Picked a tarp over a tent for a 3 night trip in the Smokies...

I was planning a trip to the Smokies last month and had to decide between my usual tent and a simple tarp setup. I went with the tarp because it's lighter and I wanted to see if I could sleep under just that. First night was okay but the second night it rained hard from 2am to 6am and I got a little damp around the edges. The third night I moved to a spot with more tree cover and slept way better. Honestly I think I prefer tents still but the tarp taught me a lot about picking campsites. Has anyone else tried switching from a tent to a tarp and stuck with it?

3 comments

3 Comments

shanef343d ago

Started reading this and it reminded me of something I see all the time with people trying new things. They have a rough first try, almost give up, then figure out that the key is adjusting to the situation instead of forcing it. Your second night went bad because you put the tarp where you'd put a tent without thinking about how exposed you were. The third night you adapted and it worked. That's how most real learning goes, whether it's camping or anything else. Most folks quit after the first failure and miss out on the part where things click.

pat7813d ago

@shanef34 my friend tried baking bread once, burnt it, then realized you just gotta adjust the oven temp.

ivanbell3d agoTop Commenter

Totally happened to my buddy Mike, @shanef34 - burnt toast and learned patience the hard way.