Camping on sleep slopes?

[rhendrix]

Spent close to a week with a tigoat vertex 5, borah bivy, EE revX 20* quilt, and a BA pad, found because of the steep terrain that setting up the tigoat vertex 5 and getting the proper pitch was damn near impossible. Does anyone know of a way to accomplish this using a fixed pole? I'm contemplating dumping the vertex 5 altogether and using a ID Nestor Bivy, but before I pull the trigger I thought I'd ask here first.

 

[muleman]

Why the fixed pole requirement?

I have pitched a lot of tipi like shelters on less than flat ground without much issue. Sometimes it took a little fiddling to get everything taut. I use adjustable poles though. Either trekking or a custom carbon fiber pole made to be interchangeable between several shelters.

 

[rhendrix]

Mainly because I have the fixed pole already and am flirting with the idea of not packing trekking poles.

 

[muleman]

I think adjustable poles make it easier. Another trick is to tie some 1/8 or 5/32 bungee to the stake loops. The elasticity allows for variance and pulls tension.

I much prefer to have at least a tarp over me than just a bivy when it is wet. So much easier to relax, eat, dress, etc... Just my .02.

 

[colonel00]

Any way to retrofit the existing pole to make it adjustable? I agree that having an adjustable pole will make it easier to pitch in many different situations.

Is there a reason you don't like trekking poles and I also wonder when you say you pack them? If you haven't see it, below is a link to some mods I made to make trekking poles serve numerous purposes.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?10666-Trekking-pole-threaded-insert-mod

 

[rhendrix]

I think adjustable poles make it easier. Another trick is to tie some 1/8 or 5/32 bungee to the stake loops. The elasticity allows for variance and pulls tension.

I much prefer to have at least a tarp over me than just a bivy when it is wet. So much easier to relax, eat, dress, etc... Just my .02.

Any chance you have a picture of a tipi pitched using the bungee cords? I think the vertex 5 works great on flat ground as a tipi but it only has two guy lines and I'm having a hard time picturing setting it up like a tarp.

If I could find a tarp that I could throw up in a couple of minutes on a narrow bench then I'd definitely carry one. My lack of experience and mountains makes it hard to experiment. I ended up sleeping in my borah bivy just about every night on the Wasatch because I could never find a decent flat spot to pitch my tipi up and was too exhausted to try and figure it out, thankfully it never rained.

 

[rhendrix]

Any way to retrofit the existing pole to make it adjustable? I agree that having an adjustable pole will make it easier to pitch in many different situations.

Is there a reason you don't like trekking poles and I also wonder when you say you pack them? If you haven't see it, below is a link to some mods I made to make trekking poles serve numerous purposes.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?10666-Trekking-pole-threaded-insert-mod

Honestly I just felt like I didn't utilize them enough to justify bringing them, I'm not 100% positive I'll ditch them but I'm leaning that way.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Honestly I just felt like I didn't utilize them enough to justify bringing them, I'm not 100% positive I'll ditch them but I'm leaning that way.

Trust me, there'll be a time when you don't bring them that you'll darned sure wish you had them. Mine was last week. I would have paid a lot of moola to have had trekking poles. Instead, mine were sitting in my garage.

 

[muleman]

No pictures that show the bungee detail.

Just imagine the bungee being an extension of the stake loop. If the ground falls away the bungee allows the fly to remain more or less level. I'll try to remember pictures the next time.

Other good, light, and easily adjusted shelters are the Shangri-Las from GoLite. They have adjustable poles and adjustable stake loops. I have a lightly used SL3 I would part with.

 

[fillthefreezer]

Any chance you have a picture of a tipi pitched using the bungee cords?

i dont use bungee cords but i pitch lots of places that arent flat, such as here where i even had a small tree inside one corner of the shelter
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?8898-Golite-SL-5

 

[rhendrix]

Anyone have any feedback on the Granite Gear White Lighting tarp? Read several threads on backpacking light and I think that I'm gonna sell the tigoat and pick up a tarp, just not sure what my price range is.

 

[Lawnboi]

I think a tarp and a bivy are awesome in these situations.

Theres a time and a place for a bigger shelter like a tipi, and that's why I just picked up a 6man kifaru. But imo, when your going, camping in a different spot every night, or don't have a lot of room to sleep. Nothing beats a tarp.

I know ill never get rid of my paratarp. I can pitch it close to the ground if I really need a bombshelter. Or I can pitch it off the ground if I want a lot of room. There is an infinite amount of ways you can pitch the paratarp, and with a bivy I can sleep just about anywhere.

Cant say enough good about the para/supertarp setup! For me being 5'7 I have never wanted anything bigger. Its my take anywhere, do anything shelter. Worth a serious look

 

[Justin Crossley]

This is what I use. Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus. It weighs 7.1 oz. with the stakes and works really well.

 

[Foldem]

Hendrix, you will be very glad to have Trekking poles when you are packing an animal off the front. It's really almost a safety requirement in some terrain.

 

[sk1]

Mainly because I have the fixed pole already and am flirting with the idea of not packing trekking poles.

i know it doesnt help your post......but trust me you will want those trekking poles especially if you have a load of 80lbs+ ...which it will be when packing an animal unless you make a ton of trips. sometimes they aren't necessary and a pain to carry, but it just takes one time of really needing them to make it worth packing them along.

i went away from the golite SL3 because i thought the pitch was a pain in the ass.....big agnes flycreek works good enough for me, quick and simple.

 

[rhendrix]

Point taken about the trekking poles.

As far as tarps go, I'm looking for something I can pitch that has a small foot print when you include the guy lines, I spent just about every night sleeping on one of the erosion control lines or on a narrow bench. The granite peak white lightening seems to fit the bill, any other suggestions?

 

[Lawnboi]

Point taken about the trekking poles.

As far as tarps go, I'm looking for something I can pitch that has a small foot print when you include the guy lines, I spent just about every night sleeping on one of the erosion control lines or on a narrow bench. The granite peak white lightening seems to fit the bill, any other suggestions?

Paratarp. The footprint of it is really null,you can pitch the thing a thousand different ways. You don't have to pitch it how you see on the website in the a'frame configuration. In fact, I very rarely pitch it that way. Only if I need some serious wind resistance.

Not only is it lighter than the white lighnting, its about the same size, price and its not 'cloud blue' American made too. (I have never seen nor used the white lightning, only going off specs. so keep that in mind) I am a big fan of the paratarp though. Like I said ill never get rid of it.

 

[muleman]

Point taken about the trekking poles.

As far as tarps go, I'm looking for something I can pitch that has a small foot print when you include the guy lines, I spent just about every night sleeping on one of the erosion control lines or on a narrow bench. The granite peak white lightening seems to fit the bill, any other suggestions?

Intergal Designs / Rab Siltarps are well made.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Clark NX250 hammock is my way to hang. Photos of it at http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...Proper-Packing-Necessities-vs-Everything-else