Camping is a great way to spend time outdoors.Many people like using a tent for the ease of setting it up.Tents are heavy and bulky to carry with you on a camping trip.You may want to use a tarp shelter to make your camping trip easier.Tarps are lightweight and easy to build a shelter with, making your camping trip a comfortable one.
Step 1: There is a flat area.
Flat ground is the best place to build a tarp shelter.You will be able to sleep in a more comfortable place if you create the shelter a bit easier.Before building your tarp shelter, take some time to find a nice flat area.
Step 2: The dead branches can be seen above.
If you find a nice place on the ground for your shelter, you will want to look over it.Campers are at risk if dead branches are knocked down by wind.If you want to avoid having a fall on you, place your shelter under branches that are old, dead or dangerous.
Step 3: You can use trees.
A sturdy rope or cord is required for many tarp shelter designs.The ridge-line is the tarp shelter.It's a good idea to look for a place that has two trees for you to place this cord between.If you can't find two trees, you could place two anchor branches in the ground.The trees should be roughly the same distance apart as your tarp is long.
Step 4: Take into account the weather.
It may be sunny and dry when you set your tarp shelter up, but the weather can change during your camping trip.It's important to think about what the weather will be like in the future, so that you don't damage your tarp shelter.Determine which way the winds are blowing.The tarp shelter should face away from the wind.Don't put your shelter in areas that might flood during a rain storm.
Step 5: The ridge-line needs to be created.
The tarp shelter's top section will be supported by the ridge-line.A length of cord is strung between two trees.The elevated point of support will form the shape of the tarp shelter.Place the ridge-line using these steps.If you want the tarp shelter's roof to be high up on the tree trunk, place it there.Tie the other end to the tree at the same level.To ensure a strong ridge-line, make sure the cord is tight.
Step 6: The tarp should be put over the rope.
The tarp can be laid over the ridge-line once it's been created.The tarp should be placed over the ridge-line in the center of the tarp.The tarp will hang down from the ridge-line.The tarp should be hung from both sides of the ridge-line.
Step 7: Put the tarp on the ground.
You can put the tarp on the ground after placing it over the ridge-line.Pull the tarp away from the center of the tent.Place a tent stake into the ground near to the point of the tarps corner while it is stretched out.A length of cord is needed between the tent stake and the corner of the tarp.The tarp should be securely held to the ground if the cord is tight.Do the same thing for the other three corners of the tarp shelter.
Step 8: There is a good spot for the cord.
The shelter uses a ridge-line.The ridge-line is created by tying a length of rope between two trees.This will allow you to finish your shelter by securing your tarp.Two trees are as far apart as your tarp is long.The rope should be tied around the trunk of the tree.You want the top of your shelter to be at a certain height.At the same level on the opposite tree, tie the other end of the rope.The ridge-line needs to be as tight as possible.
Step 9: Fix one edge of the tarp.
The lean-to tarp shelter requires you to fix one edge of your tarp.Rope or cord can be used to attach the tarp to the ridge-line.Attach the tarp tightly to the ridge-line to build a strong shelter.There may be holes on the tarp's edge.If you thread the ridge-line through these, you can join them together.Many tarps have loops on the corners or edges that can be used to tie them to your ridge-line.
Step 10: Attach the tarp to the ground.
The bottom edge of the tarp shelter can be secured once the top edge is tied to the ridge-line.The bottom edge should be pulled away from the center.Place anchoring stakes in the ground at the corners of the tarp.This will hold the bottom portion of your shelter in place.A 45 degree angle is recommended by most people.The shelter's "ceiling" can be raised or lowered by adjusting the angle.