Many THANKS to all who have posted on this site their suggestions on tarp sizes, colors, configurations, knots, and all of the tips!!

An especially huge shoutout to Frenchy19 for his help in securing my new 10x14 1.1 oz CCS tarp and some other extras at a discount from MWMountaineering and mailing them off to me when I couldn't get down there for the Spring Expo.

I have this site to thank for my new-found expertise with the Siberian, Taut-line, and Prusik knots. (I am still working on my Trucker's...)

All of your help kept us dry this past week on Gabbro Lake. (And allowed us to sit out in more than a few downpours, to the envy of many soggy paddlers headed past our site.)

I cheated with a center pole, but the overall efficiency and flexibility of this configuration was the best!

Thanks again, bwca.com!

Looking good!

Nice!

Awesome setup! Love the classic timberline tent in the background. Glad the trip was a success!

Looks awesome. Hanging out under a well rigged tarp is a pleasure. I’ve definitely learned a lot from this site about that too.

YetiJedi: "...Love the classic timberline tent in the background..."

44 years and going strong. An innie has become essential to accommodate its worn floor coating, however.

schweady: "

YetiJedi: "...Love the classic timberline tent in the background..."

44 years and going strong. An innie has become essential to accommodate its worn floor coating, however.
"

Wow! 44 years! And I thought mine turning 20 this year was a big deal!

Returning to your OP and the question about a center pole...we found a couple of small trees previous campers had fashioned into center poles. It was my first time using them and I'll say I'm intrigued enough to consider packing one in now. Not trying to start a discussion about LNT and such, just noting I appreciated the added height and stability. Looks like your setup did everything it was supposed to - nice job!

Great setup and looks like a wonderful camp!

We stayed at this site the very end of June. Had they dug a new latrine yet? It was about as full as a latrine can get and still be "usable"!

SurlyDude: "We stayed at this site the very end of June. Had they dug a new latrine yet? It was about as full as a latrine can get and still be "usable"!"

No. Worst I've ever seen. This has been a favorite site over the years and I believe the throne has sat on this same spot since 2005 or 2007.

You know, as many latrine pictures I've taken over the years, I have no idea why I didn't take one this time. Just too gross, I guess. The pile was crowning just below the seat and liquid would run out the front at your feet. We added some rocks to the front as a foot rest, but wished we could have also installed a riser seat.

Evidence of alternate spots being used, with lots of TP piles in the back woods.

Yes, it was reported.

SurlyDude: "We stayed at this site the very end of June. Had they dug a new latrine yet? It was about as full as a latrine can get and still be "usable"!"

No. Worst I've ever seen. This has been a favorite site over the years and I believe the throne has sat on this same spot since 2005 or 2007.

You know, as many latrine pictures I've taken over the years, I have no idea why I didn't take one this time. Just too gross, I guess. The pile was crowning just below the seat and liquid would run out the front at your feet. We added some rocks to the front as a foot rest, but wished we could have also installed a riser seat.

Evidence of alternate spots being used, with lots of TP piles here and there in the back woods.

Yes, it was reported.

My new 1.1oz 10x14 also recently made its maiden voyage. The Siberian Hitchnis my new favorite knot and the Nite Ize Figure 9 carabiner is one of my favorite new pieces of gear. I tied some trucker’s knots when I didn’t have a figure 9 in my hand and the prussiks worked great on the ridge line. Thanks again to everyone hear for the education and inspiration!

Here’s a photo of camp on Pickerel. The angle makes the tarp setup look not so great, but it worked really well. Having the center of the back tied down worked really well for stability and rain runoff. I had a line tied to the middle front that I tied down for runoff when it rained and otherwise left untied for additional height and visibility.

Using a center pole is not cheating; it is wise! Glad the tarp worked out for you. Now, what you need is a CCS bug shelter...

pcallies: "My new 1.1oz 10x14 also recently made its maiden voyage. The Siberian Hitchnis my new favorite knot and the Nite Ize Figure 9 carabiner is one of my favorite new pieces of gear. I tied some trucker’s knots when I didn’t have a figure 9 in my hand and the prussiks worked great on the ridge line. Thanks again to everyone hear for the education and inspiration!


Here’s a photo of camp on Pickerel. The angle makes the tarp setup look not so great, but it worked really well. Having the center of the back tied down worked really well for stability and rain runoff. I had a line tied to the middle front that I tied down for runoff when it rained and otherwise left untied for additional height and visibility.
"

Whatever works! I found that I could lower the attachment point of a couple of corners to eliminate sagging or any water collection. I feared at first that this would reduce the overall height and cramp our style, but no worries there. After years of struggling with sagging on parabolic-cut tarps like my old Guide Gear, it was refreshing to tie out a rectangular tarp. During the more ferocious downpours, that silnylon sounded like beating on a taut drum skin.

Frenchy19: "Using a center pole is not cheating; it is wise! Glad the tarp worked out for you. Now, what you need is a CCS bug shelter... "

Yep, just open the door, let all the bugs in and once closed up you can sit by the fire knowing every bug around is trapped in your screen tent. Haha!
I think the CCS 1.1 tarp was the best upgrade I made. And yes, I have a center pole.
Always good when you can count on someone to cover for you on grabbing a good deal. Way to go Frenchy19