Shelters for Alaska

I spent six nights in Katmai during July, and it was semi-soggy damp most of the time. It never rained hard, but it rained lightly on and off. There were only short periods of sun, and the bugs were out in force. I had a load limit to reach (thanks to the float plane), so I took my Gossamer Gear SpinnShelter for lightness. Then later I was in Denali where it was not so damp and not so buggy.

–B.G.–

i am currently liking my akto for wetness up north. yes, it needs a cumbersome/annoying window installation, but once that is done, akto is a very nice little home. most nights only 4 stakes/rocks. good floor. no frikk'n bugs. excellent resale. spacious vestibule too. everything stays dry. sort of … is 3 pounds though.

Keeping the weight down is an issue, I think it is around 220 lbs per person. That should not be an issue for me and my other lighter gear. Tarps are probably out of the issue since it will need to be shared between two people, not all the guys going are of UL mentality.

The Akto is a proven design but unfortunately does not meet my requirements of a 2 man tent and cannot be free standing. A Hilleberg would be nice to have but a little heavy for summer use.

Why no tarps? I’ve been backpacking for years in Alaska, and I love using mids. For two people, a SuperMid is palatial, light (24oz), versatile, simple. It can take whatever weather gets thrown at it. If your friends need proof, have them check out Erin and Hig’s Journey on the Wild Coast; they used a SuperMid for a 4000 mile trek along the Pacific in all four seasons. If you’re extremely worried about bugs, throw in an inner net for another 24oz. All told, the system is storm and weather worthy, modular, dividable between two people, compact, and light.

Personally, I’ve never had big problems with bugs in Central AK or seen the need to have a connected floor. Bring a groundsheet for super soggy areas and keep the rest of the floor open. That way, you can take off wet clothes, store boots and wet gear, slop around mud, all inside the non-covered parts of the tent, and it’s all gravy. Then crawl into your dry, clean sleeping area. No freaking out about keep the floor clean, sweeping out dust and mud every few days, doing Twister-like moves to change out of muddy clothes in the vestibule–it’s easy and simple.

Any bugs that make it in tend to just fly up to the peak of the shelter (probably because of collected CO2) and a head-net keeps the rest at bay. Of course, if you truly anticipate horrid bugs (usually an overblown fear in Alaska, but not always), the inner net would be worth the weight.

"more storm and weather worthy"

Than the Scarp? Can you prove it with some evidence? I would say that 50% of all reviews I hear for Mids are negative in the snow and high wind (too tall, sides collapse, snow / rain blows in under the perimeter, etc). I don't hear such commentary about the Scarp.

Fair point: I haven't used both, so I have no proof for comparison. I'll edit my post to be more accurate.

My mids (Duo and Super) have worked great in high (gusts to 50mph-ish) wind (mid-panel tie-outs are very helpful), driving rain (pitch low to the ground, sleep a few inches from the sides), and light fresh snow (3-6 inches) from sea level to 5000 feet in Interior and Southcentral Alaska from May through October and from the crest of the Cascades to the ocean in Oregon and Washington in all four seasons.

Yes – I am not questioning your opinion per se, I was just curious because of the mixed reviews I tend to hear about mids. I have a SoloMid but have not had it out in snowing conditions yet.

If you are doing base-camping with dayhikes, and only moving basecamp every 2-3 days, then I'd personnally just take the 6.5 lb Nemo and enjoy being comfortable in camp. Your half is only 3.25 lbs, which is only 1.5-2 lbs more than the lighter double wall tents you are looking at – and I doubt the "heavy pack" crowd covers more than 7-10 miles in a day anyways.

If you really want a lighter "alaska worthy" tent, my vote would be a pyramid with a groundsheet that covers about 2/3 of the floor space. The conveniences listed in Mile's post alone may convince your friends to reconsider lightweight gear. Get 12-15" of perimieter netting sown on if you are worried about bugs rather than the heavy inner nest.

All good thoughts and much appreciated. The distances we are actually backpacking with full gear are not great, about 8 miles between camps. Just to give you an idea, mandatory gear are rugged packs in the 70L range that can carry 35-45lbs. At the recommendation of several people going, I got a custom fitted Osprey Aether 70 and it is comfy but heavy at 5lbs empty. I’ll probably be posting a gear list for this trip on BPL soon for veteran Alaska UL guys to nitpick.

