Windbreaking, free-standing tarp lean-to (How?)

**MCBushbaby** · 12-18-2008, 11:00 AM

Think outside the box. How would you construct a freestanding lean-to from an army poncho and two hiking poles if you were in an area that cannot be staked (or you have no stakes) and has 30-40mpg gusts with 20-25 constant wind. Think inner fields of Iceland... rocky, barren, windy, cold. You need to set up a windbreak so you can cook and set up your bivy.

How?

Thinking maybe A-Frame with a strong anchor at the wind-facing point.
Or making the poles into a T-shape for a full rectangular break.. but that would twist in the wind

So how would you do it?

**skunkkiller** · 12-18-2008, 11:44 AM

put rocks on the backside put up one pole tye to rock put up second pole do the same.

**bulrush** · 12-18-2008, 11:52 AM

Windbreaking, free-standing tarp lean-to

Are you saying this thing breaks wind?

**MCBushbaby** · 12-18-2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by skunkkiller

put rocks on the backside put up one pole tye to rock put up second pole do the same.

I'm not sure how solid that'll be unless the poles are firmly embedded. Or that's one hell of a rock. Seems like there'd be a lot of pressure in the middle and force the poles inward

Breaker of the wind
Purveyor of the discontinuation of gaseous free flow
Wind redirector

Yes, it breaks wind. But does not create it. lol

**bulrush** · 12-18-2008, 12:13 PM

Just wanted to know if I could blame it on the tent.

**Badawg** · 01-06-2009, 06:58 PM

Why not just use all the rocks for the windbreak?

**Beans** · 01-06-2009, 07:26 PM

Make it low. The lower the profile the lest wind resistance.

Use the rocks to build a "U" shaped wind break 18 inches high. The open side of the "U" downwind, using an existing gully, ridge, Etc would help. place the tarp on the inside of the windbreak, anchor it, on 3 sides against the rock windbreak. You can place the rocks on the inside of the tarp and roll the rest of the tarp over them to form the shelter top, so the anchor would be more secure and the wind couldn't get under the edge of your tarp and blow it away.

Then you can use the hiking stick(s) to form the open side, on the downwind side.

If they are two long you can cross them and use a string, shoe lace Etc to tie them where they cross. The end of the hiking stick can be wedged against your rock windbreak sides.

If the wind switches direction just collapse the open side and move the hiking sticks toward the middle to create a modified "A" type tent.

As a FIELD MARINE we got quite good at making improvised shelters out of tent poles and ponchos. they provided protection against Rain snow, Wind, sun and also being seen.

I almost forgot an important thing. Be sure to keep an air space between you and the poncho/tarp If you don't you will sweat where the poncho/tarp touches you and then when you roll over you will get very cold when the sweating part of your body in away from the tarp.

I learned this from experience when we spend a very cold night in the mountains on Camp Pendleton with only our ponchos and a field jacket for protection. We were in a tactial situation and couldn't build any type of fires. However it got to a point where all of us were showing signs of hypertherima. The CO rousted us up and MADE us go for a five mile march which warmed us up enought everyone made it OK. After that He got us issued poncho liners to take to the field with us.

**SARKY** · 01-06-2009, 10:25 PM

How about a delta dome? First stack rocks around your pole. Attach one corner of your poncho to the pole. Next take the diaginal opposite corner, strech it out pointing it into the wind and weigh it down with rocks. Next pull the other 2 corners out and weigh them down as well. you now have 2 adjacent sides weighed down on the ground and the other 2 adjacent sides rising up to the height of your pole. It is actually quite roomy and stable. depending on how high your pole is. And it sheds water and rain.

**Jay** · 01-07-2009, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by bulrush

Just wanted to know if I could blame it on the tent.

you read my mind!!!

**Gray Wolf** · 01-13-2009, 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by Mitch.chesney

Think outside the box. How would you construct a freestanding lean-to from an army poncho and two hiking poles if you were in an area that cannot be staked (or you have no stakes) and has 30-40mpg gusts with 20-25 constant wind. Think inner fields of Iceland... rocky, barren, windy, cold. You need to set up a windbreak so you can cook and set up your bivy.

How?

Mitch Check These two out:

TARP-TENT Project Projects

1) http://royrobinson.homestead.com/PonchoPlans.html

2) Henry's Original Tarptent & Tarptent-for-2 Plans:

http://www.tarptent.com/projects/tarpdesign.html

Great lightweight shelter project for backpackers.

