MThuntr
Well-known member
So we spent only 3 nights in the campsite so we only experienced the rain. Had we stayed long we would have gotten a snow test.@Mthuntr let's hear your maiden voyage (Gerald's sheep hunt) review of your new tent!
After spending most of the day spotting sheep we set up camp just at sunset. I put down a tarp first because there was some small shrubs that were in the way...finding a level campsite big enough is tough. I set up my tent by myself in about 40 minutes because it was dark and the second time I put it together. I'm not a big fan of the nearly 12 guy wires needed to support the tent...lots of trees made for roots to dodge. Everything was dry inside despite the constant rain.
The floor is a blessing and a curse. It's nice to separate indoors and outdoors but it is impossible to keep the junk out. With just me I still tracked in a big mess.
It rained/drizzled for almost 2 days and it was bone dry. The waterproof canvas did a great job.
The stove I chose was purely based on price. I opted for the Camp Chef Alpine. It's too big for most needs and it got dangerous hot in there if you didn't watch it. The handful of zippered windows were great to have to cool things down. The stove had a run away fire on night three that got the stove cherry red. I couldn't control the dampers because of all the leaks. I used a welding blanket between the stove and floor and realistically need more protection. Stove pipe alignment was a nightmare because the cheap brand stuff really doesn't fit well together.
Taking down the tent was less than awesome. The tarp I used trapped rain against the floor so rolling the tent meant it was looking in wet. I couldn't roll it tight enough to fit in the bag...I suppose that was fine because I had to dry it out in my house.
Things I would change...buy the Kodiak ground tarp and stove protection, get gasket set for stove, floor liner or more spots to take off boots, improved lighting that isn't propane lanterns, switch to smaller table.