Camping is an activity that is still done in the fall, and, with all types of weathers, a camping tarp needs to be set up. Whether the ground is dry, moist, or covered in wet leaves, a tarp should go below your tent, but, to prevent water from going between the tarp and the tent, the tarp should be no larger than the base of the tent. The other aspect of tarping a campsite is to have a tarp above the entire area, and this includes the tent, the fire, and the ground around. This is primarily done to prevent your tent and other things from getting wet but also to have a dry area surrounding, in case you need to leave the tent.
The basics of setting up a camping tarp involve tying it between trees above your campsite. At least two trees should be used and have a rope tied between them. One option is to have the tarp go over this rope and be held by stakes in the ground on both ends, essentially making an oversized tent over your campsite. The other option is to use four trees and have the tarp act as a flat roof above your campsite by typing all four ends of the tarp to the trees. This method should have the tarp positioned at an angle, in case of rain, as the rain can run off the tarp and not build up on top. For one demonstration, here is a YouTube video of some campers setting up tarps on their campsite:
Some things to note in the video are that both medium and heavy duty tarps – a silver one being set up and a blue one off to the side – are on hand. The method that they appear to be doing is the oversized tent over the campsite. Both medium and heavy duty tarps can be used for a camping tarp, although medium duty is all that is really necessary, as this outdoor set up is merely temporary.
