[philmont] odd number of participants

Has anyone who has gone on 2 or more Philmont treks used a tent on one and a tarp on the other? Do you have any recommendation for a either?
  As the 3rd Adult, I will be tenting alone so I have my own tent to carry.
  I have a nice light NorthFace 3-4 pounds but I am wondering if I should just get a lightweight tarp instead? and use my treking polls for pitching it?
  Thanks
  Sam Taylor ASM T89 trek #11 July 1st

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Although there have been several posts in response to the above inquiry,

none have answered Larry's question directly, so I will, but first an

addendum to a previous response.

One post stated that bears associate tarps with dining fly with food and

that was the reason tarps were not allowed for sleeping. That is not the case.

Bears do not associate tarps with food. They associate tarps with

tarps. The open sides offer no restriction to their inquiry within.

It's the simple enclosure that makes the tent

preferable to a trap. It has been found, as incredible as it seems. that the lowly

insect screen provides a barrier to not only little critters like bugs, but also bigger

like raccoons and even bears.

The post about bivy sacks is correct. Bears tried to roll them over

like they do a log since they are about the same size and shape.

Now for the answer to Larry's original post.

Yes, I have slept under a tarp and tent at Philmont on two different treks.

I'm one of a vanishing breed that has had that priviledge.

In 1959 we were issued official BSA trail tarps. They bundled our stuff

 and kept it dry on the packboard and provided us with shelter from the

elements just fine. We had to work a little harder at staying dry

during a rain than to just zip up the door flap, but we stayed dry.

And yes is was very discomforting to wake up nose to nose with a bear under a tarps

flap at New Abreu with NOTHING between you and the bear but

air and not much of it and yes, I agree whole heartedly with the rule today. Been

There done that.

In 2002 I slept in a two man Timberline with a tent mate.

The difference between the two? Temperature. The tent was warmer. Even when you

needed to be cooler. The tarp was cooler even when you needed to be warmer.

I hope this gives you some insight Larry.

Since you are the third adult, try this. Take a 4 person

Timberline or otehr make /brand of tent and the three adults sleep in it.

 The weight per person will be a lot for the three of you than for

 two peopleusing a two man tent and there will be room to spare.

In 2002 we had three female youth. They used a four person Timberline

and it seemed as big as a circus tent, especially on rainy

afternoons. HOwever, the weight per person was less than any of

the two person tents. It's easy to divide up pretty evenly. One person

carrys the tent, the second person carrys the fly and the third person

carries the tent poles and stakes. This is a very workable solution to

an odd number of participants.

John LeBlanc

       
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Received on Fri May 18 21:50:00 2007