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View Full Version : Would your tarp have kept you dry?



BillyBob58
05-08-2008, 16:36
A little storm blew through here today. The side ways rain was incredible with tornadoes touching down all around. The walls/windows of my house were soaked to a height of 7 feet, even though they were protected by an 8 foot high ceiling that covered them for a distance of about 10 feet.

Even if I had a full storm pitch with a 13 foot tarp, it's hard to imagine that things would have stayed dry. It was amazing to watch the trees whipping back and forth like crazy, just shy of breaking. Even if coverage had been adequate, I would be surprised if a stake didn't pull loose, or a cord snap or the tarp rip under the force of these winds today, even 1/2 mile away from where small tornadoes actually touched down.

Of course, if you were hanging from ( or tent camped under) one of these many trees that the winds/tornadoes snapped and then carried 20-50 feet through the air, I suppose getting wet would be the least of your worries, eh? ;) I mean, compared to being crushed or impaled by the tree.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/2/2/9/img_1428_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=3291&c=11)
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dufus934
05-08-2008, 16:41
I would like to say that my 8'x10' DIY tarp would have done the job, but I don't know. That is some pretty stiff wind and rain.

BillyBob58
05-08-2008, 16:53
PS,
Luckily, I have not yet heard of any serious injuries. Boy were our grandchildren ( 6 1/2 and 4 1/2) fascinated by the big storm and it's after math.

Coffee
05-08-2008, 18:33
It's good to see everyone is ok.

I have a lot of faith in my tarp. I made it through some heavy rains. I think as long as I wouldn't get blown to Oz and could setup perpendicular to the wind I would have been ok.

Swirling winds have me thinking about end covers on my next tarp.

slowhike
05-08-2008, 21:33
if i get caught out in something like that, it'll be time to go into survival mode.
find a well protected place to craw into & wrap me & my gear up in the tarp.

Ramblinrev
05-08-2008, 21:36
if i get caught out in something like that, it'll be time to go into survival mode.
find a well protected place to craw into & wrap me & my gear up in the tarp.

and hope no critters have the same idea

riverkeeper
05-08-2008, 21:46
People complain about western Wa weather and it is probably not the best in the country BUT AT LEAST IT WON'T KILL ME.

Glad you made it ... this time.

slowhike
05-08-2008, 21:54
and hope no critters have the same idea

exactly:eek::p

Narwhalin
05-09-2008, 01:01
I went through quite a storm in my wally world tent once. I couldn't believe it when the rain started coming through the walls! The two of us were holding the walls of the tent to help support it, and I was thinking it might be the end, but somehow we made it. The next day some locals said a tornado had been only about 1/2 mile away from where we were camping. The crazy thing about it was that night had been very clear and beautiful only hours before. Welcome to the outdoors!

We had a nice thunderstorm that dumped rain on us for a couple of hours tonight here in Kansas. (Not horizontal, though!) I was really getting the itch to go camping. It has been awhile since I have been outside sleeping through a storm. To me, this is what it is all about... :cool:

Incacamper
05-09-2008, 06:50
Wow, that was some storm. We had one blow through georgia that the news made out to be something like a cyclone, but when it got here it was just rain and some light wind. But for some reason a large healthy tree was blown down this morning in front of my neighborhood, odd??

Anyhow, I have strong faith in my stock Hennessy hammock expedition tarp to keep me dry in Tornado like conditions:rolleyes:

Preacha Man
05-09-2008, 10:05
I have been thru some serious storms growing up in Oklahoma, and the only thing I ever worried about was branches or whole trees falling on the tent. After going thru a bad storm earlier this spring, I know that my wifes Cathedral tarp would have help up and kept me dry as long as the trees would last. If not, I agree, I would have found a small cave and hunkered down. We had a weird storm just in my neighborhood recently, it took my neighbor's behind me Tampoline about 50ft in the air, and landed it softly on their next door neighbors roof. In that kind of condition, I'm headed for safety :)

Dwight

Youngblood
05-09-2008, 10:59
Wow, that was some storm. We had one blow through georgia that the news made out to be something like a cyclone, but when it got here it was just rain and some light wind. But for some reason a large healthy tree was blown down this morning in front of my neighborhood, odd??

Anyhow, I have strong faith in my stock Hennessy hammock expedition tarp to keep me dry in Tornado like conditions:rolleyes:

The tree folks in Georgia predicted a couple of months ago that a lot of trees would come down in storms this year once they leafed out because of the drought damage.

mataharihiker
05-09-2008, 11:31
I have found that strong winds DRIVE rain through siltarps...either that or the condensation on the inside is knocked off onto me...whatever, I'm gonna get damp...there is no set-up I have found that avoids this given a strong enough wind and serious rain...

The strongest storm I ever experienced was along Lake Superior...a friend of mine reported, when I returned, that the Weather Channel said the area was experiencing sustained winds of 70mph...all I know is, in the screaming dark, I felt something light on my face and realized the tent poles were bending in the wind and the tent was brushing my face as I lay on my Thermarest...actually, this was my first 3 day solo trip and I had TWO Thermarests...one of them I had OVER me...probably not very useful as protection but it did make me feel better...when the storm ended I had about 1/2 inch of water in the tent...by the way, the tent, a Eureka Backcountry 2, made it through unscathed...

There is just some weather your set-up will not cover...I accept that...if it looks really bad I'm taking my hammock down and going to ground...

By the way, BillyBob...I'm glad you made it through THIS storm in one piece....

Incacamper
05-09-2008, 13:11
The tree folks in Georgia predicted a couple of months ago that a lot of trees would come down in storms this year once they leafed out because of the drought damage.

Makes sense, I guess thats what happened. When I said the tree fell in front of the neighborhood, I meant that it fell right on the road where you enter the neighborhood at, kinda like a natural gate, lol. No other way to get out. Luckily there was enough room to squeeze through on the left. Guess We really better watch where we camp then, whether hanging or sleeping on the ground.

Ramblinrev
05-30-2008, 17:40
I was planning on hanging tonight in the State Forest but they are predicting potential severe storms with damaging hail and damaging winds. It may not happen... but then again... I think I'll stay put.

Hector
05-30-2008, 19:22
mataharihiker,

Try spraying your siltarp with some of that silicone waterproofing stuff. I got the idea from Ed Speer, and it does seem to stop the "misting."

Your story reminds me of a night I spent in a Backcountry 2 with my boys on top of Buckeye Mountain. Ouachita ridges make their own wind, and all night the tent leaned one way, straightened for a bit, then leaned the other like something big was breathing on us. Eureka's Backcountry tents aren't fully flied, which is why they leak in really bad weather, but they're all right for car camping.

Splat
05-30-2008, 19:30
With my auto-tensioners I think my 11x10 would'a stayed put and kept me dry. On a hard line without any give it would pro'lly rip. Hey, I'm not sayin' I'd like to try those conditions though. Wow! :eek: