Tent advice for 72 year old attempting JMT or sections

[David S]

I would like to hike maybe most of the JMT in late august to early September. I’m late to the party but want to try.  I only have a  couple of trips and a few nights in the sierras so far. I only know what I read and view and it seems to all come from those under it around thirty and much more hardier than myself, used to be but time has its effects. I am looking for some advice or suggestions for a tent for this trail. Weight is an obvious concern but in my case so is setup time.  I have some neck issues which limit the time I have to completely setup my shelter to ten to at most fifteen minutes, to include staking and guyline adjustments for a proper setup.  After this amount of time spent bending over with my head tilted down  I need to ly down for good thirty minutes for the pain to leave and my neck to seemingly decompress. I would like to avoid this situation as much as possible. I realize it could happen and I’m fine with that a few times but not most nights. It seems the fewer stakes needed the easier the setup would be. Using rocks on occasion is fine, I’ll grind through it once in awhile but not most. Over the past couple of years I have acquired some tents but how optimum are they for this trail. Slingfin 2 lite, Splitwing wing, a tarp, and mld mid. I am not opposed to get something else. I’m six foot one and weigh 220. I obviously don’t know the terrain and potential campsite location, abundance and size. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Maybe there are some old people out there who have gone through this learning curve.  Thank you for your time.

[Dan]

If setup time and convenience is very important to you, it might be worth considering a freestanding (or semi-freestanding) tent as opposed to a trekking pole tent. A lot of the work can be done standing up (e.g. assembling poles and inserting them into sleeves) and the staking is simple and fast. Maybe you can save weight by choosing a small single wall tent. There are some tents in this category.

Google found me this list, although I’m sure it’s not comprehensive.

https://www.adventurealan.com/best-ultralight-freestanding-tent/

[JCH]

Given your stated limitations I echo the suggestion of a free-standing shelter.  And since you mention a 2 person shelter take a look at the Durston X-Dome 2 with Al poles.  It is a rare combination of beautiful design and execution with reasonable price.  You might consider the X-Dome 1+ but it is currently sold out…next availability in 47 days.

[Arthur]

I suggest the Moment DW Li.  Two stakes in protected sites.  One crossing pole that is assembled standing.  I have had the old, heavier non Dynema version for years. Solid in bad weather with the help of two more stakes. Takes me less than 2 minutes to set up.  I will also be 72 on the JMT next summer, see you there.  Plenty of campsites for this tent.

[Terran]

Use your foot to set your stakes. Be careful they don’t go through your shoe. Preferably use a stake pusher or a PVC pipe cap. Weight down your tent by putting your gear inside.

[GW Hayduke]

I am not young either, with my own share of unique tweaks and aches.

The best strategy I apply for success is low trail weight for sure. The impact of trudging miles every day is far greater than 10-15 minutes of fussing with a shelter  (all types come down easy enough).

My favorite Sierra setup takes 4 stakes or rock anchors most likely, and weigh 13oz. It’s bug proof, storm worthy and big enough (6’2″ 175lbs). Also due to neck/back issues I prefer not bending but rather kneeling, or crawling even, to setup.

With settled weather (nearly always), minimum bugs (with these dry years that’s mid/late July in most locations), and a good site (some distance above lakes and creeks) I cowboy camp.

This is the ultimate in old guy convenience; 2 minute setup, easy to get up and pee, breakfast in bed. If dew impacts the quilt/bag dry it at lunch – because waiting for sun at camp wastes the best hours of Sierra hiking. Yes, it gets hot, bright and dusty late in the day.

With my diet and gear as I currently have set it up I stayed in the Sierra backcountry for 14 days last summer, starting  from Lamarck Lakes TH with all my food and a total pack weight of 32 lbs, including water and the bear canister.

If you go only 7 days between resupply, and ask the right questions to older UL experts that’s actually still out there doing it – then under 30 lbs TPW is very attainable while still being comfy at camp. Thus increasing your changes many fold.