I have considered the possibility of getting a MLD Duomid or sewing up one of my own. It seems like a very versatile shelter and I have read good things about them. Full on tarps are something I have not tried as of yet though. The rest of the group probably would not be into it. This photo of a pyramid on the Pacific Coast trek above is pretty extreme.

The photo page linked below is exactly what we will be doing, dropped off at Turquoise Lake and working our way over to Twin lakes. It looks like someone is using a Stevenson Warmlite tent in a couple of the photos. I have considered it an option since it could be used for mountaineering.

Backpacking in Lake Clark

Warmlite on Denali

"Keeping the weight down is an issue, I think it is around 220 lbs per person."

I flew on a Cessna 206 one time out of Homer. They warned us in advance that each passenger was allowed 250 pounds, and that included the body weight plus all baggage. Obviously that made a problem for the big guys who weighed 240 pounds. At the airport, we were weighed-in.

Better be sure in advance.

–B.G.–

Yeah, that was an issue we thought of early on. The good new is that many of the heavy pack guys have more of an incentive to go lightweight.

Many of us going are in the 140-180lb range so it should not be much of an issue. Us skinny guys will just have to pack more on the planes to make up for the bigger guys.

BTW: I was up in Homer for a week this past summer, neat place!

Like David I have also seen mixed reviews for the DuoMid in high winds. I have one, but haven't used it much yet. I did give it one trial pitch in high winds (easy to do where I live). It held up OK, but the sides really took a pounding. The real problem was the pole, which was flexing in a terrifying way. If I was using a mid for windy conditions I would use a proper aluminium centre pole or a paddle as I supect Erin and Hig did?

I do like the mid design a lot, but the Polar pyramids http://www.antarctica.gov.au/living-and-working/field-operations/tents-shelters-and-huts/tents/polar-pyramid-tents, weigh 30kg and are a different beast all together.

I have just got a Trailstar for windy conditions, but haven't had a chance to test it yet. Hope to walk up a local hill next week and give it a trail pitch.

The Trailstar is interesting and looks very versatile. That thing would be a palace.

Maybe I am going to extremes with worrying about the weather and the standard Tarptent may be fine. For example, I can put the add-on liner in the Moment to help with misting and condensation issues (sort of like a double wall tent) and guy it out at both sides. Packed weight would be about 40oz with a tyvek footprint vs the 112oz of the single wall tents many of the others will be using.

Does anyone have any experience with the Moment in Alaska?

I would second — or third — the use of a pyramid and add a suggestion for a light-weight bivy (6oz Oware)for the bugs. You will have a palace, and your hiking colleagues will be trying to buy it from you within a week. You will be standing up, changing clothes or brewing a pot of tea on the ground inside your palace, while they are hunched over in their tents with the condensation dripping off the walls and onto their heads.

You may want to bring a flat tarp that could double as a ground cloth and a kitchen tarp. That way you can stand watch under your tarp for bears while they retreat to their little shelters. You will still have the weight advantage.

Katmai in the summer can be cold and wet and so can Denali. It has snowed in July in both areas.

Ryan,

In the trip reports there is link to a trip by 4 guys on a 33 day hike in Alaska.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169211

This may give you some things to think about while reading the journal and examining this extensive photographic essay. I concur with all of the suggestions re: pyramids.

Looks like they slept in the dowm tent and used the BetaMid for cooking and storage.

Ok, so three people suggest Pyramids, two of which are from Alaska. I'm starting to seriously consider it now.

BTW John, that trip report with photos is EPIC! Nothing like what our group will be doing but close enough.

Pyramid selection:

I know many like Duomids as they are light but that may be a little small for two guys plus gear. A 44.5 sq-ft MLD Duomid with perimeter bug netting and stake package would probably weigh in under 2lb for the entire thing and would cost $275. Only problem I see is that we will be using our trekking poles for the day hikes meaning someone is only going to have 1 pole. Made in USA gear is important as I like to support cottage manufacturers.

