SuperTarp at Longs Peak, RMNP

[Jan]

Here's my SuperTarp at the Boulder Field campsite just below Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Aug. 24. Elevation is around 13,000 ft and winds that night were up around 60mph. It held up well! Jan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/javemtr/Colorado/IMG_0282.jpg

[Hoogster]

Great pic. I guess this one answers the question of pitching a kifaru tipi/tarp in a rocky area. If no campsite exists, make your own. Just remove rocks until you hit soil then use rocks, where necessary, to hold it down.

Nice tight pitch.

[millertime]

Very Nice, 12 days And I get to use my ST for the first time up in Idaho!!
been counting the days for 6 months.
Miller

[Jason]

Great photo Jan. How many of those little cleared off bunker areas were available to camp in?

[Sawtooth]

Awesome pic, Jan. I've spent a night or two right there myself.

[Jan]

Hoogster,
the only real problem one could encounter when pitching in a very rocky area is, as you pointed out, that with a tipi you're absolutely dependent on securing it to the ground. So you have to find either soft soil for your pegs or secure it with rocks. Using a regular tent is easier in this regard because most of them are free-standing, meaning they can be pitched without attaching them to the ground.
The Boulder Field campground wasn't the worst in this regard because the ground was rockfree inside the boulder rings. Other campsites throughout the park were worse. The Durapegs took quite the beating (ok, part of that might have to do with the fact that I used rocks to beat them into the ground). But I pretty much managed to get a good strong pitch at all times. Jan

[idaho lad]

Fantastic pic.

I just love those tarps.

[chambero]

I've thought of taking my boys on that hike someday when they are a little bigger. I was under the impression you had to camp down low and then leave out in the middle of the night to get back down before afternoon storms. My main worry was whether we'd be fast enough on our climb.

Do you they allow you to camp just below summit if necessary?

[Jan]

The Boulder Field is the elevated campsite right by the Keyhole. From there it's 1.6 miles to the summit. Just like any other backcountry campsite in RMNP, you have to get a permit to camp there. Usually it's pretty busy, so you have to plan ahead a little.
If you want to do Longs Peak as a day hike, then people usually start at Longs Peak Trailhead very early in the morning, maybe 3am. From the trailhead to the Boulder Field is 6 miles and about 3,500 ft elevation gain.

[Woods Walker]

I see two rocks by the edge of your shelter. I don't know if they are placed on top of the edge. But if so I don't recommend doing this as the wind could whip up the tarp some and rub on those rocks. Will make a hole over night.