It’s also important to have a very basic form of protection in case you are forced to spend a night outdoors with no available source of shelter and a simple tarp can provide this necessity. One needs some rope, stakes, poles, and a little creativity to erect a rudimentary affair of cloth that can shield one from both rain and wind, all with a simple tarp. In this blog post, I will guide you on how to erect a rudimentary A-frame structure using a Heavy Duty Tarpaulin so you can have protection from wind, rain, and cold while you wait for the ideal accommodations.
What You Will Need
Tarp ( polyethylene tarps are the best to be used as they are waterproof and can easily be washed without tearing).
Rope
Stakes that can be used are the tent stakes or strong sticks that would be used here by putting them in the ground.
Some other essentials that the survivors may require include; Duct tape or any emergency blanket to cover any open holes.
Poles for the tent, branches, and trekking poles to lift the tarp up.
A knife or scissors to untie a knot in rope/tape.
This is a category of gloves that are designed to protect the hands from harm during work or handling of objects.
Choosing a Tarp
Essentially, the size and the quality of the Tarpaulin determine how spacious and sheltered the shelter would be. The tarp has to be at least 8×10 feet or larger for one person to cover. Occasionally the tarps used for hardware stores are small and thin, therefore, opt for polyethylene that is heavy duty because usually it is hard to puncture and does not tear easily. When choosing a tarp color you should opt for green or brown color as it will blend in well with the woods. Still required to bring duct tape for sealing any possible small holes or crevices if present.
Finding the Right Location
Choosing the right location for your tarp is very important to avoid getting affected by strong winds, or getting wet by rain and cold. Again, attempt to look for a flat land close to trees where you can fix your ropes and use them as tent stakes. Ensure that your environment is not in a region where there is a likelihood of floods or trees falling. Tidy up the ground by the removal of sticks, stones, and any other materials that may hinder a flat lying area.
Preparing the Location
When you are creating your tarp on snow or dirt, ensure you place a layer of insulation over the surface so as to prevent the cold from passing through from the ground. As a last layer, pine boughs, leaves, moss, or an emergency blanket will serve nicely as an insulating layer. Smoor the plane as much as possible and level off all the areas to lay as flat as possible because any irregularities may hinder proper drainage.
Tying the Ridgeline
The simplest tarp shelter design is the A-frame where a ridgeline rope is tied between two convenient trees or anything else that will act as the middle of the tarp. Secure a tight rope from a height of 6-8 feet between two trees with sturdy branches. This ridgeline needs to be pulled in enough to support the center of the tarp when ‘deployed’ at an angle to form the ‘A’.
He proceeded to secure the tarp to trees that were close to the boat so that the snow would not accumulate on the boat and damage it.
Now that the ridgeline is set in place, lay out your tarp directly under this line. Stretch the tarp laterally and draw the rope to each of the four corners of the structure. Tension knots for example the trucker’s knots must be fastened on other trees or stakes driven into the ground at the same distance away from the rope on both sides. Thus, the larger the angle of the A-frame, the more extensive the interior space but less breadth on the side.
Making Tent Poles
Any poles, branches, or hiking sticks that the user may carry should be trimmed to size to help lift the tarp from underneath to allow more headroom and air circulation. Screw stakes through the poles and grommets or ropes at the corners so that it does not collapse toward the middle.
Waterproofing the Shelter
Seal up already thread prone to water leakage by placing duct tape around the place where the ropes interact with the tarp grommets. Tuck under the edges or place insulation/debris against the sides that will lie on the ground to avoid water from flowing under it. Further, ask for more tarps umbrellas, or branches to create a protective entranceway.
Your basic tarp tent will shield you from the elements, including blizzards, snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain. Make sure to protect it from the ground with a layer of cushioning below you such as fir branches, clothes, or an air mattress pad. This is done by going to bed and sleeping in a sleeping bag or by covering yourself up with blankets/clothing to trap heat around the body. To avoid getting a chill, one should shake off the wet garments and if possible, they should change their clothes before sleeping.
Conclusion
There are few items in the survival kit as useful as a blue tarp it is one of the most useful things to have. If done as basic rigging or certain techniques, a simple tarp can be turned into a waterproof shelter that could protect from the rain, wind, and other conditions and most importantly, help save one’s life if it happens to get stuck out in the field at night with no gear or campsite to sleep in.
The basic easy A-frame shelter style can be adjusted in as many ways as possible and necessary considering your specific climate and the resources available to you. You should also have a medium-sized polyethylene tarp that is tear and puncture-resistant, parachute cord, duct tape, emergency blanket, and stakes to ensure that you can put up a shelter anytime you need it depending on whether you are in a car or a backpack.
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