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Finally figured out the tarp ridge line trick for rainy trips
Last month I was out at Lake George and it started pouring around 2 AM. My tent stayed dry but everything outside got soaked because I just had my tarp thrown over a rope. On the third morning I tried something different. I tied a tight ridge line between two trees and draped the tarp over it like an A frame. Then I staked the corners out at an angle so water actually runs off instead of pooling. That little change kept my camp kitchen gear bone dry through a whole day of drizzle. I used cheap paracord too, nothing fancy. Has anyone else found a simple tweak that made a big difference in wet weather?
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jamiesullivan4mo ago
Man, that hits close to home. I had almost the same setup fail last fall out in the Adirondacks. Woke up to a puddle in my boot because the tarp sagged overnight. It's such a simple fix but it changes everything. I started using a taut line hitch on my ridge line now. Lets me adjust tension without retying every time the rain starts. That little knot saved me so much hassle.
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jessica3314mo ago
The tarp sag is the worst, waking up to wet gear just kills the whole vibe of a trip. @jamiesullivan, I had the same boot puddle problem last spring in the Green Mountains, it was miserable trying to put on cold, damp socks. Switching to a taut line hitch is genius for keeping that tension right when the weather turns. I started carrying a few extra stakes just to peg out the middle of my tarp on long sides, stops that big saggy belly from forming in the first place. It's a small change but it makes you feel a lot more secure when you're stuck in a long drizzle.
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