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tent-setup-msg - 9/30/08

 

Hints for setting up tents and pavilions.

 

NOTE: See also the files: tent-ps-msg, tent-care-msg, tent-floors-msg, pavilions-msg, p-tents-msg, p-tents-art, tent-making-msg.

 

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NOTICE -

 

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

 

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

 

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

 

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Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

 

Thank you,

   Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous

                                         Stefan at florilegium.org

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From: Keradwc at cris.com (Kevin Connery)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Tent/Pavilion questions

Date: 3 Mar 1997 17:34:49 GMT

 

MdmMalice1 <mdmmalice1 at aol.com> wrote:

>SThomas728 <sthomas728 at aol.com> wrote:

>>I am curious as well about pavilions, but of another nature. I have done

>>all my research and already know who I will buy from IF AND WHEN I DO.

>>There's the rub.

>>I need to know if it is worth it.

>

>[snip]

>

>Another consideration to take into account is just WHO will be putting up

>this pavilion if you do decide to purchase/make one.  I have frequently

>yearned for one myself, however as I'm not with a household and frequently

>camp alone, it might be possible for me to put up a pavillion myself.  But

>put it up by myself on the same night I arrived at site and stay sane? I

>don't know about that.

 

45 minutes or less, one person, in the dark, to set up a 15+ foot

round pavilion; 6' at the sides, 13' in the center. The first time.

 

That's without any of the tricks I recommend, because I hadn't finished

building them. Is that too much? (I expect it's down to less than 30

minutes now.)

 

You see, I've camped alone for about 10 of my 19 SCA years.

 

KEY tricks:

 

Portable holes. Stakes which are pounded into the ground with a slot, hole,

    or method of attaching an upright. If these are used for the center

    pole(s), you're free to set that up first.

Measuring rope. A rope which has knots at the distance from

   Center pole to side poles

   Center pole to guyrope stake positions (or sidepole to guyrope, though

      that requires the side poles to be in place before the stakes are

      planted, which is much more work.

   Side-pole to side-pole distance

OPTIONAL, but very handy: ground cloth with all upright positions marked.

 

With a few portable holes, and such a measuring device, you should be able

to set up just about any *round* pavilion in 30 minutes or less, if you

are strong enough to lift the roof.

 

1. Center pole holes set up. If it's a multi-piece pole, only set up about

  5-8' worth of it, and do the final roof-raising last.

2. measure out side pole holders (if any), and stakes. pound stakes, and

  put guyrope near each one.

3. Put up a side pole, and attach it to the guyrope. Don't snug the rope

  too tightly.

4. Repeat for other sides. (I usually go center-left-right-far left-far right,

  etc, alternating sides, as that seems to work well.)

5. Finish lifting the center pole, and adjust ropes as necessary.

6. Stake down the sides of the pavilion, or attach sides and stake them

  down, if they're separate.

 

By planting the stakes in the right place, steps 3,4, and 5 are very easy,

and can be done at your convenience, without having to have someone hold a

side-pole while they're being pounded in. By having a sturdy centerpole

portable hole, you avoid having to anchor it temporarily with guyropes

(which is what I had to do that first time) to keep it up. Portable holes

for side poles are merely a convenience, and can be skipped for most

designs.

 

Note: all of the above presumes a symmetric pavilion with upright sides.

Internal suspension designs are a different matter.

 

Note also that more people DO make this work more easily, but aren't

generally needed. The exception being the final lifting of the center

pole and roof, IF the pavilion is large, the cover is heavy material,

and the person putting it up isn't very strong. But borrowing strength

for 1-2 minutes isn't usually a problem.

 

Keradwc

 

 

From: ALBAN at delphi.COM

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: putting up (with) pavillions

Date: 26 Jul 1997 02:17:32 -0400

 

Saewynn Silfrhrafn had said

>Anyone with the discourtesy to bitch about my

>encampment not being "period" has just volunteered to design

>and build me a period pavilion that I can put up by myself.

 

(Max Haig) replied

>>I didn't mean to "bitch" but I suppose it could be seen that

>way. At any rate, ok, you're on.  Try an arming pavillion with

>one center pole.  Mine is  at  14 feet tall, 8 sided and has 4 "high

>wind" lines.  I stake out the high wind lines, insert the pole

>inside the tent and do a one man version of "The Raising of

>the Flag at Iwo Jima".  I then stake out the 8 side ropes and

>stake down the sides.  I am frequently offered help to set it up

>but it isn't necessary.  I understand your consternation.  I have

>several friends with "A" frames and they are a challange to set

>>up. One of the conciderations I made when I chose my tent

>was that I wanted to be able to set it up myself.

