"...snow that was red tinted"

It's an algae. I don't know how seriously toxic it is, but I've heard that it will give you diarrhea if you do eat a generous amount of it. I don't know if it can kill you.

Sue

Good idea,at least you would expect it to be cleaner than a tarp.

That is not a bad idea as a redundant system either. A 4 pack of those fits easily in a pocket. I am all about redundant systems. If one fails, then there is always an alternative.

no need to collect rain water in my part of the world as i canoe around on it all day but i would think any bit of Silnylon would do the trick.this shelter collected a few quarts during a sunshower.

notice the puddles at the bottom edges and i pushed off much more from the low spots on the roof..no trick there--

I purchased this "folding" bucket:

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3662432

The case is small at 4" x 4". I used it twice, and it was very sturdy. I kept it full of water in case we needed it on the fire, or on someone who was on fire.

That seems like a decent idea for volume. Have you tested it out yet? Does it hold its shape in a down pour?

I never have, but then I ususally hiked in California, where rain is a commodity not often found. I can only think of one or 2 trips where it actually rained, and only one of those were we not still hiking.

Be interesting if people have ideas for on-the-move water capture.

I think rainwater capture would mostly apply to desert dwellers and shipwrecked saltwater sailors.
I guess if I had to I would use my tarp, my tent fly or some other piece of waterproof fabric as a basin and a funnel.

There is often dew even in deserts, and I have seen instructions for the desert stranded to mop up the morning dew from grass or other chilled surfaces.
There were instructions for using expedient materials for the mop too.

They say you can gather a lot by mopping it with a towel and then wringing the towel out, but again it is something I have never had to do.

I only used it "statically". I filled it up from the river/lake and put it on level ground. It didn't collapse, until someone touched the side and pushed it in a little. It was fairly stable when it was opened and empty. I could see it easily tip over if a powerful stream of water hit the opposite side. Hope that helps.

Lack of water can happen in any climate zone. Say you are treking through the forest and there is no mountain runoff within reasonable distance, no streatm, or river. You're either out of, or low on water, so rain water gathering could be a necessity no matter where you are.