Hypothermia Information
              
              SOME ADVICE ON KEEPING THE TENT DRY

Some tips for the novice.  Veterans of camping will have learned
these and probably have a few ideas of their own.

     -- Examine your camp site carefully before setting up the tent.
That nice flat spot, is it a low point?  If you camp in a hollow, you
may end up camping in a puddle if it starts raining.

     -- Is this a new or borrowed tent? If so, put that rain fly on NOW
even if the sky is blue.  You can take it off, now that you know how to
put it on.  The tent will breath better with it off.  But make sure you
remember where it is.  I met a couple who learned the hard way just the
night before.  They didn't know know what the rain fly was, and put it
under their tent as ground cover.  It rained on them, and that's when
they realize something was wrong.  Reading the instructions in the
middle of the night with the rain pouring down on them, they realized
what they had done.  So they had to unstake the tent, move it, and place
the rain fly over the tent, which was rather soggy by this point. 

     -- Are you camping under trees?  The trees will help break the
rainfall, but they will continue to drip after the rain has
stopped.  You win some, you lose some.

     -- A canvas under the tent is a good idea, but watch out.  If your
canvas extends out further than your rain fly, rain will run off the
rain fly and onto the canvas.  Depending on the slope, the rainwater may
then run *under* your tent.  

     -- You can improve your tent's rain resistance by applying seam sealer
to your tent.  Spending a couple dollars and a few minutes ahead
of time will help.  But don't expect miracles.

     -- Condensation will form on the tent's interior walls, unless you 
keep the tent ventilated.  

     -- Placing the sleeping bag on a pad or an air mattress is a good
idea.  It will not only improve your sleep by keeping you warmer and
and bed softer, it will keep you up off the tent floor should you get
water in the tent.  

    A little bit of water seems inevitable if you're camping in
the rain.  But some precautions and some common sense can make the
difference between damp and wet.  Oh, if you have room, toss that book
you've been meaning to read in with your camping gear.  If you get
stuck in your tent waiting for the rain to pass, it'll be worth its
weight in gold.

   Any comments or questions are welcome, either by this forum or
by electronic mail.  Tony Wesley, 72770,2053.



