What do you guys do with your tarp after rain or heavy dew in the morning? Especially when camping multiple nights? I don't imagine too many pack it up soaking wet, but don't really know what the better option would be (other than air drying, mostly talking about when getting up, packing, and hiking).
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It gets packed up soaking wet. However it rides on the outside of my pack (in the mesh pocket) and gets pulled out if taking a longer break, if the weather permits. Also , it's one of the first things to come out and be set up when getting to camp.
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Gotcha, and when you get home, do you lay it out and wipe it down?Originally Posted by Andy "Bull" Bullock
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No I just pitch it outside (again if weather permits), or in my garage. I wait till it's dry and brush/shake off any dirt or leaves or what-not and pack it up.
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When packing up for hiking and to set up again another night, I shake it dry as much as possible. I may even use my pack towel to dry it further, but it's never 100% dry. Good enough though for keeping weight down.
If you're patient and want to get meticulous, use a drivers license as a squeegee!
At home, I obviously set it up in my basement to dry...sometimes with a fan going to dry other gear as well. After you think it's dry and ready to store, WAIT ONE MORE DAY.
Shake it off as much as possible and stuff it back in its sack. If it's wet when I set it up again, it'll either dry out or stay wet and keep me dry if the weather is still going. When home it gets hung up in the basement for a few days. No problems that way so far. I don't think 10 hours or so being packed wet will cause it to mold or mildew. As long as it isn't stored wet it should be fine.
Cheers,
the Goat
Cheers,
The Goat
If you're not concerned with adding a little extra weight, you could always pack a small swimmers chamois to dry it off before packing.
I use a medium sized pack towel to wipe it after I've beat a lot of the drops off, though it doesn't get dry. It goes in mesh skins in the mesh back pocket of my pack. Mostly gets dry while hiking (as does the towel strapped on top). Always air out my gear when I get home.
So, no, its not what I would call soaking wet when packed, but its wet.
"I wonder if anyone else has an ear so tuned and sharpened as I have, to detect the music, not of the spheres, but of earth, subtleties of major and minor chord that the wind strikes upon the tree branches. Have you ever heard the earth breathe... ?"
- Kate Chopin
Sham-Wow or chamois. Cut a small square from the big towel. Paper punch a hole in one corner for a biner and clip it to the outside of the pack.
Shake off the tarp as much as possible. Wipe it down with the shammy. Pack it up.
Dry completely when you get home.
Ambulo tua ambulo.
I packed up this weekend in 37*F and steady downpour. There really isn't any option other than, segregate the wet tarp from the dry packed items and deal with it out later. Today - temps in 50's w/sun and a light breeze, soaked tarp pitched in backyard is now dry in just over an hour.
Questioning authority, Rocking the boat & Stirring the pot - Since 1965
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