So we officially had -2F here in Buffalo, along with 20 MPH winds, so I decided to try a tarp setup in the back yard just to get an idea of how bad it would be.
Verdict: Better and worse than I expected.
So the tarp is a RSBTR DIY Winter 12 foot, with two main upgrades; a standing grosgrain hem on the top, like my MambaJamba, and a internal pole mod. I have no ridgeline hardware and just use a truckers hitch for tension. I also have no hardware on the tie-outs, just a marlin spike hitch around the stake. We have about two feet of snow, ad the ground is frozen pretty solid.
Worse: Finger warmth. I have wool finger-less gloves with the flap mitten cover, but those little piggies FROZE. Not sure if there is anything that can be done in these conditions, but this was the biggest slowdown to my progress. I need to rethink the hardware strategy, especially on the tie-outs.
Better: The pole mod. My first tarp with the internal pole, and WOW. Total game-changer in high winds. I used carbon fiber poles from Quest Outfitters and the entire pole is less than 3 ounces.
Better: Wind Blocking. Spent some extra time with a shovel and built up a wall under the tarp edges. I still do not have a very good way to seal the doors, but once the majority of wind could not get under the tarp, most of the stress on the tarp from wind gusts was eliminated.
Worse: Everything to do with the corner tie-outs. This is a function of the finger warmth issue, and no hardware, but wow, that was miserable. Any adjustments on the tarp tension was a re-stake or a re-tie, and both were undesireable.
What do you winter pros do to mitigate these issues?
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