You’ve packed your clothes, food, canoe, life jackets and paddles and you’re ready for the big weekend and your annual fall float trip. Unfortunately, as prepared as you think you are, you didn’t count on the less than clear instructions that came with your brand new tent. Pitching a tent is challenging enough with two people when the sun is shining and the weather is cooperating. Trouble is most campers encounter less-than-favorable weather conditions or a setting sun when arriving at their campsites. If you plan to camp in a tent on your next float trip, here are some tips to ensure a more successful time pitching your tent.
The best preparation for pitching a tent on your next float trip should happen before you even begin to pack your car. Practicing in your living room or back yard at home so that you become more familiar with the steps necessary for pitching your particular tent will make erecting it at your campsite easier and less stressful. Granted you can’t drive the stakes through the carpet in your living room. But you can at least get a feel for how the rods pop together, which eyelets they go into and how your tent’s rain-fly fits over the top. Be sure to precisely follow the instructions so you don’t miss or skip any steps which can make it more difficult to erect your tent and possibly cause accidental damage. Lay your tent out flat so you can see where the opening is and identify the correct rods, how to connect them and install them in the right order. You should also practice dismantling your tent so you know how to properly retract the rods and fold your tent as compactly as possible. Make sure your place your tent, rods, stakes and instructions back in the tent bag so you’ll have everything you need on your next camp out.
In addition to practicing before you leave you’ll also want to keep a few things in mind as you’re setting up at your campsite. It’s best to pitch your new tent in daylight so you can clearly the campsite and what you are doing. It’s best to pitch your tent on higher ground, in other words not in an indentation or valley. The last thing you want when it rains is for all the water to collect under your tent. Once you’ve chosen the spot for your tent you’ll want to use a whisk broom you’ve brought from home to sweep or clear the area of rocks branches and any debris as best you can since you’ll be sleeping on whatever is on the ground. It’s also a good idea to pitch your tent away from pine trees which could drip sap or drop pine cones, neither of which is good for your sleeping or your tent. And don’t pitch your tent anywhere near any bear droppings or any other large animal droppings because aside from the smell, those animals could return when you’re asleep. Once your spot is clear of any debris you’re ready to place a tarp or ground cloth on the ground where your tent will go. When you’ve pitched the tent you can tuck the ground cloth or tarp under your tent’s edges so that any rainwater will slide off the tent and onto the ground rather than your ground cloth. If rainwater collects on your ground cloth, it can run under your tent and soak the bottom of your tent.
With a tarp or ground cloth in place you’re ready to pitch the tent. Pitch your tent the same way you did when you practiced at home. When you have your tent in the correct position, adjust the stakes as far out as you can safely pull the tent. When you have a taut tent you’ll have more room inside. Pound the stakes down with a mallet or hatchet and then install the rain-fly. Make the rain-fly taut to prevent rain from soaking your tent’s ceiling. Remember, a successful camper is one who can easily adapt to the environment and doesn’t panic when things go wrong. If you forgot a mallet or hatchet, you can always use a rock found at your site.
Following these tips will help to make tent camping on your next float trip a success.
