It's been two days since you could safely say you knew where you were and after spending one harrowing night in the wilderness, you realize you can't possibly spend another one unprotected. You need a tent, but you don't have one. Never fear! You have a poncho, and that means you have a tent--one that will protect you on both sides from the chilly night wind. All you need to do now is make it.
Use rope, string, or the poncho's drawcord to tie off the hood of the poncho.
2
Locate the center grommet on each end of the poncho. Tie a 6-foot rope to each grommet.
3
TIe the other ends of each rope about waist-high on two trees that are about 8 feet apart. The trees will act as your tent's supporting poles. You should now have a poncho suspended in the air between to trees, folded in half and dragging on the ground on both sides.
4
Locate the grommets on the two sides of the poncho that are parallel to the ground. Usually there are three. Find three sharp sticks (or sharpen them yourself by rubbing them on a flat stone), then drive them through the grommets on one side and firmly into the earth, spreading out the poncho so that it is taut. This is one side of your tent. Repeat with three more sharpened sticks on the other side, again spreading the poncho until it is taut. You now have a two-sided tent.
5
If at least one firm branch extends over the center of the tent, tie some rope around the poncho's hood then lift the rope (thereby lifting the center of the tent) and tie the free end around the branch. This will add a center support, which will reduce the effects of rain on the tent's occupants.
Tips & Warnings
Make sure those sharpened sticks are driven firmly into the earth--you don't want your tent flapping into uselessness during the first strong wind.
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