Hybrid Lean-To/A-frame

This is a tarp shelter I've been playing around with for a couple of years and really find it to be a fantastic choice when in the woods as it provides a great deal of shelter and security while providing a 270-degree view.

I'm using a blue poly tarp that is approximately 8.5 feet by 11.5 feet and I turn the bottom third of the tarp into my groundsheet, stake out those four corners, bring the middle section back up as a lean-to, tie off the grommets to a couple of trees using slippery tautline hitches, and then bring the top corners forward and down and stake them down with a simple clove hitch around a tent peg.

I've got my bedroll inside along with my newest wool blanket and find it to be incredibly comfortable, plenty warm, and nice and dry. Plus, in a bad storm I could stake the flap down lower and closer to provide more protection from blowing rain or snow from the front. I could, of course, also stake it out to a couple of hiking poles, sticks, or trees and have a nice awning.

I can cook under this configuration using a stove, I might be able to have a very small fire, and I can stow my gear where it'll stay nice and dry.

I could also tie a ridgeline inside the peak for hanging gear if I felt the need but I just throw my headlamp, water bottle, etc. in the little corner behind my bedroll and it's ready to grab should I need it during the night.

One trick I learned yesterday involves pitching this configuration with a structural ridgeline. You can attach the grommets to the ridgeline using zipties and then you give the shelter its shape when you stake out the tent pegs. This allows you to keep the ridgeline attached to the tarp for quick pitching the next time you're out. I'm not sure this shelter would really benefit from a structural ridgeline but still want to pass this information along.

Thanks for reading,


B