Cold weather tarping

MAURICE

MAURICE

Joined
Jul 14, 2000
Messages
3,278
Hi all,
I want to try out some tarp camping in the cold. I have always been a tent guy, but I want to give this a go. I am thinking about pitching an A frame with a ground sheet, plus GI moderate bag and bivy sack. I also have a Big Agnes air core pad, and I will bring an MPI survival blanket as 11 ounces of insurance. Anyone use a similar set up? Can I expect to stay warm when it hits 20 degrees? 30? I am a total newb to tarping, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Maurice
 
MAURICE said:
Hi all,
I want to try out some tarp camping in the cold. I have always been a tent guy, but I want to give this a go. I am thinking about pitching an A frame with a ground sheet, plus GI moderate bag and bivy sack. I also have a Big Agnes air core pad, and I will bring an MPI survival blanket as 11 ounces of insurance. Anyone use a similar set up? Can I expect to stay warm when it hits 20 degrees? 30? I am a total newb to tarping, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Maurice
Click to expand...
You need an insulated pad, or a foam one with some r-value to combine with your Air Core, unless it's the insulated version. You'll probably freeze your butt off at 20F with the regular Air Core, no matter what kind of bag you have. Other than that, I think you're good at those temps(GI intermediate cold weather bag, right?), though you may need long baselayers if you're not a warm sleeper. Been 20+ years since I used a GI bag, but I was fine in the 20s with it and a foam pad.
 
Have you given any thought to pitching the tarp as a lean-to and having a fire with a little reflector wall to bounce the heat back towards you? Not trying to change your mind or anything, just wondered if that was an option. At 20, you wouldn't have to worry about rain, just snow/wind.

I second the foam pad. You gotta be insulated well from the ground.
 
I've rarely been a tent guy so I guess my view of a normal night out in the wilds will differ slightly from yours Maurice. I've tarped in all weather including well below freezing. The worst is wet and windy that's just a pain but still possible to beat with a decent tarp, bivi bag, sleeping bag and rollmat combo. You have nothing to fear honestly. Owen is spot on with what he said. I would make sure you do a couple of things to help you have a comfortable night.

  • Wear a hat (soft wool or fleece ideally) in your bag
  • Wear some decent fresh socks in your bag
  • Ensure, if possible, your bivi is orientated 90 degrees to the wind
  • Keep one end of your tarp lower (feet end) and one high (about waist height for head end)
  • Use your backpack to help block the wind at one entrance (head end)

Seems like simple stuff I know but all of that stuff adds up to a comfortable night. It'll be different to a night in a tent, you will definitely feel more in contact with nature but that's no bad thing. Good luck and have a great time out there.
 
Good advice. If your bag is rated appropriately you can be comfortable at -40, provided you have good ground pad, foam or Thermolite. Wear as little as possible in the bag -- polar fleece (or similar synthetic) long johns, socks and long-sleeved top.
 
There are tarps and then there are tarps, or more precisely, tarp tents.

I've used a MegaMid tarp tent for ski touring and winter camping for 10 years ago. I have experience using square tarps and really wouldn't consider them for winter conditions

In a word, it's about wind.

The really nice thing about a MegaMid, or any other tarp tent is they stop the wind from pushing heat out of the shelter. Provided you don't get stupid about lack of ventilation and CO poisoning running a stove, you bury the edges in snow for a good seal.

I use 2 sleeping pads (ridge rest & therms rest), winter bag, Stephansons Warmlite VB shirt, and a very breathable versatech bag cover to keep spindrift from getting between my bag and sleeping pads.

I've taken that combo down to -15f and down to -10f numerous times. That's my limit. I don't have the boots to go lower safely.

If you want to get fancy, dig a hole in the snow inside the Mid so you can sit upright. I take a plywood stove stand to allow the stove to hold a prime.
 
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. It sounds like about all I need is a cheapie foam pad. I will use different set ups for different conditions. Cold is fine, my bigger concern is the wind. I do plan on testing my kit out at a local state park, so if I need to walk out I can. I will be buying a better bag, but the GI works fairly well, and it is what I have now. I will be getting a Big Agnes in the spring.
 
A tent is warmer in very cold weather as it retains the warm air and you are full protected from the cooling effect of the wind.
And how a candle lantern will heat effectively

That said...
I used exactly the same gear except a tarp instead of the tent
The tarp was US surplus poncho ...
And I had to spend more time searching a good camping site, that was more protected from the wind and with overhead covering
 
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