Tarp – solid ridge line vs guylines

[Terry Hoover]

Just bought an 8×10 silnylon tarp and plan to pitch it this weekend. Probably play with a simple A frame. Should I use a solid ridge line or just guylines at the ridge? I have seen smaller tarps pre set up with guylines at the ridge position, but am concerned that an 8×10 tarp will have too much sag unless you put a tremendous amount of tension on the guylines. A solid ridge line will take an extra minute or two to pitch but should be more stable and less stress on the tarp. Any insight appreciated. Terry

[Andy F]

Much of it depends on whether you have trekking poles, or the desire to find suitable wood for poles, as well as the anchoring capacity of the ground, your stakes, and the expected wind. Then, balance that with the requirement of finding a suitable sleeping spot which is situated between two trees. Depending on the environment, one method is usually more suitable than the other. I like using a ridge line, but I've found that poles and guylines on each end is usually more suitable when I'm in mountainous or hilly terrain because I can pick any spot based only on the ground's suitability alone. It's often hard enough to find a semi-flat spot. If you use a ridge line, fastening your tarp to it with toggles is a good method. (Pull the ridge line through a tarp stake loop, insert thumb-diameter solid stick, slide to adjust tension.)

[Andy F]

When Ray Jardine hiked the AT in 2009, he reported that he: – spent 85-90 nights under the tarp (with guylines at each end) – 97% of them pitched between two trees – 3% between one tree and one support stick – 0% using only end support sticks http://www.rayjardine.com/adventures/2009-AT/index.htm

[Jerry Adams]

I tried between trees for a while It's a bit difficult finding a good flat spot sometimes. If you add the requirement that it also be between two trees, it makes it difficult What I found to work much better, is a mid with a center pole. A terkking pole would work, but I don't like them so I just got a pole with three sections

[Richard May]

Recently I've been playing with polycro tarps and the material needs a ridgeline. I'm used to a 5×8 poncho so I've never bothered before. The ridgeline between two sticks is really tricky. One end keeps falling while I set the other and the whole thing comes down when I put the tarp over it before staking the corners—it reminds me of a Chaplin skit. I haven't figured out an efficient way of doing it. Next time I'm going to try what this guy does as a start and then move things around from there to get the pitch I want (that's the tarp I'm playing with). Any pointers are welcome … please.

[Andy F]

Richard, try staking two corners on one end, set the pole/stick, and stake it out. Sometimes you have to have the corners at the other end staked too. Sometimes the pole has to be angled a little in one direction to provide the right tension during staking that it doesn't fall over. It's one of those things which is more art than science. :)

[Richard May]

Thank you. I'm going to try all that. At this point cultivating efficiency is my goal. Even a light breeze was challenging! Yes, an art form. I like how it sounds. :)

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