| One the worst things that can happen when you | | | | around the tree a few times, and tie it to the |
| go camping is dealing with bad weather, especially | | | | tree. Do the same thing with the other corners of |
| rain. However, if you are prepared to deal with | | | | the tarp, until you have all four corners tied to |
| the rain, your camping trip will not suffer. The | | | | trees. You will have enough room under the tarp |
| weather forecasts are never 100% accurate, so I | | | | for a table, chairs and even a small fire. |
| would always be prepared for some bad weather | | | | Try to keep the tarp at an angle so the water |
| - cold temperatures, rain, heat, etc. Scattered rain | | | | can run off the tarp. Put the low side of the tarp |
| showers happen, but they should not deter you | | | | toward the low side of the campsite so that |
| from a camping trip. Here is how you can deal | | | | water running off the tarp runs away from the |
| with the rain. | | | | covered area, not through it. If you get caught in |
| Always keep a couple of extra tarps and rope in | | | | a downpour of rain, another useful trick is to dig |
| your camping supplies. They do not cost very | | | | small trenches to funnel the water away your |
| much, and have an assortment of uses. Attach a | | | | tent. Using a shovel or the claw of a hammer, dig |
| length of rope (at least 25 ft.) to each of the | | | | a small trench, again toward the low side of your |
| corners of the tarp and locate some trees. Toss | | | | campsite. This will allow the water to funnel |
| the rope from one corner over a tree branch. If | | | | through the trench and hopefully away from your |
| the rope is too light and hard to control when you | | | | tent. |
| are throwing it, try tying the end to a short but | | | | For your comfort, if you do get wet, change into |
| heavy branch or rock. This will make it easier to | | | | dry clothes as soon as you can. The cold damp |
| control. You are looking for a branch that is at | | | | clothes will drain the heat from your body. Hang |
| least eight to ten feet off the ground to give | | | | your wet clothes, near a fire if possible, to dry |
| yourself headroom. Once you get the rope over | | | | them. Keep your dirty and wet shoes outside |
| the branch, pull on the rope and raise the corner | | | | your tent if possible. Bringing them inside will get |
| of the tarp to the desired height. Wrap the rope | | | | mud everywhere. |