Ran into an old timer at Glacier Basin who made me question my whole tent setup

I was at Glacier Basin campground last weekend and this guy in his 70s walks over while I'm struggling with my fancy new 4-season tent. He just says "son, I've slept under a tarp for 40 years and never woke up wet once." Made me wonder if I'm overcomplicating things with all this gear. Has anyone else had a veteran camper make them rethink their whole kit?

4 comments

4 Comments

caseym481mo ago

Friend of mine tried the tarp thing for a season after watching some old videos. First time out he set it up wrong and woke up with a puddle under his sleeping bag. Second time he got the pitch just right but a gust of wind pulled one corner loose at 3am and he spent the rest of the night holding it up with his arm. He ended up going back to a tent pretty quick. I guess the old guys have had decades to perfect their systems but for regular people who just go out a few times a year a tent is probably fine. There's a reason most of us use them.

martin.paige1mo agoMost Upvoted

My buddy tried the tarp thing once and a bug crawled in his ear lol.

gibson.elizabeth1mo ago

Wait that guy has been sleeping under just a tarp for 40 years? Like no tent, no bivy sack, nothing but a piece of fabric over his head? I can't even wrap my head around that. I'd be scared a bear would just walk right up and sniff my face while I'm lying there.

abby_black1mo ago

Forty years under a tarp with no walls at all, that's insane honestly. I'd be convinced every rustle in the leaves was something coming to get me before I even fell asleep. Can't imagine waking up with a raccoon just staring at you from two feet away.