Shelter for JMT/Sierras

I love using a Tarp/Bivy combo in the Sierra Nevada and have been doing so for 8 years. Most of the time, I just cowboy camp so I appreciate having the bivysack.

I agree that there are some nights that finding a stick or a tree to use as a tarp support won't be possible unless you pick them up a few hours before camp and carry them. However, you can buy carbon fiber poles to use with a tarp. MLD sells some as do other companies. They weigh less then trekking poles (MLD's are only 2.6oz/pair verses my Ruta Locura trekking poles at 7.4oz/pair).

The issue with the tarptents other then the Rainbow model (which doesn't need them unless you are trying to set it up as a free standing tent) is that they are designed to be supported by your treking pole (same issue with the tarp). Yes, you might be able to substitute something else (but you can with the tarp as well as I suggested above). I have no suggestion for what could be used with a tarptent though. It really sounds like you are going to have to go with a lightweight tent that comes with it's own poles. Only that may weight more then carrying a lighter shelter and a treking pole to use as a tent support, even if you don't use it for hiking.

However, for snow travel and deep water fords along the JMT in late spring, early summer, many people find trekking poles useful, even if they don't normally use them elsewhere. I know many PCT thru-hikers who carried poles only for the JMT portion to deal with crossing snow fields on steep slopes and the fords.

A Tarptent or tarp plus bivy would be perfect for the JMT. You'll want poles of some kind – often you can use trees but definitely not every night. Many manufacturers including Tarptent sell shelter poles for those who don't use hiking poles. The Squall 2, Stratospire or Notch would all be good lightweight options for the JMT.

I think that a good tarp is quite adequate for the JMT in summer. I've been using a very lightweight cuben fiber tarp, but my friend uses a simple silnylon tarp.

I don't use trekking poles, either, so I use lightweight segmented carbon fiber poles. For one tarp, I use two skinny poles. For a different tarp, I use one medium pole.

The advantage of a shaped tarp shelter is that you can pitch it down to the ground, so to speak, for high wind or rain. Or, you can pitch it high to get increased ventilation on a warm night.

–B.G.–

Hi Whilly,
The TT Squall is on sale right now at $234.
We have a 4oz 0.490" Vertical support pole ($16) (under Extras) that is similar in stiffness to a standard trekking pole.
With the Squall you can use one or two.
I would suggest two, set it up with the poles slightly apart, then just move them in,perpendicular to the ground , before you go to sleep and that will retension the shelter.
franco@tt

We did the JMT in August, and I'm mentally reviewing the whole route. I believe, with VERY careful planning (and a willingness to do some bigger mileage at times), you could camp only in places below tree line (so you could tie off to trees all the time). It means that you would not be spending the night in the "usual" places (no Guitar Lake, no Evolution Basin), but would always aim for the forested areas between.

That said, having done the hike, I wouldn't want to be that limited in my itinerary. We used a BA Fly Creek UL — while not my favourite tent, it is light, free-standing, and will easily get you through the JMT. You can often get them used, either on Gear Swap, or eBay, so it can be a budget-friendly option.

I understand the concept of a tarp and bivy, however it takes practise and experience to set up a tarp properly. I would take a serious look at the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2. Its a well made tent, sets up easily, provodes two ways of entry, and has been provem over and over. It weighs a couple ounces over 3 lbs. You and your friend can split the weight.

Tarp Tent Contrail on the JMT…27oz

MLD Grace Duo Tarp & Yama Mountain Gear 2.0 Bug Shelter…23oz

hexamid twin, 17 oz with cuben groundsheet

This past summer was a special WET one, think I got rained on 5 or 6 days, about half the time. Only 2 nights though. Almost anything works for shelter in the summer sierra. The lighter the better. Plan on using rocks instead of stakes in lots of areas.

Mosquitos were sporadic, heavy in spots, nonexistant in others. I was driven into my shelter one evening near Bear creek, didnt even bother to eat dinner. I was quite GLAD I had bug netting sanctuary. Sierra mosquitos are little, and wimpy, but they show up in packs.

"Plan on using rocks instead of stakes in lots of areas."

This has never been an issue for me on the JMT. If it is a concern for you, because you might be camping well above timberline and alpine meadows, or hiking to late into the night to find a good spot, you should think about "rock cords" to protect your shelter. You run the risk of cutting the tent if you try to pile rocks on a short cord.

I make my tie-outs long enough to tie around a smallish "anchor" rock, and then add rocks as needed. That way they are always there.

