Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

TEIS'IS FOR FIXED ^.lAMPS 51stakes, one behind the other, or intcilocking at rightangles (one stake driven at a sharp angle towardthe tent, the other outward so that its notch engagesthe head of the other stake, the two forming an invertedV, thus A).An easier and more secure way is to lay a heavypole over the guy ropes close to the stakes (Fig. 18),and, if need be, weight it down with rocks, earth,or sand-In a very sandy place, where no log isto be found,dig a small pit for each guy, tie the rope around afagot or to a bag of sand (Fig. 19), bury this, andstamp the sand over it.Fig. 18.— Guys Weightedwith LogFig. 19.— Guy Rope Fastenedto Fagot to BeBuried in Ground.Action of Wind on Tents.— Unless one encampsin an open country the wind will seldomstrike his tent steadily in a direction parallel withthe ground. Rather it goes eddying and curling likedriven smoke: hence the flapping and slatting of thefly-sheet.During a squall a violent blow may fall straightdown upon the roof as chough bent on snapping thepoles; then, rebounding, it will try to carry thetent away and aloft, as though your shelter w^ere anopen umbrella. This action is often marked inravines and in a glade surrounded by tall trees, butit may occur anywhere. The stanchest tents fora very windy situation are those of conical or pyramidalform, set up on or under tripods.A fly-sheet is a perfect wind trap, especially if Itorojects in the form of a porch, or is set well away