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How to Pitch a Basha, Hootchie or Tarp
Submitted by An Outdoor Idiots Team Member.
Advanced Tarp Pitching for the Connoisseur
Tarps are not limited to use in forests. Trees or posts are not required. Many people who walk with trekking poles will use those same poles as supports at the ends of their tarp, and tie the ridge line to those. Most trekking poles are telescopic, and so the height of the tarp can be finely adjusted when using trekking poles.However, we expect that anyone who has got this far in this article can probably work out how to do something like that themselves, so we won't make any suggestions. What we will show is this:
An Ultralightweight Tarp Set Up
This is a neat idea for a lightweight tarp set up that can be pitched in the open, i.e. without trees. Instead of trekking poles, it uses thin, light aluminium tent poles. These are much lighter than trekking poles and so are a better option if you don't normally use trekking poles for walking.The arrangement is a bit flimsy, and is more suited to lightweight tarps (which we used to make the following photographs). It can be made stronger with more pegging-out, but we'll just show the basics, which make for a very simple and quick way to pitch the tarp out in the open.
Fig. 1 shows a tent pole, rather than a tree, being used to support a ridge line:
This sort of arrangement can be very quick and easy to set up indeed. All we need, in addition to what we have already described on the previous pages, is a tent pole (or individual sections of tent pole for greater flexibility), and one of these (Fig. 2):
It is a piece of cord with a loop tied in each end, using the re-threaded overhand knot. It is important that the loops are sufficiently large that one can be passed through the other. The total length of this cord, when knotted as shown, is about 12 inches. It can be used to make a very quick Penberthy Prusik. We like Penberthy Prusiks at Outdoor Idiots.com. You can tie the Prusik around the tent pole and slide it to the desired height. The ridge line from the tarp can then simply be fed through the loop at the other end of the Prusik cord, as in Fig. 3:
The ridge line, after passing through the loop in the Prusik cord, is then simply be pegged to the ground.
Some comments about this arrangement:
- The loop in the Prusik cord can get worn by the ridge line that passes through it, especially if there is a lot of movement in strong wind. But the Prusik cord will wear out, not the ridge line. And it will take a very long time indeed, so it's probably nothing to worry about.
- This set up can be made more sturdy by tying the ridge line to the loop in the Prusik cord, rather simply passing it through it.
- The tent pole will bend a lot - but not as much as it would in a tent, so don't worry about it.
- It is a bit of a balancing act to get the tent pole bent to the right amount, and choosing where it touches the ground in relation to the peg that anchors the ridge line. It quickly becomes easy with practice.
- For safety, dig the end of the tent pole a fair way in to the ground. This will minimise the chances of it flying out and poking you in the eye. It will, after all, be under a bit of tension since it is bent.
Alternative Tarp Pitching Shapes
A tarp does not have to be rigged up in the classic inverted-V shape that has been shown on the previous pages. One possibility is shown in Fig. 4 below, where one end has been pegged directly to the ground. The other end is supported in the normal way by the ridge line.
This shape has several advantages. It only requires a support (trekking pole, tent pole, tree...) at one end. It is ideal if the wind is blowing very strongly in one direction - the end that is pegged directly do the ground should face into the wind. It is all that is required if you simply wish to sleep, or to shelter an injured person. The front end is high enough to sit up in.
Some Things to Avoid when Pitching a Tarp
To conclude, here are some things to watch out for when pitching a tarp:- Check that there no large, unsound branches overhead which might fall on top of you or the tarp.
- Don't get tempted to simply throw the tarp over the ridge line and anchor it down. We did this once, and after a couple of days of wind, the tarp material had started to wear away badly where the ridge cord rubbed against it. When we say "wind," we are talking about the weather.
- If you want your tarp, basha or hootchie to remain waterproof, it is probably a
good idea not to pitch it under a Horse Chestnut tree in autumn (Fig. 5). Not that we are saying
we've ever been foolish enough to do anything like that. No sir. Not Outdoor Idiots.com.
Fig. 5: The Horse Chestnut tree's Anti-Tarp MunitionTM
Page 6 of 6 Previous [Top of Page]
Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Attaching Cordage to a Tarp
Page 3: Packing a Tarp
Page 4: Tying the Ridge Line Between Two Trees
Page 5: Pegging out a Tarp
Page 6: Advanced Tarp Pitching for the Connoisseur
Page 2: Attaching Cordage to a Tarp
Page 3: Packing a Tarp
Page 4: Tying the Ridge Line Between Two Trees
Page 5: Pegging out a Tarp
Page 6: Advanced Tarp Pitching for the Connoisseur
Discuss the wonders of pitching tarps in our forums, if you feel so inclined.
If you can't be bothered to enter the forums, then shame on you! But you can still leave a comment below. Please try to avoid the profane ramblings of a madman. That's our job.
If you can't be bothered to enter the forums, then shame on you! But you can still leave a comment below. Please try to avoid the profane ramblings of a madman. That's our job.
Your Comments
On 22 May 2008, M Barker said:heading out camping next week wasn't sure if i was gonna bring my tent or my basha i'll be bringing the basha great video!!!!!
On 15 September 2007, ponyboy said:
I wonder if you could expand a bit on the setup of the ultra light tarp/tent pole contraption. I don't understand how the pole/ridge line is staying up....
On 6 September 2007, raymond smears said:
oh my god! thank you guys for that horrible good introduction! its perfect! BUT! shame on you, there is no gearcheckin gear-check-overview: where can i order that super-style-über-masterpice of a camo-tarp u use? tell me: tuztuuz@gmx.de
in love: tuztuu
On 24 July 2007, Barb from Pittsburgh, USA said:
What an awesome site. I started camping 7 years ago and learned early that tarps are essential. Thanks for even more great info!
On 29 March 2007, Offical UK Air Guitar Champ said:
This tarp guide pefectly sums up why mankind desperately needed to create the internet. This has saved me time (searching for a book) and money (buying the book) and is so brilliantly comprehensive. I'm now itching to set up my poncho/tarp and impress m
The Outdoor Idiots.com Emergency Response Team says:
Well thank you. We really need to increase the maximum allowable size of comment text, just to allow nice people like you to finish off your compliments properly! Unless you are James Bond and you really are trying to impress "M"?
On 26 January 2007, lindsay said:
Thankyou for restoring my faith - I knew I could do it, but after 6 hours trying to pitch my tarp in a way that wouldn't blow away this morning I was about to give up!
Thankyou, I shall try your way tomorrow!
On 21 September 2006, Tom said:
Awesome guide. Made me chuckle. Which in turn made me look slightly insane as i'm sat at work.
Gonna have to get practising those knots.
On 23 August 2006, joe campbell said:
this is a belting web site, I'm off to pitch a tarp in the garden.
On 29 June 2006, BDodd said:
Tremendous. Very useful. I don't remember that Benny Hill episode where he pitched a basha, though:)
On 28 June 2006, nharper said:
i like your video it made me laff!
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