Tried a lightweight tarp shelter on the Pacific Crest Trail, ended up hating it after 3 days

Everyone raves about going ultralight with just a tarp and groundsheet, but I gave it a shot near Mount Hood last August and it was a disaster. After two nights of waking up soaked from condensation and fighting with stakes in rocky soil, I bailed and hitched into Portland to buy a proper tent. I get the weight savings, like maybe 2 pounds versus my old tent, but the hassle of finding good campsites and dealing with bugs just wasn't worth it for me. Maybe I was doing it wrong with my setup, but I learned that not every popular route hack works for everyone. Has anyone else tried a tarp and actually stuck with it for a full trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordangibson8d ago

Man, I totally get where you're coming from. I tried a flat tarp for a week on the Colorado Trail and it was honestly miserable. The condensation thing is real, especially if you're not in a super dry climate. I ended up rigging all sorts of weird pitches just to keep it off my bag, and even then I'd wake up with damp gear. Plus finding the perfect spot with no roots or rocks for stakes felt like a full time job. I think people who love tarps have just figured out a system that works for them, maybe they hike in really specific conditions. For me, the weight savings just wasn't worth all the extra hassle and lost sleep.

adams828d ago

Had a buddy try the same thing on the Long Trail in Vermont and he swore he'd never do it again. He spent one night rigging his tarp between two trees, woke up to a puddle in the middle where rain had pooled and sagged right onto his face. The next night he tried a high pitch and got blown sideways by wind at 3am, had to repitch everything in the dark with a headlamp. By day three he just cowboy camped with his bivy and used the tarp as a glorified ground sheet, which kind of defeats the whole point, you know?