Looking for advice… Grace Duo + MLD Serenity for Cascades summer?

Why are you using a two man tarp with the Serenity? The one man version would be fine.

Why a 2-man tarp?

12 to 15 pouns of expensive camera gear needs protecting too.

I'm leaning toward the duo mostly for space, in order to keep my gear protected from storms… and I'm not sure about whether or not a solo would have enough space for that.

But that's also why I'm asking — I'm looking for advice.

I just got my Grace Solo/Serenity Shelter set-up and live in the Central Cascades. After setting this system up, I would say go with the Duo for your camera gear. To set up the tarp high enough to fit the Serenity and have the sides of the tarp pinned down (storm mode), there is little to no space for extras. This set is going to work great for me. The Grace’s coverage and Serenity’s bug protection/ventilation are going to be perfect for around here. But I don’t carry a nice camera and lenses.

For the reply. For longer trips extra space will be even more important for me, since I'll need a sheltered place to re-load my film holders in inclement weather, so that I don't have to carry a lot of extra film holders. The sacrifices we photographers make for our art :)

My main concern was to be sure that something like a Grace + Serenity would be a good choice for the area… it sounds like it will be, as long as I take the time to learn how to use the tarp, so I'll probably plan on doing some short trips early once I get it so that I can carry along my 3-pound tent as a bailout in case I don't get the tarp thing right. And then I can leave the tent at home once I gain confidence with the tarp setup.

At least I don't have to worry about batteries for my camera ;)

Thanks!

I’m using that exact combination for my trips here in the SE. The two play together very nicely and perform well in heavy rain. I got the Duo to give me plenty of space to cook and relax with me and a buddy when necessary on rainy evenings. After you’re done hanging out its easy to set up the Serenity under the Duo without getting wet.

You can see photos on my blog if you’re interested in photos of the setup. (link in my signature).

Don Meredith

lightpack.blogspot.com

Found it… it wasn't on the front page anymore, but you have an interesting blog :D

I picked up one of those Snow Peak coffee presses last fall also. I like it, though I've so far only used it at home and while car-camping.

Anyway… I decided to go for it and placed an order, particularly since MLD isn't the quickest vendor out there. Nothing against MLD, but it does mean that you have to plan ahead a little, and I figure that their lead time should have my ultralight shelter here just in time for the serious backpacking, which means that I'll be getting used to carrying a 3-pound tent in the mean time, so I'll be that much stronger when it arrives :)

Thanks!

Well, my Grace + Serenity arrived from MLD earlier this week, so I'm going to be cutting the lines, figuring out how to thread them onto the linelocs, and giving it a try in the field in about one week :)

Rakesh, great choice on your setup. I know from first-hand experience that you’ll like the system. If you have any issues or questions shoot me an email… I’ll be glad to offer any insights I can.

Don Meredith

lightpack.blogspot.com

I would think a single would be enough room, although I don't know how much gear you sleep with. I use a Grace Solo in the Cascades and it works fine. Although I carried it for probably 12 nights last summer and it never even rained. I did set it up a few times though and it had more than enough room.

Thanks! I will take you up on that if I run into any difficulties :)

Ron sent me some instructions that included what lengths to the guys to, and all that. I'm going to see if I can get the cord measured and cut and attatched to the linelocks tomorrow, and then do some test pitching later in the week… then take it with me on a backpacking trip next Friday :)

I tried it out for the first time last night.

Getting the right pitch with the tarp took a while — I attribute this to user error, since it was my first attempt at pitching a tarp, and it took me a while to get the guys figured out and all that.

I did have a question, though — what's the best way to put up the Serenity within the tarp? I attached the two hooks on top of the Serenity to the hooks on the Grace, but that left the ends of the Serenity a bit slack. So I put some guys on the linelocks on the Serenity, and looped them around the straight poles. That worked ok, but it seemed like there ought to be a better way to go about it.

Anyway, in spite of my mediocre pitch, it worked out nicely; even though I camped in a pretty cold spot, I stayed warm and comfortable.

Thanks! :)