kayaker’s
journal TOP TARPS
Cozy Cave Chlorophylle’s La Caverne (shown above), a 4.3- by 4.3-metre (18.5-square-metre) shelter, lives up to its name in both size and bulletproof construction. As versatile as it is large, it’s become essential equipment for outfitters. Hefty but reliable, with ample reinforced tie-downs and a tough centre patch. $370.00 Cdn //
chlorophylle.net
SKILLS BY DAVE QUINN Rain or Shine HERE’S A TARP SETUP THAT’S GOT YOU COVERED
YOU’RE A PADDLING JEDI who can keep it hull-down in any sea conditions, roll a loaded double and cook a mean backcountry soufflé. But can you set up a tarp? Whether you’re stuck in a 10-straight-day reminder of why it’s called the
“rainforest” or blessed with blistering sun in Patagonia or Baja, solid tarp skills are the sine qua non of campcraft lore that separate the backcountry pros from the schmoes. To salvage an otherwise drowning or overcooked experience, try this
advanced tarp setup, known as the Big Top. With a little practice, you can create a spacious shelter for any situation.
1. Attach tarp corner lines to either paddles or cut driftwood poles just above head height, using a clove hitch.
2. Tautly secure all four corners at a 45-degree angle from the tarp edge and a 45-degree angle to the ground.
3. Elevate the centre with either a driftwood pole or two paddles duct-taped together (experiment with lengths, depending on tarp size). Tie the top of the pole to the tarp centre to keep it from falling in wind gusts.
Extreme conditions may require extra anchor ropes along the tarp sides. Anchors can be driftwood, boulders, boats, trees or simply a deadman anchor—a stick or log buried in the beach perpendicular to the rope, with the rope tied to the centre.
Space Age The modern, lightweight MSR Zing would be equally at home on the set of Battlestar Galactica as the wildest, wettest corners of Earth. Sold with poles, the Zing’s funky design maximizes footprint (over 18 square metres) while weighing only 2.6 kilos. Perfect for expeditions where weight is as important as comfort. $349 Cdn //
cascadedesigns.com/MSR
Nice and Light Covering 11.3 square metres and weighing only 1.14 kilos, the MEC Guides Tarp is a simple emergency shelter for smaller groups. It has a full complement of tie-downs and a unique tarp-tensioning system for easy adjustments. The tarp stuffsack doubles as a reinforcement and attachment point for the centre pole. $52 Cdn reg //
mec.ca
adventurekayakmag.com
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PHOTO: DAVE QUINN
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