Some things that I learned at the weekend
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:51 pm
Now then, I've spent several nights out with just a bivi bag/sleeping bag and a lot of nights out using a tent. Until Saturday though, I'd not used a tarp for a night out. Steep learning curve then.
I picked Saturday night (although it may seem odd) because I knew that some rain was forecast. I didn't want to go and do something I'd done before, I wanted to have to find out something new.
I'd spent a bit of time practicing setting up the tarp, with reasonable results. In good conditions. On flat ground. With space. And time. You may guess where this is going.....
On lumpy ground, a bit of a slope, not much space. Well let's just say I need more practice! Having said that it did stay up in the face of rain and some wind so not a complete failure.... not pretty though.
IMG_0081s by Richard Picton, on Flickr
I couldn't fit under it completely, although in all honesty I didn't expect to be able to. The end of the bivi bag (Hunka XL) was out in the open and got wet, probably up to about halfway up.
All fine when I went to sleep, but after an hour or so of rain I guess the bag was wetted out and any breathability was lost, I could feel the inside of the bivi bag getting clammy.
From this, am I better off:- A. learning how to pitch the tarp better to give more cover? B. Getting a better (ie more breathable) bivi sack? or C. Accept that I'm going to get wet if it rains on overnighters.
On multi night tours it's doubtful I'll be without my tent so not too fussed about that.
&*%$£7g8ing midges! Forgot to pack the Smidge. Won't do that again. That's all I need to say about that.
Before it rained, the sky cleared for an hour or so around 11:00pm. This was just fantastic! It is a very long time indeed since I've seen a night sky that was as clear. The downside of a tent. Just stunning.
Nice tracks and scenery too...
IMG_0837s by Richard Picton, on Flickr
IMG_0835s by Richard Picton, on Flickr
I picked Saturday night (although it may seem odd) because I knew that some rain was forecast. I didn't want to go and do something I'd done before, I wanted to have to find out something new.
I'd spent a bit of time practicing setting up the tarp, with reasonable results. In good conditions. On flat ground. With space. And time. You may guess where this is going.....
On lumpy ground, a bit of a slope, not much space. Well let's just say I need more practice! Having said that it did stay up in the face of rain and some wind so not a complete failure.... not pretty though.
IMG_0081s by Richard Picton, on Flickr
I couldn't fit under it completely, although in all honesty I didn't expect to be able to. The end of the bivi bag (Hunka XL) was out in the open and got wet, probably up to about halfway up.
All fine when I went to sleep, but after an hour or so of rain I guess the bag was wetted out and any breathability was lost, I could feel the inside of the bivi bag getting clammy.
From this, am I better off:- A. learning how to pitch the tarp better to give more cover? B. Getting a better (ie more breathable) bivi sack? or C. Accept that I'm going to get wet if it rains on overnighters.
On multi night tours it's doubtful I'll be without my tent so not too fussed about that.
&*%$£7g8ing midges! Forgot to pack the Smidge. Won't do that again. That's all I need to say about that.
Before it rained, the sky cleared for an hour or so around 11:00pm. This was just fantastic! It is a very long time indeed since I've seen a night sky that was as clear. The downside of a tent. Just stunning.
Nice tracks and scenery too...
IMG_0837s by Richard Picton, on Flickr
IMG_0835s by Richard Picton, on Flickr