Tarp Poles

pre-wrap the pole with tape at one or more desired/anticipated pitch heights to accomodate diff. weather conditions. might sound like it wouldn't work, but i learned this from reading what the Gurus of UL trekking (DrJ and others) do with their trekking poles (which if the guyline isn't wrapped around the handle/grip of the pole, suffer from the same problem you're correctly envisioning with your Al poles).

I haven't tried the tape thing, and I think it's an excellent idea. I posted a while ago that I use a very small piece of bicycle inner tube rubber that I wrap around the pole shaft and attach the tarp like with a clove hitch at this point. This has always worked well for me.

thanks for the input guys. I was considering using rubber bands. Now I have a couple other options to try out!