Trip Report

Camping with my tarp and bivy

By dirtbag

May 2, 2022

Country	United States
State	New York
Area	Harriman State Park
Trip Month	(04) - April

Report / Notes

This is not much of a trip report as I just went on a very short hike for more of a camping trip to spend a beautiful day, evening, night and morning outside with some nice views and a nice sunset. I shoot most footage of my tarp and bivy pitched in a sweet location and talk about the few gear items i used for this overnighter. As you will see i give much love for camping with a minimal tarp and bivy… it might give you the bug ( no pun intended )

Discussion

This topic has 31 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 2 months ago by R L.

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 32 total)

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May 2, 2022 at 11:48 am #3748177

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Companion forum thread to: Camping with my tarp and bivy

This is not much of a trip report as I just went on a very short hike for more of a camping trip to spend a beautiful day, evening, night and morning

May 2, 2022 at 8:39 pm #3748184

R L
Spectator

@slip-knot
Locale: SF Bay Area, East Bay

That was enjoyable. You’re good people. Thanks for sharing. ~RL

May 3, 2022 at 5:36 am #3748197

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Lol. Thanks man. Hopefully anyone considering using a tarp for camping will stumble upon the video and get an idea how nice it is to use one and be open like that. Of course it has its disadvantages also and there is a learning curve to know how to protect yourself from the elements if needed, but it is possible. On beautiful days/nights like that though i would never want to be confined surrounded by tent walls, thats for sure. In fact, I would not have even pitched the tarp had it not been for the sun beating down on that open ledge.. yet another spectacular advantage of a minimal tarp.. pitches quickly for a shaded retreat from the hot glaring sun… its fantastic!!!

May 3, 2022 at 8:06 am #3748200

R L
Spectator

@slip-knot
Locale: SF Bay Area, East Bay

I’m on the left coast. Dry, sunny, no rain. Tarping is synonymous, imo. ~RL

May 6, 2022 at 9:30 am #3748583

Sarah B
BPL Member

@sarahbees

I am using the exact same setup, except for a little bit bigger tarp, in the Pacific northwest. Great for our dry summers and I actually stay drier than my tent friends when it’s raining because you can cook, tear down, and pack up under the tarp. A friend of mine who backpacks in the Olympics frequently in the rainy shoulder seasons ties up a big tarp above head night and sleeps in a tent body under that. Instant living room. These setups aren’t as light but are better for our type of rain, which is rarely sideways and blowing.

May 6, 2022 at 9:39 am #3748584

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Awesome!!! Open tarps are just great in my opinion for everything short of continuous torrential heavy downpours with substantial strong, non stop heavy winds or nasty blizzards!!

Bonus points for what you said about cooking, tearing down and packing up all under tarp!!

May 6, 2022 at 5:43 pm #3748615

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

May 6, 2022 at 8:09 pm #3748629

R L
Spectator

@slip-knot
Locale: SF Bay Area, East Bay

Not the best pic. Back in January I was trying out a Pinon bivy and had the tarp as a ridge line of sorts with thoughts of quick unfolding if the weather changed. Work in progress, as always.

May 6, 2022 at 8:16 pm #3748630

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Ahhh yeah, thats a good idea, lol.

May 6, 2022 at 9:11 pm #3748632

Bob Kerner
BPL Member

@bob-kerner

Stockbridge? Last time I was up there there were three dudes on that site cooking a whole chicken on a rotisserie made of sticks!

thanks for mentioning the bugs. That’s the one thing keeping me from going tarp and bivy. That and there’s a million trees to hang from in Harriman

The MLD bivy had a bug net did it not?

May 6, 2022 at 9:31 pm #3748634

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Just north of it, yes. The bugs were not bad once I made a smokey fire.. hammock or bivy wouldn’t have made a difference really. Yes the MLD has a full bug net face, so that was perfect, though I did not really need to hide in there thankfully!! Definitely no shortage of trees to hang from in Harriman thats for sure. Im just rolling again with my tarp and bivy combo for several reasons and one of the big bonuses is that I found my comfort zone again on the ground.

Jun 24, 2022 at 6:41 am #3753547

tom l
Spectator

@tomledger

Im just starting out with the tarp life. Thanks for sharing!

Jun 24, 2022 at 7:10 am #3753549

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Ahhh.. enjoy it. Embrace the minor inconveniences at times and it will open up such experiences. Every set up has its limitations, its good and bad, inconveniences and conveniences. It does not matter if you are under a tarp, in a bivy, in a tent, straight up cowboy camping.. there is no one perfect setup for all conditions, at least none that i have encountered and if anyone tells you different, I call BS. Learn how to pitch the tarp, make sure you know how to do it in the dark, when you are tired and beat down, in the rain, in the wind, on a hot sunny day, with trekking poles and without… I also suggest learning simple knots even if you will be using line locs, you never know when you will need em! Its like everything else, know its limitations and know how to use it and it will take care of you! Some times it may suck but most of the time it will be a pleasure!!