**MCBushbaby** · 01-13-2009, 10:35 AM

The idea is for me to set up a windbreak on, say, the windy plains of Iceland (allusion to a future vacation) so I can set up my bivvy and stove in relative calm. But the terrain in the Iceland interior is rocky and desert-like so stakes will either need to be long and broad or I need a way to tie hiking poles against each other in order to create a stable shelter base. Otherwise I'll bring my Contrail (ala last link in previous post) but will have to get new stakes.

**edr730** · 01-13-2009, 11:41 AM

Beans makes a very important point about the plastic touching you while you sleep...you can get very wet. That's bad. Especially if it's cold. The frost or water, on the tarp, from your breath can also drip on you at times. I've been wet like this enough times to know I don't like it much. The second problem is that, in the wind, coverings become loose and whip back and forth until they tear or they come loose.

The quick solution would be to stuff a bushy tree on each side of you, tie down the corners and climb in. In the day time you tie the corners down with long cord, stick a tree, with flexible limbs, under the middle of the tarp, spread out the thin limbs and you have an umbrella. You can cut what limbs you want off of the tree, to make hangers, and hang your gear and dry off with the fire.....uhh, but no trees... Your scenario, without trees makes a simple thing a lot harder. I've never been there without trees...guess I'd have to wing it.

Beans has his answer to the problem with the rocks. I know he only kept the tarp so enclosed from the outside to keep the warm exhales inside. At that time, it wasn't because of choice, it was the survivable way due to lack of fire and gear. I'd be happy with the same rocks, the tarp open on the end and a warm fire and bag.

If I were to build a tent with an "A" at the high point and a ridge with cord, I would be afraid that the high point of the ridge would tear. I would put several cords from slightly lower points of the "A" instead of only one at the apex (to disperse stress, add flexibility and avoid tearing). I would be careful that the rocks would not be too light and loosen, whip around and eventually tear the covering. I'd like grommets rather than little pebbles to tie the covering down. I'd prefer a third long ridgepole which would make the frame as solid as a rock. I've used lots of tarps in windy areas over the winter. Never set up an A-frame like that with so few materials.

**MCBushbaby** · 01-13-2009, 11:49 AM

Perhaps always have a bit of paracord or mason's line attached to the grommets. 6" or so. And then use my small stuff sacks as rock/sand bags. Tie the bags to the grommets rather than trying to use a friction grip as you'd get with piling rocks? I think that's the most secure way to go. But then how'd the most secure way to stabilize the opening/poles without guy lines? Or... continue the rock bag idea with a guyline to another rock/sand bag?

**edr730** · 01-13-2009, 02:53 PM

I think you can do it with the bags somehow, they are a good idea, but there's some problems. You have to use a lot of weight in the bags with that much wind. If the wind can move the bags at all the tent risks whipping and failing by losing shape then possibly tearing. If you "hang" the bags over rocks, they will have a "stop" and be much less likely to become loose. But, they have to be pretty heavy or they'll jump the rocks. Weights like you describe are a good way to hold any tarp if the bags are suspended enough. The suspension will return them to their original position like a bungee cord. It's the loose firmly attached tarp that tears. The windward side might need to be on the ground. If you threw the weighted covering over walls of rocks that are chinked it would work fine with a ridge. I think it's possible to make such a tent as you posed in your question, but not as easy as it sounds. With trees you can set up a tarp covering that would last all winter fairly quick. If you had a third pole, you could easily adjust the tent to the height you wanted quickly and never need guy wires. You got a puzzle with a minimum of materials. I'd like to see the answer when it's solved and tested in someone's windy backyard. You may be going to a place where a cooped up tent could feel pretty good at times.

**wildography** · 02-21-2009, 09:45 PM

sounds like the above posts are hitting along the right idea... but I wanted to add some thoughts...

make a V - SHAPED rock windbreak (big/tall enough to disrupt the wind, but not so big/tall that you wear yourself out or would get hurt by falling rocks) upwind from your shelter. Tie your two poles with a 3-4 foot string/rope between them; position your tent poles so they "pull against" each other by using string/rope to pull the poles in opposite directions, then use rocks as weights to secure the poles. Lastly, drape your tarp over the poles & string/rope so that your tarp forms a tunnel with walls and a semi-open front. Weight the up-wind side of the tarp and the walls with rocks. If you have a fire keep it very small (so you won't burn the tarp) and slightly inside the mouth of the tarp/tunnel. The whole contraption should be no more than 3 1/2 feet high... that way you have enough room to move around, but it provides as low of a wind profile as possible.