Another mid is the GoLite Shangri La 3 with the inner nest for bug protection and a floor for 55 sq-ft and 68oz (4.25lb) that does not need trekking poles. With the 40% off coupon floating around, it would be $240. Seems like it would be a palace for two plus gear over both the Nemo and Scarp 2 (and lighter).

For comparison, the Scarp 2, my original plan, costs about $430 with all the options. The Nemo Morpho 2Ps are also about $430.

Any suggestions about these two or any other harsh-condition worthy mids?

Ryan said…”Any suggestions about these two or any other harsh-condition worthy mids?”

Take a look at the Oware 9×9 pyramid 26 ounces. Large enough for two people and all their gear. We use hiking poles for the center. You mentioned a kayak portion of the trip, a paddle on a slant works well too.

We have paddling partners who use an inexpensive ($30?) mosquito net they hang from the apex of the Pyramid and tuck under their ground cloth/tarp. It would get you through a summer.

Duomid is a bit tight for two really. Would definitely look at something a bit bigger. I think the extra weight would be well worth it.

The Oware 9x9s look nice. The Golite SL3 gets some good reviews too though.

The SL3 with nest is like a double wall but is 4.25lbs (that can easily be split between two people). The 9×9 Oware looks easier to setup with it's square bottom over the hex and would probably weigh in a little over 2lbs with perimeter bug netting, ground cloth, and stakes (but would require someone to leave their trekking poles at camp to support it). Both would probably end up costing around $250 (new) with everything.

Based off people's experiences, which one would you pick for base camp style backpacking and as a general 2 man tent for all purposes? I am leaning towards the Shangri-La 3.

You probably won't be surprised that I recommend the Oware.

I compared the Oware, MLD and GoLite Pyramids a few years ago when looking for a fall and winter shelter to use here in wet Southeast Alaska. I was leaning toward the GoLite until I did a comparison of weight to size. The Oware is taller, lighter and wider than the Go-Lite 3. It also doesn't have the vent thing on the top. Pyramids don't need the ventilation and can end up with some structural issues with the open flap above the zipper. But, back to it being taller and lighter. Did I mention you standing up changing your wet clothing while your buds are scrunched down in their little tiny tents?

Also, don't worry too much about the hiking poles. Depending on where you camp ( especially in Denali) you can hang a line between a couple of trees and drop the Pyramid from it.

This site's owner used an Oware pyramid and half mid for the unsupported Arctic trip a few years back. They are well constructed. Ours has had 4 years of abuse and is in great shape.

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the Oware get some heavy condensation and less ventilation if pitched tight to the ground? I don't see a top vent on it to help with this. BTW we will be in Katmai and Lake Clark tundra the most, not many trees to work with there.

The SuperMid with perimeter netting looks tempting as well.

How well would something that huge hold up in high winds? Seems like it would need a dozen or more stakes to be stable in harsh weather.

Also, does anyone have any experience with Stevenson Warmlite tents? They have been around for decades but I don't see people talking about them much.

We haven't had a problem with condensation in the Oware. We don't set the tarp tight to the ground and perhaps that provides enough ventilation. You mentioned one with a net along the bottom hem which would allow for some air. Pyramids are great in the wind if staked or tied well.

I have been using a 9×9 oware pyramid for a few years now. Before purchasing it I had all kinds of anxiety about whether it would be prone to condensation because of the lack of a top vent. The reality has been that on calm humid nights condensation does form but just runs down the steep walls. One would think that this would be a problem when it gets windy as the condensation might get knocked off the walls by the gusts. My experience has been that in windy conditions there seems to be enough air circulation that condensation is not an issue.

8 stakes makes for a very stable pitch. I weathered a brief mid day snow storm in it last fall in the rockies (Kananaskis) for about an hour where it was snowing and blowing so hard that visibility was down to a few hundred meters with no stability issues. I have also purposely run out into my backyard on stormy days to test it out. I set it up late last fall in blizzard conditions (snowing sideways) and was impressed at how stable it was. The shelter billows a bit but nothing that I am too concerned about. I'm pretty sure my neighbors must think I am crazy.

I have also looked at the Warmlite tents with interest but the floor extending into the vestibule area always concerned me.

Jeff