preparing for the unwanted

So, you hang out with ground dwellers and they're going somewhere where there aren't trees. Or maybe you're doing one of those crazy trails that don't have trees for sections, or you're stuck above the tree line. You might need to, shock horror, go for the ground pitch.

I've had a play with setting up my Mac Cat Spinn Deluxe on the ground. Now the big con with this system is of course that you're not in the hammock! However I tried some of the shapes suggested by BlackBishop on his BlackCat page http://www.teamgunnparker.com/blackc...k_Cat_Tarp.htm

My favourite shape so far is the diamond. Of course, you have to set it up so that the rain isn't driving horizontally in to you! I like it because it is small and easy to set up as one person.
To set it up, peg out the back corner, then stretch out the two other ground corners so they're taught to the back, tucking under the un-used corners. (the other con to this is that you've got tarp on the ground.) Then raise the top corner on your hiking pole and peg it out. (Be prepared to adjust the sides)

I had a go at the tarp in "wedge" shape, and found that I needed 6 stakes, not 4, to get it right. It also wasn't very spacious, but I'm wondering if I did it wrong.

Of course there is the good old a-frame but I didn't have a go at that because I hate wrestling with 2 free standing poles!

I've got more pictures on my flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/3234372...7623803212244/

TH

Ive had to go to ground more times than I would like.

For the A-frame, I tie a figure of eight loop in two lengths of 15ft cord, slip this over the hiking pole handle. The two ends of the cord are then pegged to the ground in a V shape. I tie one pole up so it sits straight and let it collapse to the floor. I then tie the ridgeline to the hiking pole handle below the loop ive tied to stop it slipping down the handle. When the ridge line is pulled taught, the hiking pole sits up straight and the other hiking pole is then easy to peg out. Ive weathered some serious gales and rain with this setup. If rain is driving in, I string up my poncho to block one end of the A-frame.
I hope this makes sense.

TH, "airbrushed myself out", funny.. Good pics.

the ground......???????




oh...i remember...