How to Pitch a Tent: The First Step toward Wanderlust
Knowing the basic necessities needed for outdoor survival is a must for anyone with a traveler’s soul. Being a slave to wanderlust myself, I realise the need to know the absolute essentials required whilst traveling, and this is the exact intent behind penning down this article. The very first thing that comes to mind while thinking of braving the exterior terrain is setting up a Tent. This is one of the skills that comes really handy when the opportunity presents itself and definitely takes you a long way. Pitching the tent is one of the base skills that any traveler needs to have – it is almost impossible to survive without this skill set, which is why it is best to dive into this tutorial right away.
The things you will need for pitching the tent are:
- A spot or flat ground or surface to set up a tent
- A tent of your preference, suited to your needs
- A groundsheet
- Some pegs
- Tent poles
- A mallet and/or a rock
- A hammer or some kind of driveling tool
- A rain cover
Now getting to the crux of the matter, here is the tutorial for pitching the tent:
• Choose the Sort of Tent You Prefer:
There is a diverse range of tents that you can choose from. This includes the Dome Tent, Cabin Tent, the Yurt, the Bell Tent and the A-Frame Tent. This is a careful decision to be made: you need to take into account the weight, size, feasibility, shape, and the terrain and type of camping you will be indulging in. On the other hand, if you are going to use the tent for a one-time event, such as a festival, it is best to go for a pop up sort of tent as they are most suited for such occasions.
• Decide on a Spot to Pitch the Tent:
After having decided upon a tent to pitch, you have to look for a place where you can perform the task. It goes without saying that you will need a flat surface for pitching purposes – what you also need is an area protected from errant wind and stray branches that may crash down upon your camping site. The safety of your camping area is the main priority over here. The last, but definitely not the least, thing to do is check for rocks and twigs and other such material on your camping ground: clear the area out to remove any sort of possible hindrance to your camping experience.
• Fix the Groundsheet:
Now that the spot for pitching the tent has been picked out, it is time to actually lay the groundwork – in this case, the groundsheet. The groundsheet is the base for your tent: place it on the ground so that it goes under the tent. Secure this arrangement with a couple of pegs. Now all you have to do is wait for a few minutes until the foundation of the tent is all set.
• Setting up the Tent Poles:
We have now arrived at one of the most crucial points of the tent setting process – the setting up of the tent poles. What you have to do is: you need to insert them into the cloth of the tent. You have to start at one end of the fabric and then venture into the opposite end. This is a step that requires a certain amount of concentration due to the fickleness of the procedure, but once it is over, you do not have to bother with it anymore.
• Raising the Tent:
Once the insertion of the tent poles is done with, it is time to actually bring up the tent. What is usually done is thread the poles of the tent through a clip at every end of the tent. Now, tug the poles of the tent as far away as you can from each other. This causes the tent to inflate and become taut and strong. This also means that there is more space in the tent and extra room – rain will not get accumulated near and/or by the tent.
• Finishing Touches:
The tent has now been raised and inflated. While, of course, this means that the pitching procedure is almost over – it also means that the pegs that had been previously attached need to be readjusted due to the change in the shape of the tent. In accordance with the current shape of your tent, drive in the pegs with a hammer. Use of a mallet or a rock or some similar and/or identical substance is preferred while hammering in the pegs as you can, then, really drive them home. Finally, it is necessary to check the pegs each morning and make them taut again, in case they have loosened up due to the weather or some other circumstance.
• Rain Cover:
The final addition to your pitched tent is a rain cover. A cover – or a rain fly, as it is often called – is required for preventing the rain from getting into the tent. Weather conditions are highly unpredictable: you can be in touch with the latest forecasts and yet be not so pleasantly surprised by a torrential downpour
• Conclusion:
So this was all on how to set up a tent... Travel is one of the things that bring immense joy to everyone’s lives. I am no exception and, being privy to this very fact, realize how very essential this basic set skill is. Once you know of it, it does not really seem like a big deal, but ignorance can lead to deprivation of one of the most of joyful experiences that you as a person can have.
Did you enjoy this tutorial? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below how it helped and if you have anything extra to say. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends – that long pending trip to the countryside will already seem more like a reality!
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