[pct-l] Bivies, Tarps and their uses

[Montedodge@aol.com (Montedodge@aol.com)]

 Small Bivy tents are great when the weather is great. If you hike Washington 
in early Sept., you may luck out and get 2 weeks of Indian summer. People who 
hike the Cascades with their bivy tents swear by them. On the other hand, you 
may get 2 weeks of solid rain in which people with bivy tents swear at them!! 
A plain tarp is better than a bivy in Sept. Washington as they allow more 
ventilation than a clammy bivy. If you do choice a bivy, do bring a small 
tarp to make a shelter and cooking space for when you wake up to 8 inches of 
fresh snow! Nothing like laying in your bag drinking hot cocoa on a frozen 
morning. ( It's much easier to pack up your frozen belongings after a warm 
breakfast) Small tents with a vestibule are good as well. I used a cheap 
Slumberjack summer bivy tent in the desert last year and worked quite well. 
Of course, it only kept out ants from my sleeping quarters and no bad weather 
was incountered. Several thru-hikers used tarps most of their trip last and 
all gave good reports. ( A properly set up tarp is most bombproof if bugs are 
not in the picture) Most bugs are toast in late Sept. in the rain state. 
BIVIES BEWARE!!!!