 

(Greg Lindahl) also replied:

>This is a problem with your tent, but not my A-frame. I can

>raise the whole thing by myself. I usually have a bunch of

>people offering to help, too.

 

From what I've seen, Max's suggestions for raising a pavillion

are the same for whatever type you're trying to put up. If it's a

one-center-pole tent, do the high wind lines, put up the center

pole, and then the side poles.

 

If it's a two-center-pole , with or without ridge pole, it's the high

wind lines, one center pole, the other center pole, then the side

poles.

 

If it's a Viking A-frame, it's the high wind lines, one end of the

A-frame uprights, then the other end, and then stake everything

else down.

 

(In essence: high wind lines, main uprights, subsidiary uprights.

The high wind lines are there to keep the first upright(s) from

coming down on top of you, so stake them with a *bit* of slack,

but not too much. You can tighten them later, but having them

too tight at first is a *Major Pain*.)

 

I've had big tents for merchanting: the first big one was 15x20,

two center poles, 12? 14? wall poles, and 9 feet in the center. It

took a while (oh, about a leisurely hour to an hour and a half),

but I could, and did, do it all with no help. (This is one reason

why I always arrive at Pennsic well-rested, early in the

afternoon: the tent goes up, the walls set out, and bed set up and

made (and oh what a bed: queen-sized canopied Viking rope bed,

two futons as mattresses. . . ) well in time for a leisurely dinner, a

grocery run, and enough time in the evening to unpack the

truck.)

 

Of course, the last two or three Pennsics I've had help (thanks,

Shauna, wherever you are!) - and I've had suitable bribes ready,

too. Sugared fruit slices, chocolate, lots of cool water, and many

"thank yous" will go a long way toward a fast and efficient tent raising.

 

And then I can sit and relax in a nice, comfortable, roomy, cool,

dry, and delightful tent for the next 12 days or so, until it all

comes down.

 

(But then - Pennsic merchants are really, really urged to have

period-looking tents; and even if we could have modern tents,

most of us wouldn't anyway, because we need a hell of a lot

more space than they provide, for goods and for customers. If I

were Just Another Camper, I'd be really tempted to go with the

largest tent from Sears, one I could actually stand up in - as I

indeed did my first three Pennsics, before I started merchanting

seriously. And modern tents are a marvel: I arrived those

Pennsics at 10:30 PM, and was completely set up, unpacked and

in bed by 12:30 AM.)

 

Alban, whose only serious remaining tasks are the second

linseed-oiling of a bookcase and two poles. (Well, packing, too,

but that's down to a dull routine by now.) I'm ahead of schedule!

 

 

From: Tigranes of Bezabde <tigranes at epix.net>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: putting up (with) pavillions

Date: Sat, 26 Jul 1997 23:37:27 -0700

 

ALBAN at delphi.COM wrote:

 

> From what I've seen, Max's suggestions for raising a pavillion

> are the same for whatever type you're trying to put up. If it's a

> one-center-pole tent, do the high wind lines, put up the center

> pole, and then the side poles.

> If it's a two-center-pole , with or without ridge pole, it's the high

> wind lines, one center pole, the other center pole, then the side

> poles.

> If it's a Viking A-frame, it's the high wind lines, one end of the

> A-frame uprights, then the other end, and then stake everything

> else down.

 

If I could offer a few options for the above.....

 

   I have had no experience with the marquee pavillions that use no

ridge pole, but I have put up the ones with ridge poles, and it is much

easier to stake out your perimeter poles first, then raise the ridge.  

The only part that really needs more than one person to put up is the

ridge raising.

   The same is true for my personal tent, what Panther Primitives call

the Regents pavillion, and other makers call mitred octagon (mine's a

Panther). The four corner poles go up first, then the center pole.  This

can be done (and usually is) by one person.  

    As for A-frames, my other tent is a wedge, also from Panter, that

sets up in 15 minutes with two uprights and a ridge pole with no ropes.  

This is a great tent that fits in at many period events, has plenty of

room, isn't terribly expensive, and is easy to set up.

