How to Put Up a Hillary Tent

tent in forest image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com

Hillary Tents were produced for Sears by the manufacturing companies Wenzel, Northpole USA and Sunk Yung. These inexpensive tents were named for Edmund Hillary; the first person known to summit Mount Everest. Hillary appeared in Sears ads, speaking as a product ambassador for the brand. Today, Sears no longer carries the Hillary tent, but many still sell second-hand online.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Hillary Tent
Stakes

Step 1

Choose a spot to set up your tent. Look for level ground that's free of large rocks or other debris. Make sure you're safely away from your campfire. If it's possible, pitch your tent away from your kitchen area as not to bring animals too close should they be attracted by the smell of food. Once you've chosen a spot, clear the ground of small rocks and sticks to give you a comfortable floor to sleep on.

Step 2

Unroll your tent. Put the rainfly and poles aside. Open the tent body so it lays flat on the site you chose. Orient the door so it faces in an accessible direction.

Step 3

Take out the tent poles. A basic Hillary tent will use two long poles for the tent body and one short pole of the rainfly. Assemble the two long poles and thread them through the pole guides on the tent body, attaching them to the holes in each tent corner to raise the tent.

Step 4

Open the rainfly. Assemble the shorter pole and guide it through the top of the rainfly. Place the rainfly on top of the tent and secure it to the bottom of the tent body with the attached hooks.

Step 5

Stake down your tent. You don't want to be surprised by a storm in the middle of the night or while you're away from camp. Stake your tent even if the weather is clear when your arrive. Use a stake at least in each corner of the tent. Find a rock to hammer them firmly into the ground.

Resources

The Great American Campout

Article Written By Kathrine Cole

Kathrine Cole is a professional outdoor educator. She teaches rock climbing, backpacking, cycling, and bike maintenance classes. She is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School, a Wilderness First Responder, and a Leave No Trace Trainer.

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