Porch mode to tent mode

**Terry_Dodson** · 08-22-2011, 18:30

I saw a pic of a tarp that was doubled back at the ridgeline onto itself, which basically made it into a leanto type shelter, which left half the top and ALL of the front open for viewing the sky. Don;t know if that would be possible where you are going, but it might make for some great viewing.

**Law Dawg (ret)** · 08-22-2011, 19:25

Originally Posted by seionage

Thanks guys!

We are camping at around 11,000ft, so it's going to get pretty chilly at night.

Oh my brain hurts just reading that altitude.

Should be a reduced bug zone though and no netting makes for fine star gazing. +1 on the set up then doubled back over itself tarp for a wind break. If the wind begins to shift around it would not take much to close it up. BTW porch mode is one of the best things about hammock camping IMHO.

**grich9860** · 08-22-2011, 19:43

i am also a huge fan of porch mode. nothin like waking up to a nice cup of coffee and views that make the ground dwellers oh so jealous!!

**olzeke** · 08-22-2011, 20:53

What time of year? I just returned from a few 10K nights in California, and the temps were nowhere near chilly. Might have been down to 40 one night, and as hot as 60 on another. Most of them were in the low 50's. I never even put up the tarp. No rain during the entire week.

**foureyedgeek** · 08-23-2011, 07:01

As a bit of a hammock newbie, is there a good tarp article about the different ways to hang your tarp and the benefits of each one? I already looked up in 'hammock articles'.

**Cannibal** · 08-23-2011, 08:42

Originally Posted by olzeke

What time of year? I just returned from a few 10K nights in California, and the temps were nowhere near chilly. Might have been down to 40 one night, and as hot as 60 on another. Most of them were in the low 50's. I never even put up the tarp. No rain during the entire week.

We are in the middle of a heat wave for this time of year. Supposed to be almost, if not, 100° today which is about 15-20° above the norm. That said, Leadville, CO which is only 10,152' is forecast for overnight temps of about 38° tonight. It gets chilly up in these hills, even in the dead of summer.

**Shug** · 08-23-2011, 08:43

Originally Posted by foureyedgeek

As a bit of a hammock newbie, is there a good tarp article about the different ways to hang your tarp and the benefits of each one? I already looked up in 'hammock articles'.

I shot a video series and tarp info starts on PART 5....http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=15516
You may get some intel from this.
Hope so.
Shug

**OutandBack** · 08-23-2011, 09:48

I'm going to throw out a prediction that you are going to have an absolute blast hanging in the High country out here.
But you do need to come prepared.
As cannibal suggests use your tarp to block the wind. It will not hold much heat you need good 3 season quilts for that.

Also I highly recommend you pickup a nice polypro or smartwool cap and some smartwool glove liners to sleep in.

Looking forward to hearing more details about your trip. When where and for how long that kind of stuff.
Then we can offer even better suggestions on what to bring.

**pgibson** · 08-23-2011, 09:52

Originally Posted by foureyedgeek

As a bit of a hammock newbie, is there a good tarp article about the different ways to hang your tarp and the benefits of each one? I already looked up in 'hammock articles'.

This is not a bad place to start either: Illustration - Pitching and Choosing A Hammock Tarp