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On setting up camp in the pouring rain.
100 sats \ 15 comments \ @Fabs 29 Dec 2023 Outdoors
Alright, I'm a newbie who've never spent a single night outdoors, and with the current season's rainfall over here, I'm pondering about how I'd go about setting up camp in the dark and pouring rain?
I've got a 3m x 3m tarp and a Bivy Bag (Car. Observer), what would you guys pick and how would you go about pitching it?
I'd like to keep my gear as dry as possible, and I'd need a space to dry my rain clothes and shoes, as well as a place to store my backpack.
Any recommendations?
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0 sats \ 3 replies \ @BitcoinOutdoors 2 Jan 2024
You could get a huge tarp, and rig the tarp up on trees as a roof but create a runoff for the water to flow as much as you can without it building a pool, and then pitch your tent below the tarp. You may have to empty water that may accumulate on it.
See picture for reference.
https://m.stacker.news/10376
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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Fabs OP 2 Jan 2024
Sure can, but I prefer a smaller set-up.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @BitcoinOutdoors 2 Jan 2024
The one on the left there is smaller than you’d think, also you don’t need to buy a “specific tarp made for this”
You can just buy one of those standard blue ones people use to cover things with. If you do this I would practice setting it up in your back yard/ woods to be sure you’re effective in how you set it up because you’ll need to make sure the water funnels, otherwise it will just pool on top.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 3 Jan 2024
Yeah, I've got tarps, I even set them up somewhat usable in wooded areas, didn't like the space it took, although it *can" be set up smaller, but that hurts the space it offers in return...
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0 sats \ 10 replies \ @faradayfedora 29 Dec 2023
Honestly I would wait till the weather is nicer and buy a mid range back packing tent. Is it possible to do what you want to do with what you have yes, but if you haven't practiced what you setting up camp in the dark or in a little rain, you are likely going to have a really bad time and give up and not never want to do it again.
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0 sats \ 9 replies \ @Fabs OP 29 Dec 2023
Meh, I call it a "steep learning-curve" 😉
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0 sats \ 8 replies \ @faradayfedora 29 Dec 2023
Yes learning from failure is important but I would recommend not running into a brick wall, you want to identify small things to do better next time not have a catastrophic failure and not know where you went wrong.
Also exposure is no joke, last thing your want is SAR pulling you out.
If you are set on using a bivy practice settings it up before you go out, even if you live in an apartment just set it up a few times, try it with the lights off and using a head lap.
As for keeping the rest of your gear dry is this tricky with a bivy and best way is to get your kit refined down to some that will fit into your hood when you are sleeping.
As for tarps I would bring two, start with setting one as a little shelter with trekking poles and rope, set the other as a ground sheet after that. Then you have a kinda dry area to work with.
But again doing all that in the rain in winter is very very hard, and I would recommend trying it in the spring/summer and build the skills.
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10 sats \ 7 replies \ @Fabs OP 29 Dec 2023 freebie
Hmm, I get where you're going for. I'll start my adventures near home, worst case I'd simply pack-up and move back. 😄
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0 sats \ 6 replies \ @faradayfedora 29 Dec 2023
Other recommendations, learning in a vacuum is not the way to go. if you know someone who already goes camping/backpacking , get them to go with ya, they will be a wealth of knowledge. Even if you only have someone interested in getting into it as well have another person around great for learning and a whole lot safer.
If you don't have them, dry bags, I don't mean a waterproof ruck, smaller dry bags are the way to go. I have a couple outdoor research one, the heavy duty ones are great for tents and stuff, compressible ones are great for clothes.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @Fabs OP 29 Dec 2023
Yeah I'd love to go with someone else, I simply don't know or find anyone who wants to...
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0 sats \ 3 replies \ @faradayfedora 29 Dec 2023
Form the bivy you got I'm guessing you are in the UK and already know this but for the love of God no cotton, stick to wool and synthetic clothes.
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