[Brad Rogers]

My father is 74 years old and loves the Tarptent Moment DW.  He’s mostly a bikepacker but does some backpacking as well.  He’s done three trips across the US (E to W, W to E, and N to S) all using the Tarptent Moment.    After those three trips and multiple other 2-3 week trips his Moment started to wear out so he got a Durston X-Mid 1P Pro with the optional poles but he didn’t like it and said it wasn’t as roomy or quick to set up as his Moment, so he bought a Tarptent Moment DW Li and has been using that the past year.

[AK Granola]

I’ll be another to chime in on the rapid pitch of the Moment DW. It takes literally 2 minutes to pitch. So easy. If you need another guyline or two, another 60 seconds. It’s heavier though, than the Marmot Tungsten UL1, which is also ridiculously easy to pitch. The tungsten also fits in just about any spot easily. The Moment has more space in the vestibules, which is nice. It also gets harder to constantly sort out your stuff when you’re old.

I’m a bit puzzled by your comment about a tent or tarp potentially taking 10-15 minutes to set up, which seems incredibly long to me and I wonder why anything would take that long outside of a circus tent or maybe a 25 person party tent or something. Even my Tarptent Notch Li takes only a few minutes longer than the Moment to get it well pitched; it’s the lightest tent I have and I love it and take it on most trips. I used it on the JMT twice.

I would suggest that you find a tent that is reputed to be easy to pitch, and once that’s settled, maybe focus more on your health issues and finding ways to adapt to make those better? Yoga, massage ball, soaking in cold streams (of which there is a delightful selection on the JMT), resting frequently as you go, maybe an edible or some kind of balm for the pain; I use Icy Hot or Diclofenac creams to ease achy spots. I have psoriatic arthritis and I simply cannot be la-de-da about my health as I used to, if I am to keep trucking along the trail. Going lighter was the first step, now it’s about body maintenance efforts and self care. Rest is critical.

[Drew Smith]

I second all the comments above about the ease of pitch of the Tarptent Moment. However, as I have aged (I’m 69) I find its entrance to be a bit low for my increasingly less agile body. Same goes for my other tents, like the Zpacks Hexamid.

The Durston X-mid is much easier to get in and out of, and is not difficult to pitch but I can’t recommend it because both zippers failed on me this year. However mine is an older model, maybe Dan has beefed up the zippers. I would ask about this if you are considering it.

In any case, I recommend that you pay attention to the entrance height, especially given your neck and back issues. You definitely want a side-entrance tent, not end-entry.

[Axel J]

I am mid 70s and have been using the Tarptent Preamble in the alpine Sierra since it first came out (yep, the purple version and love it). Single wall with a bug netting skirt but by late August the mosquito pressure will be minimal but not so with thunderstorms and wind. Mostly though the weather is fine day and nights. Pictured below is the tent with my “handicap ramp” into the tent. I don’t always set the tent up, mostly because at my age tents are a pain to get into and out of no matter where the entrance is. Just get out of the bag, stand up and go. I don’t use my trekking poles with the tent because I need those to help me  stand up in the morning.

[David S]

Thank you for your time and response.  I really like your ramp, very clever. Did you need a permit?

[Jerry Adams]

A mid is easier to get into.  Or that x-dome.  Anything where you get in from the side of your sleeping bag.

If you get in from the head, like that tarptent preamble or a pup tent, you have to twist your feet around.

[Paul McLaughlin]

I am still just a kid at 66 (ha!). I have a Moment dw, and it is quick to pitch, requiring just 2 stakes, but those two have to be very solid placements. And, as others have mentioned, not the highest entry. I recently acquired a Durston X-dome 1+, primarily because over the past couple of trips I have found myself having to pass up spots I wanted to camp in because I either could not get stakes in at all (too much rock just below the surface), or the ground was too soft ( deep forest duff). With the dome, there is less tension on the stakes, and it’s much more feasible to use rocks in place of the stakes. I just got it and have only used it one night so far, but I like it – plenty of room, easy to set up and will get even easier once I have done it a few times.

If you decide you want a Moment DW, I may be selling one soon, in excellent condition.

[Jeff L.]

I find my HMG Crosspeak 2 to be incredibly easy to pitch.  It takes about 5 minutes.  It’s incredibly pricy though so that may be a detractor.

[Author]

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