[pct-l] Protective tarp under tent

[Edward Anderson]

Hello Mike,

I slept on a air matress  during my five and one-half month PCT journey. It is 
an REI LITE-CORE 1.5. It is described as a self-inflating sleeping pad. I bought 
the "short" version - 48"x 20"x 1.5". It inflates to 1 1/2" thick. Stored, it 
measures 5" x 10.5" and weighs just over a pound. I came to appreciate that its 
firmness was adjustable depending on how many puffs you give it after it has 
self-inflated. Very comfortable. I too was concerned that it might be 
punctured.( In addition to cactus needles there are other things that might 
puncture an air mattress - sharp rocks (including lava), small pieces of glass, 
parts of pine cones, etc. Here is what I did to successfully prevent this from 
happening: Before setting up my tent I always carefully checked out the area 
that would be under my air mattress. I used my metal potty trowel and swept it 
back and forth like a windshield wiper. This identified hard objects. My tent, 
is an MSR HUBBA. I bought the "footprint" to protect the floor of the tent - and 
it served as an extra layer to protect the air mattress. Under the air mattress, 
inside the tent, I recommend a small piece of TYVEK (20"x36") below places where 
there might be pressure - below hips or elbows. Using these precautions, I never 
had a leak.

MendoRider 




________________________________
From: Mike Yanasak <amuddler2 at gmail.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 3:32:34 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Protective tarp under tent

I recall a conversation here a while back concerning placing a lightweight
tarp on the ground beneath one's tent and ground cover.  I didn't pay much
attention then, but I recently read a hiking book by Karen Berger in which
she *strongly* recommends doing so while in the desert in order to preempt
having one's air mattress punctured by an evil cactus spine.  I have a
NeoAir mattress, which is made of very thin material and could easily be
attacked and disabled.
Any thoughts?  If so, what might one use?
Amuddler
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