Monday, June 6, 2011

Scuba Camping

Have you ever heard of "Scuba Camping"? Probably not since I think it's a unique term that our pastor made up after hearing about a camping trip one of our church groups went on. We got rained on really bad and came home with our cars full of sopping wet camping gear and looking like drowned rats.


Scuba camping can be a totally miserable experience if you're not prepared for it. Here in Oregon we try to always be prepared for such a camping trip.


To prepare for scuba camping you'll need your normal camping gear in addition to a pop-up canopy (or two, or three), five or more very large tarps with rope and/or bungies to tie them down with, extra tent stakes, several golf umbrellas, rain coats and rain boots.




To be the most effecient when setting up your scuba camping site, you must work as a team. Setting up one tent at a time so it remains as dry as possible while the rain pours down on you. The most important thing is to get the rain fly on your tent as soon as possible. This will ensure that the inside of your tent stays semi-dry.




At this point it would also be wise to take one of your very large tarps and drape it over your tent. This is to make absolutely sure it doesn't start raining INSIDE your tent.


The next step is to create a covered cooking/eating space. Set up your canopies close enough together so that you can drape your other very large tarps between them. This will create a no drip zone if done properly. Make sure you stake and tie everything down securely.


You also need to keep an eye out for low spots in the tarps where the water might collect and put your structure in danger of colapse. I advise finding a large stick and emptying these spots on a regular basis.


Now you can "enjoy" your scuba camping experience! If you'd like to be warm, try and start a fire. Hopefully you were smart enough to leave your wood in the car so it stayed dry... Roasting marshmallows by a fire always lifts the rained on spirit.


(Golf umbrellas are great to cover both you and your camping chair!)












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