Tents and Shelters

When it comes to backpacking, shelter can cause some serious debate. There are many different types of shelters you can use when backpacking the Colorado Trail. Some of the options available are tents, bivy's, hammocks and tarps. I personally am a tent guy. When backpacking the trail I use a 4 season, single wall Black Diamond Firstlight tent:

The Firstlight weighs in at just over 3 lbs with the groundcloth and without the vestibule. With the vestibule it weighs just over 4 lbs. Some minimalists and lightweight hikers would this this is pretty heavy but I enjoy this tent immensely here in Colorado.

Here is a photo of me camping with this tent at 12,000ft Kite Lake under the watchful eye of 14er Mt Democrat:

Function is Key

To me, as with my approach to all gear, function is key. I personally know people who have attempted the CT going "light" and have failed solely because they sacrificed too much in the way of gear. I believe that my tent is one of my greatest assets on the trail. Carrying a 3-4 lb tent does not bother me when I know it gives me a way to stay warm and dry.

Deciding on a shelter

When deciding what shelter to use you should consider the following:

1. Are you solo or how many people need to be in your shelter

2. Do you expect your gear (backpack) to be in the shelter with you

3. What are the weather conditions to consider

4. How long do you expect to out on the trail

1. Are you solo or how many people need to be in your shelter?

I have found that in regards to tents, when they say they are 2 person it really means one and when they say 3 person it really means 2 etc. My BD Firstlight is a 2 person tent. I can get 2 average size people in it but it is a tight fit and getting my gear in as well is nearly impossible. I do use the vestibule from time to time, especially if I am not solo. If I am solo I can easily get myself and all gear inside with no problem. When buying a tent be sure to erect the tent and check it out thoroughly. Imagine erecting your tent in bad weather conditions such as wind and rain.

2. Do you expect your gear (backpack) to be in the shelter with you?

Again, I like to have most of my gear in my tent with me. Things I never have in my tent include food, stove and cooking gear. If alone my small tent will hold everything I need. If I have someone else with me I will typically use my vestibule to protect my backpack etc.

3. What are the weather conditions to consider?

The Colorado Trail touches just about every type of terrain that Colorado has to offer except the low plains.  Snow is present year-round. Temperatures can fall below freezing any month of the year, especially in the SW parts of the state where you experience higher elevations. Colorado also sees considerable monsoonal moisture in last summer/early fall. For these reasons, having a safe shelter to stay warm and dry in is critical when spending many days on the trail. My Black Diamond tent is a single wall tent (4 season) which makes it waterproof but not very breathable. Most 3 season tents require a fly to be waterproof but allow for great breathability when the fly is left off, in such cases as when it is really warm outside. Know the current and expected weather conditions when deciding what type of shelter to use.

3. How long do you expect to be out on the trail?

I present this question for different reasons. It is important to consider how long you will be out on the trail when deciding what type of shelter to use. If you are out for an extended period of time you may want to focus on lighter alternatives to save weight. A small 4 season single wall tent may be preferable to a heavier 3 season tent. A hammock or lightweight tarp setup may be preferable if you are going out for just a long weekend and have a good idea what the weather forecast is going to be.

A real world example

Your itinerary:

You are thru-hiking the trail starting July 1

You intend to take 7 weeks to complete it

You are hiking from Denver to Durango

Things to consider with this example:

* July is drier than August in Colorado

* Segments closer to Denver tend to be lower elevation than those closer to Durango (I saw this very loosely and it may be more accurate to say that you spend more time above treeline in the southwest)

* Segments closer to Denver tend to be higher temperatures than those closer to Durango

Here are my opinions on a few types of shelters:

Hammocks

PROS:

Lightweight

Gets you up off the ground
CONS:

Above tree line they are worthless unless they double as a tarp setup

Cant store gear very affectively

Tarp Shelters

PROS:

Lightweight
CONS:

Not especially durable in situations such as high winds

Difficult to pitch in wet situations to avoid runoff

No protection from critters

Tents

PROS:

Better protection from the elements

Tents tend to be warmer

Some protection from critters
CONS:

Heavier than other options

More to follow...

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