    The previous poster who was flaming about the "bitching" about

modern tents would do well to check out what's available in more

authentic tentage before lashing out at folks.

 

But that's just my opinion.

 

Tigranes of Bezabde

East, AEthelmearc, Endless Hills

 

 

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: Dani Eder <ederd at worldnet.att.net>

Subject: Re: putting up (with) pavillions

Organization: The Boeing Company

 

Tigranes of Bezabde wrote:

 

> If I could offer a few options for the above.....

>

>     I have had no experience with the marquee pavillions that use no

> ridge pole, but I have put up the ones with ridge poles, and it is much

> easier to stake out your perimeter poles first, then raise the ridge.

> The only part that really needs more than one person to put up is the

> ridge raising.

 

Having watched the Grimm's tent rental work crews at Pennsic set up seven

tents in my camp last year, and assuming that they have figured out the most

efficient way to do this (since they do it for a living), the procedure is as

follows for a rectangular tent:

 

1) Lay out roof on ground at position where you want tent to go

2) Hammer in stakes at appropriate distance from edge of roof (about 3 ft or 1/2 of sidewall height.

3) insert 4 corner side poles into roof and prop up leaning slightly outward at top.

4) attach guy ropes to corners and tie off to stakes.

5) straighten corner side poles, which will tighten the guy ropes

6) insert center pole(s).  There is a rope from hole at peak of tent hanging down, this is tied off to pole to keep tent fabric from rising off [the] pin in [the] pole in strong wind (and pole then falls)

7) insert remaining side poles with same leaning outward, tie off, and straighten routine.

8) attach sidewalls

 

Of course the Grimm's company had separate crews for layout, stake hammering

(with a jack hammer), pole raising, and sidewall attach, but for a moderate

personal tent, the only step that might require more than one person is raising

the center poles if you are not strong.

 

Daniel of Raven's Nest

 

 

From: seaanmcay at aol.com (SeaanMcAy)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: putting up (with) pavillions

Date: 4 Aug 1997 23:11:08 GMT

 

  Putting up a tent by yourself is often a matter of getting the little

things right.  I have a 14' round pavillion (made by Dragonwing, who is

finally back in business).  I used to struggle a bit when putting up the

center pole (I would only put in some of the stakes, and then have someone

adjust the ropes while I held the center up).

 

  Now I put in all the side ropes, and just make sure they are adjusted

to the correct length (mainly by being careful when I take the paviallion

down to leave it setup for the next time).  This really reduces any need

of assistance when putting up the center pole.

 

  Ion, of Dragonwing, often carries around a few extra tents for

demonstration and sale purposes.  I've seen him raise 2 sunshades, 2

circular and 1 "marquee" pavillions by himself in about 2 hours.  These

things go fast if you know what you are doing, and plan ahead!

 

Seaan McAy    Caer Darth; Darkwood; Mists; West  (Santa Cruz, CA)

mckay_michael at tandem.com or seaanmcay at aol.com

 

 

From: seaanmcay at aol.com (SeaanMcAy)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: putting up (with) pavillions

Date: 4 Aug 1997 23:46:35 GMT

 

I wrote:

> Now I put in all the side ropes, and just make sure they are adjusted

> to the correct length (mainly by being careful when I take the

> paviallion down to leave it setup for the next time).  

 

I forgot to mention the other action it takes to make this work.  You have

to measure the how far out you put the stakes.  A mark (3-4' down) on one

of the poles is an easy method.  This will insure that your ropes are set

at an appropriate length, and make setup much quicker (although I do have

to adjust a bit when I'm camped on a slope).

 

Seaan McAy    Caer Darth; Darkwood; Mists; West  (Santa Cruz, CA)

mckay_michael at tandem.com or seaanmcay at aol.com

 

 

From: "Dennis M. O'Connor" <dmoc at primenet.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Estrella War weather and tent staking

Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 06:53:11 -0700

 

There ha been no rain in months, or forecast for the next two days,

so expect dry and dusty conditions.  If you are coming out today or

tomorrow, be are that windy conditions are predicted.  This means

there will be lots of blowing dust, and that your tent will need to be

well-secured. Given the drought and the wind, fire safety is essential.

