Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#94987 - 04/23/08 10:39 AM Contrail in the Grand Canyon
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
I just ffinished a 5 day backpack in the Grand Canyon and used my TT Contrail every night. The last night I was particularly happy to be inside when my buddy, sleeping beside me W/O a tent that night had little flying bugs crawling all over him.

Anyway, a few nights were very windy so I staked out the Contrail with the front guyline. Still, I feel the tent could use a triangular pullout on each of the two ridgeline seams about halfway up. I intend to make them from ripstop with a narrow nylon web loop at the tips to tie the Triptease guy line to.

I plan to use my same side stakes W/ a line coming from the original side wall bottom loops. i.e. two lines to the same side stake, one from the ridge tie-out and one from the original bottom loop.On a windy night the lessening of flapping walls (hopefully) and the peace of mind will be worth it.

I've e-mailed Henry Shires about this. Maybe he'll take a look at the idea,

Any comments from Tarptent owners?

Eric
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

Top
#94988 - 04/23/08 11:07 AM Re: Contrail in the Grand Canyon [Re: 300winmag]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
Just curious Eric, where did you camp? I just finished a 4 day trip where I camped at Hermit Creek, Monument Creek and Indian Gardens. At all 3 sites the ground was so incredibly hard that I had extreme difficulty driving stakes and I was carrying groundhogs. In fact, I ended up using large rocks instead of stakes to anchor my shelter. I think I could have used the Groundhogs but only by severely deforming them.

I had a brand new G.G."The One" shelter that I was dying to try out but when I saw a forecast that included high winds and no rain I opted for my bivy (Nemo)at the last moment.

I hope you enjoyed the desert spring bloom as much as I did!!!

Anyway, to answer your original question, I don't think any Tarptent can have too many guyout points. They're usually not needed but I'd be happy to pay the small weight penalty for a little more confidence in my shelter on blustery nights.

Top
#94989 - 04/23/08 12:37 PM Re: Contrail in the Grand Canyon [Re: 300winmag]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Eric
Hi Dude
how was the trip? Stay warm?
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

Top
#94990 - 04/23/08 02:58 PM Re: Contrail in the Grand Canyon [Re: Trailrunner]
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
Trailrunner & Jim,

Our trip was as follows:

April 15 > Drive to G.C. & camp overnight at a S. Rim campground.

16th >Park at Bright Angel Lodge & take shuttle bus to Kaibab trailhead. Backpack down Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch & camp there.

17th > Backpack 9 mi. to Clear Creek and camp. The desert flowers were incredibly beautiful and were everywhere. Rangers said this was the best year ever and the Clear Creek Trail had the best flowers. Trail is absolutely not maintained after the 2 mile point but still decent in most places.

18th Lay over a day at Clear Creek after being foiled trying to bushwhack (literally!) to the Clear Creek Falls - which, unusually, were running.

19th > Hike 9 mi. back to Phantom Ranch AND GET A MEAL AT THE CANTEEN! YEA!

20th > Backpack up, up to Indian Gardens & camp.

21st > Hike ever upward thru endless switchbacks past FOUR [email]d@mn[/email], dusty mule trains of jaded tourists to the rim and our cars at the Bright Angel Lodge parking lot. Muleskinners need to learn they don't own the trail. Reigning in as they sudenly round a bend to give hikers time to get out of the way would be nice. Also, mule trains not stopping to palaver while backpackers patiently stand by waiting for them to pass would also be greatly appreciated. Next time no more Mr. Nice Guy.

The trip was my 1st and now I "have" to do the North Rim trails. Being a transplanted Pennsylvanian sure is fun. Plus this was my "Medicare birthday trip". 65 on April 4th. Yeee HAW! (Over what hill? Funny, I never saw any hill.)

Eric

P.S. Jim, It got to 90 F on our return to Phantom Ranch but mostly we had some evening wind or just plain beautiful spring days.


Edited by 300winmag (04/23/08 03:00 PM)
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

Top
#94991 - 04/23/08 03:56 PM Re: Contrail in the Grand Canyon [Re: 300winmag]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
Eric,

I missed you by 4 days at Indian Gardens. I hiked out the 16th, same day you went in.

Yes the mules are a PITA for hikers. Yes the wranglers do stop right in front of you when they know you're waiting for them. They (mules)literally stink and it's no fun to sidestep their excrement all over the trail. If I were king they would just go away since they benefit a relative few. But since the passenger fees are very high and they book up solid months in advance I'd say they're here to stay. I just hope the Park Service is reaping a fair percentage of the profits.

Now that I've had a taste of the less popular trails off the main corridor that's what I'll stick to next time. Much of the fun ended for me when I stepped off the West Tonto Trail and onto the Bright Angel. That's where the crowds and the mules began. Before that I hardly saw a soul and I sometimes felt I had the whole Canyon all to myself. That was an incredible experience.

And how about that (nearly) full moon? That was icing on the cake!!!!

Top
#94992 - 04/24/08 07:56 AM Re: Contrail in the Grand Canyon [Re: 300winmag]
Keith Offline
member

Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1667
Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula
I had a Double Rainbow in GC in Jan. It was somewhat windy. (Stayed Brt Angel/Cottonwood/Brt Angel. )
The DR sheds the wind quite well. Not too difficult pounding in stakes in the campgrounds -- especially with the rocks edging the campsites as handy hammers.
_________________________
Human Resources Memo: Floggings will continue until morale improves.

Top
#94993 - 04/24/08 03:01 PM Re: Contrail in the Grand Canyon [Re: Keith]
Bert Offline
newbie

Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 2
That's good to know. I am going on the JMT this Aug and own both the Contrail and Double Rainbow. Is the weight penalty worth it for wind protection and free stading?

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
2 registered (), 174 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum