The Worst Storm Of My Life
BY Herschel Smith
1 year, 5 months ago
Wisdom from his son: “Let’s not sleep on a ridge any more.”
Yea, I could have told him that too. However, I see the alure of the camp site. If he thought there would be no foul weather, it’s easier for him to see what he wants to see and get where he wants to go for hunting from the top of the ridge.
If I’m going to sleep high, I prefer to find a strong patch of evergreens to help block the wind. Large boulders will do that too. There were both just down from the ridgeline. But you have to be careful around trees because they can come down on you if there are any dead ones.
The storm starts around 15 minutes. I’m surprised the tent survived.
On June 12, 2023 at 7:27 am, Latigo Morgan said:
Yep, I prefer to set up on the lee side of a ridge, if I can find a fairly flat spot. One of the best tents I ever owned was a $35 Walmart store brand 3 man dome tent. I had that for 30 years before it finally dry rotted enough to be unusable. Slept in every kind of weather imaginable except a hurricane – although, I did use it during the remnants of a hurricane, but it was just the rain. Can’t say it was perfect, as it leaked and filled up the tub a couple times on me. If it wasn’t for an air mattress, it could have been pretty miserable.
Now, I sleep in a rooftop tent on my SUV on a comfortable memory foam mattress. That tent was tested in Tropical Storm Cindy about 5 years or so, ago. After 4 days of non-stop rain and wind, the tent integrity finally gave in and it started leaking.
But, I have been thinking about a new backpacking tent or tarp. That foul weather makes me want to lean away from tarp type tents, but I can appreciate their utility and how lightweight they are.
On June 12, 2023 at 11:30 am, Jim said:
There was some faulty judgement there, but I really like the guy. I really hope he got his bear.
On June 12, 2023 at 8:36 pm, Dirk said:
We are firm believers in purchasing the best kit one can afford. If you’re having good luck with Walmart tents, good on you. Our family, wife children nieces nephews are or were long distance back packers, 50 miles on average.
In fact we are preparing to hike the OREGON Coast trail, from Astoria Or to just south of Brookings Or, the northern Calif border. Our research is complete, we’re thinking we will pack it in fifty miles sections.
While we own several Mountain Hardware four season tents, and The North Face, we don’t want to carry the weight. This trips hammocks-with tarps, slung low to keep coastal storms rain away.
The weight issue is based on having to ford high tide in multiple sports and a couple creeks. The solution is be on site at low tide, but that’s not always possible.
At two bigger rivers we have to summon a boat from the other side, the boat responds and you motor across the rivers for a fee.
The tents are high end gear we’ve used a lot in the mountains. We’ve been in storms which reminded me of SEA storms, generally sit the storms out inside the tent. Same with snow storms.
Our tents are perhaps 12/14 years old now, but we keep ‘em in a dedicated closet fluffed up,along with all the different sleeping bags. That’s the other thing about the coastal back pack trip, no down bags, a 30 degree bag with a wool Annorack
These are not 100.00 tents, these are 500/600.00 tents that we regularly reseal all the seams on a schedule. Same with our bags, tarps and bicycles sacks.
I don’t mean to sound like I’m looking down on your kit, if it works for you use it. As younger men with little or no money we learned life’s lessons.
We also use these tents bags etc etc, roll tables for rafting adventures, on some of the PNW’s big white water. A good dry nights sleep is critical these river are tight, we run small 12 ft cat boats with oars and a rowing frame. I don’t use a trampoline so my gear needs to strap securely to the frame, on top of the tubes in a dry bag.
Todays gear is outstanding anymore, new sciences materials are just better suited to the mission. Do your homework and you will be surprised at just how good of tent you can get for reasonable prices.
Dirk