 

While much of Estrella Mountain Park has rock-hard soils

that will require heavy metal stakes (such as landscaping

spikes with washers), some areas of Estrella have sandy soils

that do not hold stakes (even Panther's 18-inch bar stock ones)

at all well.  If you don't have good sand stakes (for an example,

see http://www.cabelas.com/products/Cpod0003789.jsp)

then using 2 or 3 large metal stakes per rope, driven in

an "X" or similar pattern, has worked for me in the past.,

even on my large Panther pavilions, all though they did

need monitoring over the course of the War.

--

Dennis M. O'Connor    dmoc at primenet.com

 

 

From: "Isabelica" <siervua at gmail.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Period camping for Singles?

Date: 1 Feb 2006 00:54:11 -0800

 

I'm a single lady who wishes to be able to do period camping. I'm

wondering what exactly other single ladies out there have done, what

types of tents they have found to be easy to set up and such without

having to stop everyone else from their duties to assist me. I'd

appreciate any responses or suggestions! Thank you

 

Isabelica

Bryn Gwlad

 

 

From: "Krissy_lin at yahoo.com" <Krissy_lin at yahoo.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period camping for Singles?

Date: 3 Feb 2006 12:02:47 -0800

 

The tent I use is a square tent with one center pole. The style is easy

for one person to set up, in fact that's exactly why my lord and I

decided to purchase that particular style. Others have mentioned the

same thing but in a round shape. I like the square shape because it

gives you more internal space without taking up more ground space (yay

corners!) Pretty much any style with one center pole will work with

only one person. It's when you have more then one center pole that you

need someone to help with raising it.

 

~Emmeline

 

 

From: Steve Hix <sehix at NOSPAMspeakeasy.netINVALID>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period camping for Singles?

Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 12:28:10 -0800

 

"Krissy_lin at yahoo.com" <Krissy_lin at yahoo.com> wrote:

> The tent I use is a square tent with one center pole. The style is easy

> for one person to set up, in fact that's exactly why my lord and I

> decided to purchase that particular style. Others have mentioned the

> same thing but in a round shape. I like the square shape because it

> gives you more internal space without taking up more ground space (yay

> corners!) Pretty much any style with one center pole will work with

> only one person. It's when you have more then one center pole that you

> need someone to help with raising it.

 

Actually, it's pretty easy to set up an A-frame tent by one person. I've

done it regularly with my 7'x7'x9'6" tent. (Two uprights, connected with

a ridgepole.)

 

Stake one side, and fold the staked side so the ridge line is over the

lower edge. Place poles in position, the bring the free side back and

stake the middle position in place a bit slack.

 

Then you stake the rest of the free side, repositioning the first stakes

to tension it properly. Takes a bit longer than using two folk, but it's

doable.

 

 

From: trbrown at uga.edu

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period camping for Singles?

Date: 1 Feb 2006 10:21:06 -0800

 

My Lady,

 

  I've camped in everything from a Viking tent (Pennsic 1-5) to a (no

spoke) 17 ft round (Pennsic 20-25) to a 13x16 oval (Pennsic 26 to

present), with some bell wedges and <ghasp> mundane tents in between.

(Hey, I was flying from Drachenwald guys!)  Frequently not as a single

camper, but sometimes, so ease of setup is a consideration.  All of

these pavilions can [technically] be set up by one person, but in no

case is it actually recommended.  The Vikings and bell wedges can

easily be set up by two. The round and ovals are best with four people,

but three or (in a pinch) two will suffice.  My oval has a 5-ft long

ridge pole, which means that one short person (me) can hold the two

uprights steady. (A person's armspan is usually about the same as their

height.)

 

  My personal recommendation for the best period tentage for a single

camper -- a bell wedge with optional shade fly.  The ones I've used had

uprights that broke down to 4 ft lengths and a 3 or 4 ft ridge pole.

They required no ropes, but ropes can be used if wind or bad weather is

anticipated. The optional fly does use a couple more poles and some

ropes.

 

  All of this will fit in a small car, can be packed as check-on

baggage, or sent UPS  to some sites like Pennsic.  When I flew with

mine, the canvas, ropes and stakes fit in a large suitcase or

footlocker along with my air mattress and tarps, and the poles were

padded in my rugs and slipped into a canvas bag I made. The same will

work for UPS, but I put some cardboard on the outside of the bag so

their tracking labels had something to adhere to.  Strapping tape is

your friend -- take some with you.  Note:  if I flew or shipped the

tent to Pennsic, I didn't take the poles for the shade fly.  When I

arrived I bought cheap 2x2s and gave them away when I left.  Total

outlay was about $3.

