Shelter for the sierras in August

At 8K feet near Tahoe in August, weather should be fine, even great. Hot days, cool nights, but you most likely won't get hit with rain. Even less likely you'll get with a storm. Go light!

While the Hille Nallo 2 and Akto are wonderful shelters, they're most likely overkill for the Tahoe area during August. Yes, it's generally "mild" in August around Tahoe.

Bear cans aren't required around Tahoe – yet. So, while it's not a requirement, I recommend using one. Especially if you plan on being up high where suitable trees for a propper hang are hard to come by.

Are you going to be on the TRT? Desolation Wilderness? Sleeping near lakes or up high on ridge lines/peaks?

Not so much this year with the miniscule snow amounts, but mosquitoes are normally going to be your biggest concern. If you're sleeping up high mosquitoes won't be be a problem, but wind can be if the high/low pressure game off the coast pushes over the west slope of the Sierra, which isn't that rare. Just last year I spent a couple of nights around the Velma Lakes area that I experienced 40+ mph wilds during the day, greater at night.

I'll be doing many trips into Desolation Wilderness this season from quick overnighters to week long trips. If going with a friend I'll most likely be sharing a REI quarter dome 2T; if going by myself, I'll be using a TarpTent Moment. In the past, I've used a shaped tarp, ground cloth, and headnet or bug bivy with no problems.

You say "we" so I assume it's a least two. If so, definitely take advantage of the opportunity to split weight and bring a two-person, or more, shelter rather than multiple single-person shelters.

I agree, a Hilleberg would be nice, but not needed. August is a good time for thunder storms. Can have wind. The thunder storms will hit and be gone in a few minutes. Bear canisters not required yet, but they ask you use one. You can reserve a permit online if worried about getting a o/n pertmit.
Duane

Hi and thanks for th advice.

There will be about ten going, including four adults. The scouts share tents, but it seems the adults have historically used solo shelters. We'll be in the Desolation Wilderness area, camping by lakes.

The scout troop policy here is to carry a canister.

The OR Advanced Bivy and the Nallo would have no problem, but have TarpTents been able to handle the winds? I would think it could be cold at night, esp if the winds are that high.

Thanks, Steve

Winds at that time usually blow in the afternoon.

I am sure that anywhere could have winds that tarp tents can't handle, but I think the tahoe area in mid-summer is one of the most unlikely locations. Winds, especially in the evenings tend to be rather mild… actually everything about the weather tends to be mild. If the mosquitos aren't bad, I might not even bother with settling up a shelter and just cowboy camp. My experience is that the sierras are the perfect place for tarp tents, you would almost think Henry designed his original shelters with the Sierras in mind :)

–Mark

I used a Seedhouse SL1 for a month long Sierra hike in June/July and it was great. I never used the fly but it gave me enough room to escape bugs. At 8000ft in August I don't recall mosquitos being too bad, but maybe I am wrong. If there are no bugs, I would use the lightest bivy/tarp combo and plan on never using the tarp. A tarptent is pretty light, but not so good for star gazing away from bugs.

From what I see here, rain, if it happens, is likely to be unusual and of short duration. If the weather reports look promising, maybe a BPL Bivy, Nunutak quilt and BPL tarp would be good. Even the tarptent weights a lb and a half and I would likely carry the Bivy anyway for extra warmth and wind protection. It would allow a heavier pad, as well, for the cold ground up high.

Thanks again to all of you for your help so far while I over analyze this!

Steve