Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

SoCAAlriNG AND WOODCRAFXTHE ROYCE TENT." Several seasons ago, desiring a very light tent forside trips, or, in fact, anywhere that a comfortable shelterwas needed under conditions which would not permit ofusing a wall tent, one was designed which so well metall requirements and aroused so much interest amongthe outing brotherhood as to warrant presenting a detaileddescription of it.Keeping away from the idea of a mere shelter tocrawl under, and insisting on having something reallycomfortable in the event of several stormy days or nights^and with a spirit of comradeship that finds more funin an outing shared by one or two friends, rather thanalone, a tent was designed to afford room for two orthree and high enough to sit, dress, or stand in.This sounds like something too big for the ruck-sack,or a minor corner of a pack-basket, without crowding theother essentials of going light. However, it was accomplishedat a weight of four pounds, making a packageabout 6 inches in diameter and 12 inches long for carrying;erected, it covers 56 square feet, as a closed halfpyramid 7 feet 9 inches high and y^^^ feet square (Fig.45). But this is not all, for it is extensible to a pyramid7^2x13 feet, still 7 feet 9 inches high, but open at one; or it may be extended at theend to the peak (Fig. 47)front of the half pyramid in a triangle the width of thetent, 73^x2^ feet, closing completely and increasing thelength of the tent to lo feet (Fig. 46). The objection isimmediately presented that this is too large a tent for goingeven moderately light, but one may reasonably ask^ovv much smaller package or lighter can you take, andget room for standing, sitting, and sleeping.''Considering this, first, as a half pyramid tent, 7^ xiVz and 7^^ feet high; no form gives so much groundopace with headroom from so little material as a pyramid;none sheds water better, nor resists wind so well, andnone is simpler or quicker to erect.The objections to a pyramid, of scant headroom andlost space on ground by rapidly sloping roofs; of presenceof pole in the center, and of possible rain leak anywhereon the entrance side from peak to ground, arelargely overcome by carrying the peak to 7^ feet, givingmore headroom and nearer perpendicular roofs; and bymaking the peak over the center of one side, instead of inthe middle of the tent, giving a perpendicular entranceopening and no pole in the ground space. This gives betlerthan a 45-degree pitch to the back roof and about65-degree pitch to the side roofs: sheds rain well.