Bushwalk Australia

This is a great thread. Thanks to all those who have contributed!

What do you think about carrying a tarp? We are heading off to the Western Arthurs shortly. We have bought a lightweight tarp to provide some extra shelter as we have a two-person Macpac Minaret. I am not sure about the tarp. Is it realistic to string up and if we manage this - will the wind and rain be horizontal anyway?

Lynda

The one time I have seen a tarp used, it was very useful. Put up amongst some trees at Frog Flats in the rain to allow us to stand around and cook out of the rain. I don't have one myself. The one my friend had was a custom built one made by a sail maker in Hobart. Very light, small, strong as.

It sounds a bit Girl Guidish but a lightweight tarp is good to sit on or lie on when the ground/fallen trees are sopping wet. I carry a simple woven nylon tarp and it has been very useful to extend the annex, sit on. wrap packs in and even hang food in at night.

Well said Penguin and like tasadam mentioned it is nice to be able to stand up in the rain under a Tarp to cook ,mag and socialise where possible

(Note that this topic has been split off from the What Gear is Essential topic - which is what the first sentence in the first post refers to . I don't think Tarps are essential as such and in any case, they're getting enough discussion to merit their own topic).

Thinking of tarps - I've used $15 nylon taffeta shower curtains as ground tarps - might be ok overhead too? - though only been able to find them 6' x 4' (about 200 grams) - almost matches the footprint of my tent. They're usually perforated on one side to accept plastic curtain rings - quite easy to punch holes and fix brass eyelets as desired anywhere along the hem though might need a bit of reinforcing at these points if being fixed overhead.




Darryl