Q: ‘Advanced Tarp Camping’ article

I have only used the single length of guyline when pitching my Oware 2.5 tarp for maximum height. I too had difficulty trying this at lower heights. In higher wind conditions I do one of three things:

1. Using a 16 inch piece of spectra line with figure-8 loops on both ends, I girth hitch the line to the guyloop and stake down using the figure-8 loop at the other end.

2. I pass the same 16 inch piece through the guy loop as shown in the article on Spectra Rope and stake through both figure-8 loops.

3. Stake down the tarp directly through the guyloop.

I guess you could also use a clove hitch to adjust lengths between steps 1 and 2

Hi Mike, thanks for replying. I’ll have to try this. I can see the benefits: While it stops the tarp’s tieouts from sliding, in a way similar to tying loops along a single long cord, smaller sections of cord would also allow you to use each one as a single (longer) guyline, so that you can still pitch the tarp higher if desired. Nice.

oops, I think I misread you. In #2 you’re threading each guyline thru a tie-out loop, then staking the ends of the same guyline with the ~same~ stake? (exactly like the spectra pic?) In my reply, I thought that the ends of each guyline section shared a stake with the next guyline section over — so that it would look like Ryan’s setup (4 stakes for 3 tarp tie outs) but made of 3 shorter sections instead of one long one. Both would work, just that the latter achieves ‘more tension panels’, etc. Will fiddle w/ both for awhile. Staking directly thru tieouts may still be the best alternative for very high winds. Anyway thanks again!

Hi Jason,
Yes, I use one 16 inch section doubled over per guyloop exactly like in the picture linked above. I guess if you girth hitch a number of the 16 inch pieces for one continuous length, that would prevent slippage just because of the resistance going over each hitch.

I also see what you are saying, by having two of the 16 inch sections on each tie loop and sharing a single stake in the middle of two tie loops, and of course going out 45 degree from each corner as well. I will have to try that!

I truly believe the one length piece staked out 6 times (or one more than the number of guyloops) is only good for ideal, i.e. low wind conditions.