I got to thinking about my tarps today and how I could better use them all year to maximum benefit by setting them up in a bit more eccentric a way. I had some thoughts and hopefully some of you have a bit of experience with this...I could save myself a little trial and error.

First some background. I used to use an Integral Designs tarp/poncho as shelter with a bivy bag for solo trekking. Somebody on this form reminded me a little while ago that doing this leaves me without rain gear while my shelter is built...something that had never come up (usually because I'm on the move a lot when I pack this light). So I bought a Silnylon Scout tarp from the MEC.

I got to thinking about ways I could combine the two to make a better shelter. I have the poncho anyhow and it's designed to be a tarp too so why not keep my options open? I might even learn a new thing or three about pitching tarps.

Some ideas I had were to pitch them both stacked over each other with a gap inbetween to kill condensation and trap some heat. With open ends I'm not sure that's worth it though. I also had an idea to sandwich a heatsheet between the two to reflect heat out or in.

Lastly I thought about setting them up in a style named a 'Fold over Wind Shed' in the tarp documentation on the equipped site ( http://www.equipped.org/tarp-shelters.htm ) but setting one up inside the other with opposite sides open so that there was top ventilation but both sides are still covered like the old standby A-Frame set up...essentially getting the benefits of both styles and giving more room under the shelter.

Any of you have tips or tricks for setting up 2 ultralight tarps for shelter?