[pct-l] Tarp vs Tarp Tent

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

Lots of people on the PCT do just fine with just a tarp. Many cowboy  
camp almost every night (they have the tarp or tent but don't use  
it.) That was not me.

So Cal is Giant Ant World. I can't sleep when giant ants are crawling  
all over me.

High Sierras is mosquito country. I can't sleep if mosquitos can  
touch me or can get close to my face.

Nor Cal was mosquito country for me, too. Plus it was hot as hell and  
I needed a private place to take off my clothes and lie on top of my  
foam pad without a sleeping bag. By 1AM or so I could get into my  
sleeping bag. I would go insane and not be able to sleep if I felt  
any bug of any type on my naked body.

Oregon was the worst mosquito country I have ever experienced. I was  
a month ahead of most thru-hikers though.  My hour of refuge in my  
tent before I fell asleep was priceless. It was the only moment of  
the day I was not running away from mosquitoes.

Washington rained a lot. I was unsure if a tent was better in rain  
than a tarp, but I was glad to have a tent anyway. By then it hardly  
mattered how much my gear weighed or even what kind of gear it was. I  
didn't care anymore. Gear was just gear.


On Jan 18, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: Kelsey Bowen <kelsey.anne.bowen at gmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Tarp vs Tarp Tent
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>
> Hello all,
>
> First post here, although I've read a fair share of great advice!
>
> I'm looking to narrow down on my shelter of choice so I can plan my
> clothing and sleep systems accordingly.  I've been thinking I would  
> use a
> HS Tarp Tent Contrail.  But recently the idea of just using a plain  
> old
> tarp has been crossing my mind.
>
> I would like to hear opinions from people who really prefer one or the
> other, especially if you have used both.
>
> My current thoughts on the subject:
>
> The weight/versatility advantages of a tarp may be negligible when  
> I would
> need to bring every variation for at least most of the trail (tarp,  
> bug
> nest, bivy...).  Whereas, on a shorter trip there is an advantage  
> of being
> able to leave the bug nest home, for example.
>
> I've heard and read about condensation issues with tarp tents and I'm
> curious if anyone has experienced this in PCT conditions  
> specifically.  The
> open air feel of a tarp is really a plus (in my imagination,  
> because I have
> not used one).
>
> I also have no experience with tarp systems and would need to learn  
> how to
> use them well.  But this is doable, because I plan to hike 2014.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Kelsey