Guide Gear® Emergency Shelter, Best Ridgeline?

**WalksInDark** · 03-16-2013, 12:34

Afternoon Folks:

At the end of last year I got a Guide Gear® Emergency Shelter 11' X 14' (which I have not even gotten out of the box) and now I am trying to determine what would be the best way to hang it.

Anyone have the same tarp....and how do you hang yours...and what ridgeline system would you recommend?

All help appreciated!

Thanks.

**Loki** · 03-17-2013, 07:22

The best way to hang a tarp imho can change for the situation at hand.

You may want to consider guylines (and ridgeline(s)) that can easily be moved from one attachment point to another. Your rectangular tarp can be used in many useful configurations.

Since your ridgeline can be either CRL (continuous) or two-piece:

Try a 10' ridgeline setup and see your sidewalls touch the ground;
then try a 14' ridgeline setup (RidgeRunner owners will be envious).

Try porch mode,
next practice wrapping the four corners to create "doors" (storm-mode).
Try the 'bakers hut' pitch for lots room underneath, a great view, and blocking-off prevailing winds.

You may also want to practice some of the go-to-ground setups and keep those in mind for unique situations - like sheltering from a storm before you reach your campsite.

Try using the tarp as a windscreen.

Weave a rope along the tieouts of one tarp edge
Tied between two trees - as one side of an A-frame; 3-5 yards/meters upwind from the fire-ring,
with the bottom edge staked securely to the ground.
This is great for blocking wind when the tarp is a few yards upwind of your firering.

>>> Warning -- works for light to moderate winds but not for strong winds (don't ask me how I know...). Setup leeward if you can.

Who knew tarps could be so much fun - Happy hanging!

**WRS** · 03-17-2013, 07:52

I tied this one with a seperate line on each end per Dejoha's instructions.It is still tight after 2 days of on and off rain.Sorry I didn't think to take pics of the actual knots I used.One side is a prussic the other a truckers hitch,testing which is better for me.They both held ,the prussic was faster for me.