Feb 3, 2023 at 6:24 pm #3772191

iamkbird
Spectator

@iamkbird
Locale: Trentham

I love doing these quick overnighters. Great recharge for the soul. I’m doing these here in Oz and it’s great seeing you doing similar in NY.
Also, love your accent and attitude. Entertaining.

Feb 3, 2023 at 7:33 pm #3772196

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Thanks man!! Keep at it!! Great for the soul indeed!

Feb 5, 2023 at 2:17 pm #3772431

Joe Mezick
BPL Member

@twosolesoutdoors
Locale: USGS: Mount Holly, NJ

I do likewise but mostly next to small streams where the sound of running water also has a relaxing effect. Enjoyed looking at your photos. Should you ever get down to Pennsylvania, Pinchot State Forest South Section to be exact, backpack along the Pinchot Trail to the Choke Creek Primitive Campsites. First come first serve so arriving on Thursday will allow a better chance to located the site of your choice.

Choke Creek:

Tarp -n- Bivy 2021:

Tarp -n- Bivy 2022:

Feb 5, 2023 at 3:04 pm #3772444

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

Very nice, yes. I have spent many nights in PA on various trails, West Rim Trail, Black Forest trail, Allegheny Front trail, Loyalsock trail.. i will add that to my future list.. but first I want to do The Old Loggers Path and the Quehanna trail!

Feb 5, 2023 at 4:29 pm #3772461

R L
Spectator

@slip-knot
Locale: SF Bay Area, East Bay

Born and raised in Pgh. I miss the woods.

Feb 5, 2023 at 4:40 pm #3772463

R L
Spectator

@slip-knot
Locale: SF Bay Area, East Bay

Here’s a recent set up. Paria Breeze with a GG Twinn. Works well. Realizing however that I prefer a straight ridge line from a flat tarp. It’s getting harder to maneuver under there.

Feb 5, 2023 at 4:41 pm #3772465

DWR D
BPL Member

@dwr-2

Joe…. Interesting SnugPak Bivy… how do you like that?

I Googled it and they claim it is waterproof and breathable… what do you think? Would it be dry in a rain storm without a tarp over it?

thanks,

DWR…

Feb 5, 2023 at 5:47 pm #3772466

Joe Mezick
BPL Member

@twosolesoutdoors
Locale: USGS: Mount Holly, NJ

The tarp is solely to protect the bivy (+ myself) from objects that may fall from the trees DWR D. I don’t use it while camped on a bald or in a meadow.

The inside is prone to become slightly damp, but there has not been enough moisture to penetrate my down-filled sleeping bag so far, during periods of mist. Storms? So far has not happened on the days I’ve used it. I’ll post an update if that should change.

The small zippers are the only part that I’m dissatisfied with because when pulling along the arc there is a potential for a kink before being fully closed. A larger YKK zipper may be a possible solution.

Overall, I’m please with it’s performance but like all gear there are ways it make it better.

Feb 5, 2023 at 6:04 pm #3772468

Joe Mezick
BPL Member

@twosolesoutdoors
Locale: USGS: Mount Holly, NJ

Born in Lackawanna County and raised in Bucks County R L. I visit the Pocono Region and the Blue Mountains of PA whenever time allow. No better place than where a person was born or raised (at least for me)!

Feb 5, 2023 at 7:35 pm #3772476

Kevin Babione
BPL Member

@kbabione
Locale: Pennsylvania

@Dirtbag – PM me before you do the Old Loggers Path. I’ve done it 4-5 times and can offer you some guidance depending on what time you plan on starting your trip. There are some amazing stream-side campsites about 10 miles apart, but your starting time drives the way (clockwise or counter-clockwise) you start hiking the loop from Masten. There are also two log shelters now, but both are dry so you have to plan and carry your water if you want to stay at them.

@Joe Mezick – We’ve hiked a number of the same trails (I did the Pinchot Trail with a group April 29-May 1 and we woke up on April 30th and it was 18 degrees!). PM me when you’re thinking of heading out and it may work out that we can do a trail together.

Feb 5, 2023 at 9:11 pm #3772489

Joe Mezick
BPL Member

@twosolesoutdoors
Locale: USGS: Mount Holly, NJ

Roger dat Kevin Babione! LOL! 18 degrees in April? Will do, but I think that the next time will be in May. I did it in January 2019 during Winter Storm Harper. Only went down the high 20s.

Feb 6, 2023 at 2:44 am #3772492

dirtbag
BPL Member

@dirtbaghiker

@Kevin.. will due. Though most of my trips are last minute decisions.. I certainly will hit u up. Thanks.
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