Siltarp1 on eBothy Blog

my first tarp trip

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Following on from my excellent night in the open at Coruisk in the Cuillin, I had a bit of a problem in the morning with the Pacerpoles. I just managed to loosen the top sections but the lower sections of each pole were welded together. I had to wait until I got back and set about them with an adjustable wrench and pliers. Even then it took major force to loosen the lower sections. The wind picked up in the night and flapped the tarp a fair bit and must have pushed the sections together with some force. Would flick-lock poles be better? Dunno. Have to think of a way round this for future tarping trips. Thoroughly recommended though. It’s an Integral Designs SilTarp1 from BackpackingLight, a Duo Groundsheet (not really necessary as the bag has a waterproof base) and a Rab Storm Bivi.

getting into tarping

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve always wanted to tarp on the Cairngorm plateau before the midges come out, so I’ve taken the plunge and contacted a couple of superb UK outfits to get some lightweight gear. Ordered on Sunday, both sets turned up today. Not bad! Pacerpoles and a SilTarp1 from Backpackinglight. I really wanted a MicroTarp but they’re out of tarps at the moment other than the Integral Designs SilTarp1. I sat down and watched the Bob Cartwright “how to put up a tarp and tie the knots” DVD, which was good fun. I gave up on the figure of eight slip knot thingy and the taught line thingy as they’re just about impossible to follow but the others were fine. Bowline, clove hitch both normal and slippy. By the time I’d sorted that lot it was blowing a gale outside!