The Flat Roof Lean-To and Rectangular Stall Poncho Shelter
Continuing with the series on poncho shelters This week we are going to cover the flat roof lean-to and the rectangular stall, two more shelters that you can add to your arsenal of bush skills. The rectangular stall is limited on space, decent in light rain and great for setting up next to a long fire. The flat roof lean-to will provide more space, is fair in light rain, adequate with a fire, but great for shade under a hot sun. And as usual I will be showing how to set up each structure using a ridge line and poles.
Rectangular Stall (Ridge Line)
Here is what you’ll need to setup the rectangular stall with a ridge line: four stakes, two guy lines, two poles, and a ridge line. Choose a ridge line, and set it up in-between two trees, attach the center of the tarp to the ridge line and stake down the two lower corners. You can either stake the tarp straight down from the ridge line or angle it out for more room. Attach the poles to the corners of the tarp and run out your guy lines.
Flat Roof (Ridge Line)
The flat roof lean-to is set up the same way. Attach the center of the tarp to the ridge line, and stake down the two lower corners. Decide if you want to stake the tarp straight down or angle it for more room, attach your poles to the corners of the tarp and run out your guy lines keeping the roof as flat as possible.
Rectangular Stall (Poles)
When setting up the rectangular stall or flat roof with poles you will have to either borrow a set of trekking poles from your hiking partner or improvise with whatever is available. To set this up you will need four poles, four guy lines, and six stakes. Start by staking down the two lower corners, attach one set of poles to the center points of the tarp and stake out the guy lines as you would a normal lean-to, add the second set of poles with guy lines to the outside corners, stake them out using your preferred rigging, and reposition the center pole’s guy lines out to the sides to add tension to the tarp’s ridge line.
Flat Roof (Poles)
Rotate the tarp 90 degrees and setup the flat roof just like the rectangular stall. Stake down the two lower corners, attach one set of poles to the center points of the tarp, stake out the guy lines as you would a normal lean-to, add the second set of poles with guy lines to the outside corners, stake them out using your preferred technique and reposition the center pole’s guy lines out to the sides to add tension to the tarp’s ridge line.
Links:
Setting up a tarp with poles
http://plighttofreedom.com/trekking-pole-tarp-setup/
A Comprehensive Guide to Tarp and Tent Guy Lines
http://plighttofreedom.com/guy-lines/
Tent Stakes & How to Use Them
http://plighttofreedom.com/tent-stakes/
3 Tarp Ridgelines: Tied, Toggled & Hardware
http://plighttofreedom.com/3-tarp-ridgeline…toggled-hardware/
5 Knots You Need to Know