 

  A single lady -- or gentleman -- should always be able to find

helpers to set up the tent. I like offer them chilled bottled water,

soda and/or beer for refreshment, and I've met some very nice people by

asking them to help with the pavilion.  If you get their names and

group, take the opportunity to let their royalty, baronage, head of

household, captain or chieftain know your appreciation too.

 

  Are you on the Medieval Encampments group?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MedievalEncampments/

 

Best of luck with your period camp.

 

-- Signy

 

 

From: "Lisa Z. Morgan" <lisamorgan at lairhaven.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period camping for Singles?

Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 20:23:55 -0500

 

Another good idea is to make contact ahead of time with other single campers

and trade setup help. This works even with groups--when we travel as three

or four sharing the 16 x 16 marquis, we CAN put it up with just two, but

four or six and it goes up in 10 minutes. Then we do the same for the people

who helped us.

 

However, that said, I admire people who do not RELY on the kindness of

strangers. Getting and offering help is a grace; expecting it as a matter of

planning is an imposition.

 

Lyon

--

Lisa Z. Morgan

lzmorgan at email.uophx.edu

 

 

From: Zebee Johnstone <zebeej at gmail.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period camping for Singles?

Date: 1 Feb 2006 10:06:21 GMT

 

In rec.org.sca on 1 Feb 2006 00:54:11 -0800

Isabelica <siervua at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm a single lady who wishes to be able to do period camping. I'm

> wondering what exactly other single ladies out there have done, what

> types of tents they have found to be easy to set up and such without

> having to stop everyone else from their duties to assist me. I'd

> appreciate any responses or suggestions! Thank you

 

"lady" covers a lot of ground.

 

I'm 5'2" tall but I'm wide and strong, what I can do might not be what

someone 5'6" but very slight can do.

 

I have a 12' diameter single pole round tent that uses crowsfoot guys.

 

I can put it up by myself as I have a measuring string that tells me

where to put the pegs - I peg the guys and then lift the pole up

taking the tent roof with it.

 

My viking tent was much easier to erect - I had the longways poles in

sleeves, I just fitted the top pole through the front and back two side

end boards, lifted the front up, walked around the back and lifted the

back up, repeat till it's as high as it needs to be, then fit the bottom

poles through the side and base end boards.

 

That was a 10 foot long, 9 foot high at the peak tent.

 

I think anything that has more than one vertical pole would be hard

work for one person, I don't know about the tents with inner ring

frames.

 

Silfren

 

 

From: David Friedman <ddfr at daviddfriedman.nopsam.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Period camping for Singles?

Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 12:51:33 -0800

 

Zebee Johnstone <zebeej at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have a 12' diameter single pole round tent that uses crowsfoot guys.

>

> I can put it up by myself as I have a measuring string that tells me

> where to put the pegs - I peg the guys and then lift the pole up

> taking the tent roof with it.

 

I used to use a measuring string. My current solution, borrowed from

Daffyd (whose tent design I'm using) is a ground cloth. Put it down, put

in the tent pegs to fit the ropes attached to its loops, and the problem

is solved--although, as with the measuring string, I sometimes do some

fine tuning of the peg placement after the tent is up.

 

We currently use two kinds of tents. We have a Gjeteld built for our two

kids, and expanded as they got bigger. Elizabeth and I use a hub and

spoke round, single pole, about 12' diameter at the shoulder, 18' at the

ground. For last Pennsic I built the kids a smaller version of our

tent--I think about 8' diameter at the shoulder. It still wasn't big

enough, so for next Pennsic we plan to let one of them use that, one of

them the gjeteld.

 

The original gjeteld I could set up single handed, but it was difficult

enough so that I wouldn't recommend it for anyone not reasonably strong.

After we expanded it, it became marginally possible for me single handed.

 

On the other hand, I can put up the larger hub and spoke by myself quite

easily. I think the smaller one would be reasonably easy even for

someone a good deal less strong than I am--and enough room for a single

person.

 

Both tent designs are in the Miscellany; the relevant section is webbed

at:

http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/miscellany_pdf/Other_Articles_I.pdf

--

David/Cariadoc

www.daviddfriedman.com

 

<the end>



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