[pct-l] Tarptent in heavy rain

[Steven.Setzer at Colorado.EDU (Steve Setzer)]

I'm writing to let everyone know about my field test of my new Tarptent
Virga (the one-person tarp). Also to get feedback from Henry Shires and
others who have used the Tarptent.  Also, to let people know about my
mistakes so they don't do the same.

When I first set it up, it looked like a great design and I was really
happy with it. The material was good, construction was great, it was easy
to set up etc.  So I took it on my recent 5 day trip around the Maroon
Bells near Aspen CO.  The first thing I noticed is that its a bit small.
I'm about 6ft 2in. and can't sit up in the tarp with out touching the
ceiling.  I can't get dressed in the tarp without touching the side walls.
This is very problematic when condensation is heavy.  In prolonged rain I
think it would be very frustrating to try to keep all your gear in the
tarp and pack/get dressed without everything getting wet from the
condensation.  One of the benefits of using a tarp over a tent is the
increased room, but you don't get this with the Tarptent Virga.

The bug netting looked great for keeping bugs out.  I didn't encounter
any, but I'm sure it would have worked fine.

However, the bug netting is a pain in heavy rain.  The netting sticks out
from the sides of the tarp no matter how much you mess with it when
pitching it.  So rain that runs down the side of the tarp hits the netting
and gets is wicked (as in "wicking" not like a "wicked" witch) into the
interior of the tarp.  At places where the groundsheet touches the
netting, water literally pours in.  So you definately want the edges of
the goundsheet to sit on top of the netting.  Not the other way around.
This still doesn't solve the problem because places where the netting and
the groundsheet are flush will still leak.  This is the only realistic
solution I found to the problem:  Even when you're not worried about bugs,
you need to hold down the netting with rocks.  You'll need them at the
four corners and at the middle of the sides.  You can pull the netting in
and hold it in place with the rocks so that none of the netting sticks out
the side of the tarp.   Then you need to place your groundsheet on top of
the netting and the rocks.  The rocks will hold the groundsheet up at the
edges (so the edges of the groundsheet are up off the ground and the
netting).  This way, any water that does come into the tarp from the sides
will run under the goundsheet instead of on top of it.  Once I figured
this out, rain was not a problem but I had to learn that the hard way.  I
was out of camp when a thunderstorm hit and came back to find my sleeping
bag soaked.  I was not pleased at that point.  I think if you use the
system I just described, things should stay dry.  The problem then remains
the size of the tarp.  I can't move around much without hitting the walls.
(I'm tall but I'm skinny so that's not the problem).  This not only knocks
down condensation onto all my gear and myself, but it messes up the
rock/groundsheet system so I have to always make sure its set up right.
In long, prolonged rain, I think I would go crazy trying to stay dry.

Other than the rain problems and the size, I thought it worked great.
Very light and easy to pitch.  It would work great for bugs.  I'm not sure
I would use it on the PCT (how many rainy nights are normal on the pct?).
I think I would need something bigger so I could hang out with all my gear
during a long rainstorm and still feel comfortable and dry and be able to
move around.

Has anyone else had similar problems?  Any feedback or comments?

Steve