YMMV.

My personal 2 cents, regardless of whether you go more tarpish or more tentish; I find I need bug protection more often than I need rain protection in the Sierra. So I prefer a shelter that offers me a comfortable refuge from the nasty skeeters to keep me sane.
And you can definitely keep all your camps below the treeline if you want to on the JMT.

for me at least, the most amazing parts of the JMT are those above treeline.
it would be a shame to limit yourself, due to shelter choice, and miss the above treeline camping experiences.
saving weight can sometimes be short sighted.

While I'm also in the tarp/bivy camp with a Gatewood Cape and a Borah bivy as the shelter of choice, it doesn't sound like you're really in love with the idea of tarping it.

By and large, I never really had any trouble finding a place to set up my (non-freestanding) shelter on the JMT, and I'm confident that I would have been able to make it work without too much trouble basically anywhere. That said, by the time you take into account getting some kind of single-wall tent, plus poles, I feel like you are starting to get to the point, weight and cost-wise, where something like a 3lb double-wall tent split between two people isn't the worst idea in the world. While I could always get my shelter up, there were definitely places where I was a bit envious of my hiking partners' freestanding tents, since there was a lot less fiddle factor involved.

Like I said, I prefer sleeping under a tarp (or using a tarptent), but if you're worried about the dealing with poles, etc., it might be easier to just run with something like the Big Agnes referenced above. ~1.5lbs per person for shelter weight ain't exactly a boat anchor.

Since you are torn between tarp and tent, take a look at a mid shelter. Something like the MLD speedmid with perimeter netting would be perfect for the JMT. Super easy setup, plenty of room for 2 plus gear and the netting should keep out the skeeters. Price is reasonable as well. The only problem may be the footprint but I think that is going to be the case with any 2-3 person tents. If you are set on a tent, any of the tarptents would be a great choice and would not have any problems with summer sierra weather.

I've hiked the JMT the past 2 summers and took non free standing shelters both times. I had no problems setting up above tree line. Just add some rocks on top of the stakes and you are good to go.

Thanks for all the quick replies.

I like the idea of a tarp and bivy combination for my shelter. I don’t mind carrying some light weight carbon fiber poles either when I am above the tree line either. I did a MYOG silnylon tarp that came out very oversized for two people. I think was something like 9’6” by 10” and it was 19 ounces. That seems a little too heavy. A shelter is an integral part of a kit and not being able to pitch it correctly on a thru hike would not be good. So for this trip, I will stick with other shelter options. Hopefully I can learn the necessary pitching skills in the next few years to be able to use a tarp. It doesn’t seem too hard, just seems to need practice and experience. Just for future reference how confining is a bivy during storms or when the mosquitos are bad?

I would like to stay away from freestanding tents and double walled tents. I don’t like how they take many poles to pitch. And then you have the fly on. In my experience it all takes a long to pitch those type of tents. Then you still have to stake the whole thing. It makes it more challenging with cold hands. With a tarptent it seems like I would only have to worry about two small poles and staking the shelter. That would make set up and take down much easier. It sounds like they do well in the wind, rain, and keep out the mosquitos which is good.

Franco- Thanks for the heads up about the sale. As of right now I plan on trying to get something that is used but things could change. Out of curiosity how long is the sale for?

I was going to try to get a used shelter such as a tarptent for around $160 or so. Is this too optimistic?

Thanks,
Whilly

The current version of the Squall came out in 2005 so there must be some that want to sell theirs and get something new.
Not sure how long we will have it for sale, we have not had any sale for a few years so it was about time that we did so.

From my experience, a bivy is fine in a storm as long as it starts after bedtime. To hang out in one during a rainy evening could be a drag. I have not used bivys with a hoop or mini tent over the head, these wouldn't be as bad, but still confining to hang out in. In the Sierras in the summer you are more likely to have afternoon showers and clear nights, so this might not be that big a deal.

If the bugs are bad enough that you have to take shelter from them it could be a long afternoon and evening of hanging out in a tube with a little netting. Once again, fine for sleeping, but you would probably be happier if you could sit up, stretch a little and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings.

I have the Big Sky Mirage 2P with the UL-fabric option for use when my daughter accompanies me, which is more often than not now. The quality of construction is top notch, it sets up incredibly easy (free standing), has two doors and nice sized vestibules, has room enough for two and weighs in at roughly 2.5lbs. Additionally, they are currently 20% off.

http://bigskyproducts.com/big-sky-mirage-2p-tent.aspx