Chiefjason,

thanks for the info. On your black diamond megamid, how does it do in wet weather? In aug I will be expecting possible rain storms in the afternoons, and am curious on how good it does keeping you dry. Thanks for the links, I'll check them out.

It does fantastic for a floorless tent, basically a tarp. You can do several things with it.

If there is no bad weather forecast and it's warm, you can pitch it so the bottom of the tent is several inches off the ground. This lets a great breeze in for sleeping. The only animal issue I have had is the occasional mouse. A tent is no match for a bear either though.

If it's cold or rainy you can pitch it all the way to the ground. All you might get is a little splash occasionally. Other wise bone dry with a ground cloth. I use sturdy plastic sheeting as a ground cloth. You can do this a few ways. If 2 of you are using it, cut the plastic big enough to cover the ground inside the tarp, leaving space away from the edge so that any drip does not land on the plastic. If you are solo, cut it just big enough for you and your gear.

It's the driest tent I have ever owned. Make sure you seal the seams, on this or any tent. Technically they say it sleeps 4, it would be tight but possible. My wife and I slept on one side of the pole with our gear on the other side. The pole is the only real draw back, it's right in the middle of the tent. But you get used to it. I'm 6'2" and about 215lbs, I fit in it nicely. I can nearly stand in it, well hunched over a bit, which is nice for changing in bad weather. In a tent you have to change laying down.

I lived in one for 28 days during a wilderness leadership course. I went to a tarp after the course. When I decided I wanted more of a tent, I went with this. I have not regretted it a bit. Depending on the size of your girl, you could put 3 in this thing. If you were closer you would be more than welcome to check it out. One of the nastiest storms I have weathered in it was a thunder storm at Ivestor Gap in Shining Rock Wilderness. Heavy wind, sideways rain, lightning and we were completely exposed in the gap on top of the mountain; we made it out just fine and much drier than expected.

 

Here are a few pics from my trip, the first ones are all cell phone pics, but, I will be adding some later taking with my digi camera. I expected to take a ton of photos, but once I got out there, there were a few factors that limited my picture taking.
1. I wanted to be selfish and absorb it all, not take it in through a lens.
2. An SLR and lens'/goodies= a lot of extra weight not needed, and not wanted at 8000ft

Anyway, here are a few cell phone pics, I'll have some from my other camera in a few days

 

so, of all the things you took what did you use?. what could you have done without? what should you have had that you didn't?

 

Nice pictures!

 

Lucky you and some great pics. I spent some time in Yellowstone and the Cameron, Montana area a couple of years ago. I really like Montana and would love to go back.

 

so, of all the things you took what did you use?. what could you have done without? what should you have had that you didn't?

Something that particularly stood out that did well was my platypus water filtration. It rolls up very small, and filtrates 4 liters of water in about 2 minutes. It got used many,many times.

As far as what didn't I need... Books to read. By the time came to slow down, I was out.
Also, even though it was in the 30s every night, I could have taken a lighter sleeping bag, or none at all, and just slept in my clothes. My bag was a north face -20 mummy bag.

 

Here are some additional pics, non cell phone camera

 

Awesome pics bro!

I'm still super jealous One day, I'll make it up there, one day...

 

Some more cell phone pics

Non Cell phone pic

 

Some photos is finally got around to hosting

 

Totally awesome pictures man!

Yellowstone was one of my favorite parks to visit.

Looks like you guys had a great time!

 

We had a ball! Thinking about hitting Glacier NP next summer.
It was nice to wake up in August and it be 30deg in your tent.

 

We had a ball! Thinking about hitting Glacier NP next summer.
It was nice to wake up in August and it be 30deg in your tent.

Glacier is amazing as well!

We woke up to fresh snow there in the middle of July and in the Tetons as well. Amazing times!!! I didn't have a digital camera then but I have plenty of photo albums full from my trips out west. Keep em coming!

 

hmmmm....the Tetons.....

 

This is a spectacular shot - it screams to be made into a poster size print! Well done

 

Disregard, after reading the thread looks like you already went.

 

We had a ball! Thinking about hitting Glacier NP next summer.
It was nice to wake up in August and it be 30deg in your tent.

Clacier Montana??? It's awesome. I was stationed in Montana for 3 and a half years. They have a nice lodge with live entertainment up there when you're not out in the boonies.

 

Spectacular photos Dorton. You have a real eye for landscapes. Thanks for posting those.

And I agree, some of those are just screaming the be printed and placed on a wall somewhere.

 

Wife and I went out there with some friends back in '05.
Best vacation ever!

I've told the Mrs. many times if it wasn't for the kids education and family here that I'd miss, that I'd have already moved out there years ago.