String fly hems to prevent "snow push"

[Eric Blumensaadt]

When snow builds up at the sides of tents, whether from sliding off the fly or from wind-driven snow, or both, you need a fly that has the hem staked out to prevent snow buildup from “pushing” (literally) the fly and inner tent inwards and reducing living space. Sometimes this greatly reduces interior space in a heavy, wet snowfall of more than 1 foot.

Naturally the closer your fly is to the ground or stomped out snow platform the better this works. Plus a low fly hem keeps wind-driven snow from building up against the inner tent. Often expedition tents have “fly flaps” that are meant to be buried with snow when setting up the tent to protect the inner tent from snow.

I’ll post a photo of my TT Moment DW in an 8 inch snowfall this fall ASAP. The fly was staked out and interior space was a completely preserved.

 

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