I recently got a MLD SpeedMId (after a lengthy discussion here on "Lightweight Shelter for Two in the Desert"). It's primarily for Grand Canyon and similar use, where it's meant to be set up only on the 10-20% of nights when rain threatens, and only occupied if actually necessary.
So I'm wondering how to work my groundcloth (that we'd be sleeping on in the open, until and if it rains), since the center pole of the 'mid means it's not as simple as just dragging the groundcloth/pads/bags under the shelter. I can think of a few solutions, none seem ideal:
1. At the time I decide to set up the 'mid, resign ourselves to sleeping under it.
2. Use one groundcloth per person, instead of a double-width one.
3. Slit the groundcloth halfway up the longitudinal line, so it an be slipper around the pole.
4. Somehow work the groundcloth under the pole (if we need to retreat to shelter).
5. Carry two groundcloths. We use a polycryo one, so that's only another 3+ oz, and it provides better protection on non-setup nights.
6. Set the pyramid up with two poles; but GF's pole is probably not long enough.
I really have no idea, as my sum total experience with a pyramid is the night on our recent trip when we decided to set it up, and only retreated to it for about 15min for a dawn rainshower; we didn't worry about the groundcloth, since we were already up.
