[pct-l] Fw: Tents vrs Tarps - Bivies?

[Kevin]

Ed, most of your argument seems to also make sense for a tarp and cowboy camping.  ;)

Only put it up when needed. Better views. Bonus is it's lighter and provides more protected space. 

I have a question for the tent advocates. Have you tried a tarp?

HYOH and all that. I'm not being critical or anything. It's been my experience that 100% of the hikers I've exposed to tarps have been converted. Maybe it has to do with them hiking with me. :p Again, I'm not suggesting there is a right or wring way to backpack. I just can't fathom eer using a tent Unless it was in a snowy winter setting

Misspellings and typos brought to you by iPhone.

On Feb 6, 2011, at 9:33 AM, Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Sorry I cant send the pictures to the PCT-L list.  I did send them to Diane.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Forwarded Message ----
> From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
> To: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> Sent: Sun, February 6, 2011 8:23:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Tents vrs Tarps - Bivies?
> 
> 
> Hello Diane,
> 
> I always read your posts as they bring up a lot of useful information. You are 
> an excellent writer, always interesting. 
> 
> On this subject of tents I want to mention and also illustrate with 
> pictures that you don't really have to wall yourself off from nature in a single 
> wall tent. I rarely used the rain fly of my tent - I only used it if it was 
> raining or looked like it would (on just a couple of occasions I mis-judged the 
> weather and had to put up the rain fly during the night), or if I wanted 
> privacy.  Privacy was not often an issue since, by preference, I almost always 
> camped alone and well off the trail.  I wanted to be surrounded by nature, not 
> people and all of their distracting sounds and their visual litter (tents and 
> tarps).  I lived on the PCT with Primo - I did not, and did not want to, suffer 
> the distraction of towns either.
> 
> I know, a tent with a rain fly will weigh more. And I realize that you are 
> someone who wants to go as light as possible.  But - I think, given that you are 
> also someone who especially enjoys experiencing nature, you should seriously 
> consider that you are denying yourself the view outside just to save a little 
> weight. In life there are usually trade offs.  
> 
> Another advantage of my tent, which I came to appreciate, is that it is 
> free-standing with just the netting.  I sometimes moved it around to obtain a 
> better view. The night sky is also sometimes awesome to enjoy from inside your 
> tent.
> 
> Using the insect netting part of my tent kept the insects and other critters out 
> and allowed me to enjoy the beauty surrounding me including my horse.
> 
> MendoRider/Ed Anderson
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Sat, February 5, 2011 10:26:36 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Tents vrs Tarps - Bivies?
> 
> I read all the pros and cons about tents and tarps, did all kinds of  
> calculations, yadda yadda but what ended being the best for me was to  
> go with the tent. It wasn't the lightest option, it wasn't the most  
> versatile, I did hate that I was walled off from nature inside, etc,  
> but it was easy. Just one stuff sack sitting in my pack that would do  
> the job.
> 
> If I were you, I would get the gear to have an optimal tarp set-up  
> and an optimal tent set-up and then use your PCT hike to test both  
> out. When else will you have so much time to try stuff out? I tried  
> out all kinds of stuff while hiking the PCT. It was great fun. Nobody  
> is going to care out there if you have the lightest pack, or chose  
> something heavier. You won't even care.
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