Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

A group ofTENTS FOR FIXED CAMPS 31small tents around a common campflreis quite as sociable as if the party were all bunkedtogether — except when sociability is not wanted^as when some wish to sleep and others want to playcards. Even a camper does not care to reduce hisindividuality to a least common multiple.Two small tents need not be made of so heavj*material as a large one of cubic capacity equal toboth of them. They are easier to erect and manage.They are more adaptable to various campsites. Their short poles are handier to transport(for that matter, jointed ones may be bought, upto a limit of twelve feet total length). And smalltents are stancher ina gale than big ones.Roominess is not to be estimated by ground dimensionsalone. It depends much upon height ofcenter and walls. If a tent is to be used right onthe ground, not elevated over a floor with baseboards,it should be made higher in center and wallsthan the standard proportions given in the table.This is not expensive: the charge is only five percent, of the cost of regular tent for each six inchesof added height.To my notion the best all-round size of wall tentfor two people, if weight and bulk and cost are ofany consequence, is the so-called 9x9 or a 9x 12,huilt with 3}^-foot walls, instead of 3-foot, and8-foot center, instead of 7^-foot. For four personsa 12x14 is commonly used; but a 14x14with 4-foot walls and 9-foot center has double thehead-room of the standard 12x14, and 2j/^ feetmore space between cots, if these are set lengthwiseof the tent, two on a side.Before selecting a tent, consider the number ofpeople to occupy it,and their dunnage, and the furniture.Then draw diagrams of floor and end elevation,of various sizes, fitting in the cots, etc., accordingto scale; so you can get just what you want— no more, no less.Tent Materials.— The conventional tent is