) while temporarily lodged in my leaky garage.
- put another one over my garden to allow me to cut wood out of doors, a safer environment for it
- Previous time I used it was a temporary shelter to keep my bags dry on a wildcamp where the weather report had promised sun all night, & it was obviously wrong.
I've used it in the car to discourage pets from moving from the back seat into where I'm driving. Oh and a great camping use of tarps: if it's raining when you break camp, you can stay dry while packing your tent and bits, and then stuff your tarp into a bag for life as the last step before making a break for the car.
None of these are mission critical problems, but it always gives you that little thrill of delight to realise you have a chance to use a skill.
It's an excuse to learn, do and practice knots & handle/collect rope; and the art of learning, designing, pitching and situating a tarp is a survival skillset which some people find inherently interesting. I often go into the hills, put up a tarp for fun, read for a bit and then go home.
I don't tarp camp, but I do always have mine with me on adventures. Keeping sun or rain off leaves you more energy, and it's also useful for outdoor DIY in bad weather, or to save an outdoor party, or to give a baby or toddler more comfort. It can also be used as a poncho or a groundsheet. Some bushcrafters just can't get enough of having the right tool at the right moment, doubly so when it's versatile!
This week I:
- rigged up a tarp to keep my rescue bunny safe(r) while temporarily lodged in my leaky garage.
- put another one over my garden to allow me to cut wood out of doors, a safer environment for it
- Previous time I used it was a temporary shelter to keep my bags dry on a wildcamp where the weather report had promised sun all night, & it was obviously wrong.
I've used it in the car to discourage pets from moving from the back seat into where I'm driving. Oh and a great camping use of tarps: if it's raining when you break camp, you can stay dry while packing your tent and bits, and then stuff your tarp into a bag for life as the last step before making a break for the car.
None of these are mission critical problems, but it always gives you that little thrill of delight to realise you have a chance to use a skill.
. Me.
