Guide · Shelter

Building a tarp shelter

A tarp is one of the most useful things you can carry. With some cord, it becomes a dry roof in a few minutes.

What you need

• A tarp, groundsheet, plastic sheet or large poncho. About 2 × 3 metres is enough for one person.
• 10–15 metres of cord or strong string.
• Pegs or sticks, and stones to weigh down edges if the ground is hard.

The A-frame: best all-round shape

1. Find two trees about 3–4 metres apart.
2. Tie a cord tightly between them, about waist to chest height. This is your ridgeline.
3. Drape the tarp over the cord so equal amounts hang on each side.
4. Pull each corner out and down, and peg or weigh it to the ground.
5. Lower the ridgeline if wind or rain is blowing in. A lower shelter is warmer and drier.

The A-frame sheds rain on both sides and blocks wind from two directions. Point one of the open ends away from the wind.

The lean-to: quick and simple

1. Tie a ridgeline between two trees.
2. Hang one long edge of the tarp from the cord.
3. Peg the opposite edge to the ground, so the tarp slopes down towards the wind.

A lean-to is open on one side, so it is good for sitting in front of a fire. It gives less protection in rain that changes direction.

No trees?

• Use a walking pole, a stick or a paddle to prop up the centre or one end.
• Lie the tarp over a fallen log or a low wall and weigh the edges down.
• In the open, a low wedge shape, with the lowest end facing the wind, holds up best.

Tips for a dry night

• Tie a short piece of string around the ridgeline just outside each end and let it hang. Rain running along the cord drips off there instead of into your shelter.
• Pull the tarp tight. A loose tarp flaps, collects water and keeps you awake.
• Lay a separate sheet or thick layer of leaves underneath you. The ground steals heat faster than the air.
• Dig a shallow channel above the shelter on sloping ground so water flows around you.

Knots

A simple round turn and two half hitches will tie cord to a tree. Any knot you can tie, check and undo with cold hands is a good knot.

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