[pct-l] It's all about having fun!!!

[David Dalbey" <dave@dalbey.org (David Dalbey)]

Just a plug for Fallingwater's "Europa" tent.  I've used it a  few times
now, alone, with my wife, and a friend last weekend.  The neat thing is even
in moderate rain I can sleep with the front door wide open due to the shape
of the tent.  One of the first times I used it was with my wife and the
front closed up, (she's still a little scared of the bogey man!).  We had
condensation inside but our Down bags with Pertex shells did a good job of
keeping us dry when inevitably brushing up against the sides of the tent.

I haven't used this tent for 8 days of continous rain (yet) but in my
limited nights out so far I think Ron has come up with a real winner of a
tent!

Dave
dave@dalbey.org

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald Moak" <rmoak@fallingwater.com>
To: "'Reynolds, WT'" <reynolds@iLAN.com>; "Ronald Moak"
<rmoak@fallingwater.com>; <Bighummel@aol.com>; <pct-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 9:59 AM
Subject: [pct-l] It's all about having fun!!!


> >> Ron, I challenge you to sleep in your 25 year old down bag under a tarp
> on a
> star-filled twenty degree night!  My bet is that you won't sleep and
you'll
> freeze. <<
>
> Ah, a challenge. I love challenges. I'll do you one better I'll skip the
> tarp and just sleep out under the stars. On the PCT I used my tarp less
than
> 10 nights on the entire trail. I zipped up my sleeping bag only twice. The
> rest of the time I simply used it as a quilt.
>
> In the months preceding the hike I trained to sleep cold. By the time I
left
> for the trail I was able to sleep comfortably in a 55 degree room with no
> clothes or covers. It is quite possible to train our bodies and minds to
go
> beyond our normally prescribed limits.
>
> My little training pales in comparison to Buddhist monks from Nepal who
can
> sleep out at 14,000 feet in the dead of winter with nothing more than a
thin
> cotton robe. Yes, it's been thoroughly documented.
>
> >> In my old SD Starflight this is the case.  The pyramid shape provides
> ample head room and sheds consensation excellently.  It most cases the
> condensation formed not on the inside of the tent (very rare) but on the
> inside of the fly collecting then outside of the tent on the ground. <<
>
> I love that old SD Starflight, my wife and I used one on the AT. The two
of
> use slept in one and hiked through 8 days straight of rain in Maine and
> managed to keep our down bags dry. The foot of the bags got a bit wet, but
> hardly enough to prevent a comfortable nights sleep.
>
> Tom writes >>For you, now that you have decided to use your brain, I
suggest
> that you go out and make some money and buy a Stephenson tent  for those
wet
> conditions. A well pitched tarp in cold, wet conditions is an oxymoron. <<
>
> On the PCT one of our companions had a Stephenson's tent. He had more
> problems with wet gear from rain or condensation than I did with my tarp.
I
> can hike a lot of miles on money differential between a $400 tent and a
$40
> tarp. Besides I like wasting brain power on activities that have little or
> no economic return. Like designing tents and backpacks. Of course I'd make
a
> bit more if you'd buy my tent.
>
> Bob asks >>OK. Enough ruffled feathers. How about real advice? Where do we
> find information on properly pitching tarps? <<
>
> First Bob let me say I've got two rules when it comes to backpacking. I've
> stolen them from Greg who probably stole them from someone else. They are:
>
> 1) There are no rules.
> 2) Refer to rule number 1.
>
> So when it comes to talking about tarp/tents down/synthetics etc. I don't
> take myself too seriously. The goal is to go out and have fun. What's
> important is what it takes to get you out there and keep you happy. There
is
> no right or wrong / good vs. bad approach. If however, what you're doing
is
> no longer fun then you look for alternatives.
>
> As to information on pitching tarps, there are a number of references
> available on the net. You should be able to find some with a reasonable
> amount of searching. Then it's a matter of going out and finding what
works
> for you.
>
> -Fallingwater
>
>
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