How to Set Up a Rain Tarp in Camp

a storm is brewing at the seaside image by Jules from Fotolia.com

A rain tarp is the sort of thing many campers never think about until it is too late. If the weather turns foul, a properly set-up rain shelter can mean the difference between a dry, cozy night and a waterlogged, miserable one. Rain tarps are especially useful for hammock campers. If you are in a hammock with your gear off the ground under a rain tarp, you will stay quite dry no matter how wet the ground under you gets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Ropes
Bungee cords
Tent pegs
Rocks

Step 1

Decide where you want your tarp to drain. You need to put your tarp at an angle so that it does not accumulate too much water. If you are camping on a significant slope, you need to arrange the tarp so that it drains on the downhill side.

Step 2

Attach one corner of the tarp to a low spot or the ground. Tie a rope or hook a bungee cord through the grommet, and attach the rope or cord to the base of a tree, a low branch or a root. Alternately, drive a tent stake through the grommet and put a heavy rock on the corner to hold it down.

Step 3

Pull the other low end so that it is taut, and attach it at or near the ground in the same way as the first corner.

Step 4

Attach the first high end to a tree. If there is no tree branch within reach, tie one end of a rope to a rock or stick and the other end to the grommet. Throw the rope over a tree branch and pull it taut. Tie it back to the grommet to tighten the tarp.

Step 5

Attach the fourth corner to another tree branch in the same way as the other high corner.

Tips & Warnings

If the weather is cold, try to angle the upwind side of the tarp down to block the wind. If it is warm, angle it up to let the breeze in.

Article Written By Isaiah David

Isaiah David is a freelance writer and musician living in Portland, Ore. He has over five years experience as a professional writer and has been published on various online outlets. He holds a degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan.

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