Shelter
Site a tarp for wind and rain
Where you pitch matters more than what you pitch.
Topic summary
Where you pitch matters more than what you pitch.
Intended uses
Shelter skill (all levels, ~20 min practice)
TA Outdoors — 15 Tarp Shelter Setups
Step-by-step
Skip valley bottoms — cold air pools there overnight.
Skip ridge tops — wind hammers exposed sites.
Look mid-slope, back into a treeline, with the closed end into the wind.
Check overhead for widow-makers: dead branches, leaning trees, loose rock.
Pitch the low end downhill so water runs away, not under your bag.
Related outdoor skills
Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.