Sailing and Camping

A-frame tents are one of the earliest type available of shelter available to outdoor enthusiast. They're reasonably easy to set up but they don't provide much sleeping space and headroom.

The ones you find today usually include a breathable inner fabric, waterproof flysheet, pegs and tent poles. Sometimes you can use your trekking pole as a tent pole.

Before going out for a camping trip, make sure you have all the parts of the tent. These parts should be included in your checklist.

The first thing to do before setting up any tent is to choose a campsite. The area should be clear of any sharp objects. Preferably, the area should be flat but if you have to camp on a slope make sure you sleep with your head on the upside.

Avoid pitching your tent near trees as there's a risk that a tree might fall on you. Never pitch your tent near a tree when there's a lightning storming because there's a high risk of lightning strike.

Consider setting up your tent away from crowded areas. Sound travels easily between tents that are close together. Camp at least 20 feet away from other tents.

Once you've found a site to pitch your tent, make sure the area is clear from sharp objects like rocks, roots and sticks. Then you can lay out your tent, positioning the door where you want it to face.

With the tent laid out on a clear and flat surface, insert the pegs through the loops at the corners of the tent. Make sure the peg is at a 45 degree angle with the ends facing away from the tent. Make sure the tent is tight before you peg it out.

Depending on the design of the tent, you might have two or three poles plus a bridge support that runs along the roof of the tent. Some may allow you to use your trekking pole and may require a simple assembly.

Attach the pole to the top corner of the tent and wedge it vertically to the ground. Attach a guy rope (if not already attached) and pull it away from the pole to suspend it. Peg it to the ground and make sure the line is taut. Apply to the same procedure to the other top corner.

Once the inner tent is secured and stable you can lay out the flysheet on top of the entire tent and align the corners together. Stake the flysheet to the ground and make sure that it is taut and doesn't touch the inner tent.