In appreciation of the TENT!!!!

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 20 of total 55 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Escopeta

Trad climber
Idaho
Topic Author's Original Post - May 1, 2016 - 08:08pm PT
They shelter us from wind, rain, snow, hail, insects and any manner of un-pleasantries.

They range from large to tiny, stout to flimsy, simple to complex but they all share one thing in common.....they are the escape. Temporary like us.

We've hung from the side of cliffs in a tent, chopped platforms in ice for a tent, thanked the lord for our tent and (if you're me) cursed the bloody engineer that designed the tent all in same day.

I imagine, several of us originated from a tent, in the literal sense.

I spent the weekend in search of turkeys in a friends canvas wall tent and it brought back memories of some of my favorite memories in the outdoors around a tent.

What's your tent story??? (or pic)



Escopeta

Trad climber
Idaho
Topic Author's Reply - May 1, 2016 - 08:11pm PT
pud

climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
May 1, 2016 - 08:11pm PT
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
Shetville , North of Los Angeles
May 1, 2016 - 08:12pm PT
Fish and Stream has a good issue on tent reviews..rj
Edge

Trad climber
Betwixt and Between Nederland & Boulder, CO
May 1, 2016 - 08:18pm PT
My wife can help me pitch a tent in no time!


I miss that old home made float tube on the roof of the tent. I caught many a Maine landlocked salmon in that...
Escopeta

Trad climber
Idaho
Topic Author's Reply - May 1, 2016 - 08:22pm PT
pud, that's pretty luxurious given the conveyance. I always went with the bivy sack when on the moto. Well done.
Escopeta

Trad climber
Idaho
Topic Author's Reply - May 1, 2016 - 08:24pm PT
Fritz

Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
May 1, 2016 - 08:34pm PT
Escopeta! In appreciation of you posting a fun thread, I'll share a fun story of mine, that Idaho Magazine also thought fun enough to publish.

Finally he said: “I’ll tell you what happened, but you have to swear not to tell anyone.”

It had been a slow day of retail in my Moscow, Idaho outdoor store during summer 1974. All my customers were out having “summer fun.” Suddenly: there was hope! I recognized the customer who had just walked in.

He was one of three forestry students I made friends with a month before. They had won a contract with the Forest Service to “thin trees”. They would work all summer 60 miles east of Moscow: cutting down numerous small trees to give the surviving ones a better chance to grow and prosper.
These gents bought good gear: North Face sleeping bags, quality accessories, and what I believed to be the best 3-man tent then available, the Sierra Designs 3-man. I think the 3-man retailed for $150.00: which was big money in 1974. I sold them my one in stock and immediately ordered a replacement.

Today my customer wanted another Sierra Designs 3-man tent. I was excited and nearly giddy about selling another of my best and most favorite tent. He was reserved and grumpy.

I couldn’t help myself: I asked him if they had more people working with them. He said no. I asked if they had found the 3-man tent too crowded for an entire summer of sleeping together. He said no.
There was an uncomfortable silence, while he looked around the store.
After a while he “loosened up,” and told the story.

I first had to swear a scared oath to “keep my mouth shut” about it.

He explained it had been nearly a month of tree thinning and “Spartan living”, until they received their first government paycheck. Then they visited the local town of Bovill, and stocked up on food and other supplies.

Of course they bought a little whiskey.

That night the three of them, had a party in camp. The whiskey got nipped on. They built up a big bonfire. More whiskey was “sampled.”

Sometime during the fun, one of them cracked-open a new gallon of Coleman Fuel (white gas), poured some in a cup, and tossed the gas on the bonfire. The fire flared up, and everyone danced and laughed.
Sometime later, after a little more whiskey, one of them filled a used orange juice can with Coleman Fuel, pushed the top back onto it and tossed it into the fire. They all ran back from the fire, and screamed and hooted, as the slight explosion tossed out embers and flame.

They had a little more whiskey.

At this point in the festivities, my customer took the remainder of the gallon of Coleman Fuel, strode forward, and placed the sealed container in the middle of the bonfire.

After a slight pause, to reflect on the consequences: they all ran into the trees
.
Nothing happened for what seemed like a long time.

After a while, his buddies cornered my customer, and told him to run back into camp and kick the gallon can out of the fire.

He finally made the run, and as he neared the bonfire: he saw that the can of fuel was glowing “cherry red.”

As he hesitated, a corner of the gallon container finally burned through.
The gallon can “took off like a rocket.” It went about 100 feet up, then turned and plunged down into the Sierra Designs Tent, exploding on impact.
And that was why he was back in Moscow, buying a new tent.

I hope it is safe to tell this story now.

pud

climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
May 1, 2016 - 08:36pm PT

rincon

climber
Coarsegold
May 1, 2016 - 08:37pm PT
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
May 1, 2016 - 08:44pm PT

couchmaster

climber
May 1, 2016 - 08:47pm PT

^^ Fantasist shots Ghost^^

The whole family lived in a tent for a while when I was a pup (dad dead, no money kind of thing). My brothers and I ran around through the woods of several states like happy heathens. Got to see a lot of true wilderness and do some real stupid stuff that was great fun. When moving camps, we could get that tent pitched in under 2 min with all the stuff tossed inside, then have the Coleman stove setup and ready in seconds.
Edge

Trad climber
Betwixt and Between Nederland & Boulder, CO
May 1, 2016 - 08:50pm PT
One of my favorite sites, tucked in the krumholtz with a view out the door looking down on Cannon Cliff.

And my home-made bivy sack near the midway station on the Midi telepherique. I endured the worst lightning storm I ever witnessed in this bag, on this very spot.
Escopeta

Trad climber
Idaho
Topic Author's Reply - May 1, 2016 - 08:59pm PT
Human habitrail
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
May 1, 2016 - 09:05pm PT
Escopeta will remember this tent...

Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
May 1, 2016 - 09:41pm PT
S Face of a large mountain far to the north.
The outside berth was mine for some reason, for both nights.
Yes, I slept with a rope on.
Dapper Dan

Trad climber
Redwood City
May 1, 2016 - 09:50pm PT
Tent on the ledge , lost arrow direct...

briham89

Big Wall climber
santa cruz, ca
May 2, 2016 - 12:24am PT
This thread makes me happy. I love every night spent in my tent :)
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
May 2, 2016 - 03:57am PT
Keep your tent out of my freedom to hang out under a tarp.

Free men should be allowed to choose no tent in their freedom against the oppression of ranchers.
Escopeta

Trad climber
Idaho
Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2016 - 05:31am PT
Now you're talking walleye, that first tent might even be long enough for me to stretch out in.
Messages 1 - 20 of total 55 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta