Re: [Philmont]: My Tents Wet What Do I Do?

John,

Thanks for sharing your story about Bobby Jefferson. As Scout leaders,
we are lucky to share time and camp life with many special boys and
some rise above, just because they are truly special. Thank their
parents and count your lucky stars.

I like to think that all of my kids are special, but Bobby sounds like
a gift that God wanted for bigger things.

Happy camping all,

Tony Helpenstell
Advisor 608I-2

And yes, iwtgbtp soon

--- John LeBlanc <philmontjohn@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Let me give you my take on fifty- five years of camping in the rain
> and wet tents. Simply put you deal with it.
>
> Our area gets 53 inches of rain per year. Thats more than any other
> part of the lower 48 except the Pacific NW in Washington State and
> Oregon. So we deal with it.
>
> With virtually 100% humidity, rain or shine, we pack up wet tents and
> put up wet tents.
>
> First off, it you are stranded in the middle of a tent on a tarp to
> stay dry and the tent is soaked, then you got the wrong tent or it
> needs a good seam sealing/waterproofing treatment or you need to be
> more careful on site selection.
>
> Before I get too far, internal frame packs are not a positive help in
> the regard to isolating wet tents. What they do is help spread the
> wetness to all other stuff, even the dry sleeping bag and clothes. I
> don't use an internal frame pack.
>
> If your tent is wet in the morning, then just pack it up wet.
> Simple? Well, sort of.
>
> Actually, when you get up, take everything out of it and suspent the
> floor up wo it will air and help to get drier. Before putting it up,
> selevt a site where it will get the first rays of the morning sun to
> help dry it some. Every little bit helps.
>
> Then...............
>
> Pack it up into it's own bag and tie it on the OUTSIDE of your pack
> where it belongs and has belonged ever since the BSA handbook was
> written and before.
>
> I prefer the Ureka Timberline series of tents with their extremely
> steep, flat roofs for the simple reason THEY SHED WATER LIKE A DUCKS
> BACK. Shed water does not soak into the tent.
>
> They aren't the roomiest of tents like the domes are, but I don't
> want a roomy tent, I want a dry tent.
>
> I do not advocate tying on a loose flapping tent to help it dry. All
> that does is catch on every snag on the trail to rip holes in it.
>
> I also don't advocate spening all my spare time diddling with a wet
> tent trying to dry it. A soaked nylon tent will dry in less than 30
> minutes. Just put it up thirty minutes earlier at the campsite for
> the night and let it dry then. Use the saved time during the day to
> smell the roses, take pictures and watch the grass grow.
>
> When you hit camp, put up the tent or if it is really wet and the
> weather looks like it will be really dry, then dry it in the sun for
> a while if that is a must do with you. For me, it's not.
>
> However, that is never the case at Philmont as it WILL rain every day
> somewhere and most of the time that somewhere is where you are.
>
> Wet tents are not all that much of a problem at all. Iv'e struck and
> packed wet ones and put up wet ones for days on end.
>
> If you use a quality pad like a Thermarest (prefer full length for
> obvious reasons) then a damp or wet floor is not a problem at all.
> That is unless you toss and turn all night long.
>
> Your choice of tent sites is going to determine how soaked the tent
> is. A proper site that drains water rather than pools it under the
> tent and the tent won't be soaked but only damp.
>
> Of course, by observation, I know that not everyone has garnered this
> skill yet. Dan Beard wrote about that in earler editions of the BSA
> handbook. Do your homework.
>
> Simply put, you have to work at it.
>
> Working at it is a skill. For an interesting take on this skill,I
> suggest you go to the Northern Tier Canoe Base website at
> www.holry.org and then alumni essays and then read "A Charlie Guide
> Can Make The Difference" to see what I have to say about working at
> it to keep dry.
>
> John LeBlanc
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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Received on Wed Oct 6 22:13:57 2004