Camp Craft: Tent Pitching (Step-by-step)

Hi guys! 

Since ATC is in two days (and I have nothing much to do), I figured I would post something to hopefully help everyone pitch the tent better and also clarify some doubts. Hope this helps!

1. Assembling the skeleton

• The two uprights should align the two vertical poles on both ends of the horizontal pole. Make sure that they are very straight (help each other check if necessary). 
• Place your foot at the end of the vertical pole perpendicular to it. Make sure the peg is facing the center of the skeleton and start pegging!
• When the two uprights are done pegging, bring up the vertical pole so that it is perpendicular to the ground. (Ensure that the base of the vertical pole stays in the same position.)
• Lift up the horizontal pole and slot it onto the two vertical poles.
• While waiting for the uprights to assemble the skeleton, the other group members  should tie the bowlines for all 6 rings of the inner sheet.
• One team member should quickly distribute the pegs for all four corners and give the 3-meter twines to the uprights.

2. Securing the inner sheet

• When the uprights have assembled the skeleton, place the inner sheet over it and slot the two holes at the end over the top of the vertical poles.
• Those doing the four corners should quickly position themselves at the opposite ends of the inner sheet and get ready to pull and measure.
• Uprights should command "2/4 corners ready" (four corners to reply "ready") and "1, 2, pull". Uprights should check the tension of the inner sheet and tell those who are pulling if the tension is good or if they should pull more.
• When the tension on both sides is good, uprights should command "2/4 corners measure".
• Those doing the four corners should immediately place their elbow on the ground directly under the ring of the inner sheet, and use two pegs to measure one length parallel to the tent and one length away from the tent, placing both pegs at a 90 degree angle. They should proceed to peg a peg at the point measured, checking to make sure that it is facing the center of the tent.
• When they are ready, they should roughly gauge the amount of twine needed and tie a tight and small slipknot around the center of the twine at that corner and wrap the free end of the twine around and peg and pull it through the slipknot.
• Uprights should continuously command "2/4 corners ready" to check if those doing the four corners are ready to pull the inner sheet.
• When those doing the four corners reply "ready", the uprights should command "1, 2, pull" and check if the tension is good or not (and tell those doing the four corners if they should pull more). Also make sure that there is a six-inch gap between the inner sheet and the ground.
• When the tension on both sides is good, the uprights should command "1, 2, secure".
• Those doing the four corners should proceed to tie three or four half hitches above the slipknot and secure the guyline with a butterfly knot.
• When the four corner pegs are ready, the other team members can align the middle pegs with the corner pegs and peg them towards the center of the tent. They should then repeat the steps above to pull and secure the twine around the middle pegs.
• While waiting for those doing the four corners to prepare, the uprights should tie a clove hitch around the top of the vertical pole using the 3-meter twine.
• Repeat the steps above for the remaining corners if there are only 2 people doing the four corners.

3. Securing the outer sheet

• The steps are similar to those needed for the inner sheet. However, there will be two more team members helping out since the uprights are not needed any longer. 
• Pull and secure the four corners (commands will be given by either one or both of those doing the four corners)

4. Things to do when you are free (don't give eye power)

• Lay the ground sheet
• Tie all four flaps
• Cut excess twine
• Pull the twine upwards one the peg

5. How to un-pitch the tent

•  (Two uprights should make sure that the vertical pole is held upright while the other team members cut the twine and remove the pegs.)
• When all the pegs and twine are removed, fold the inner sheet, outer sheet and ground sheet:
• Inner sheet: 
1. Untie all the flaps.
2. With the reflective side facing up, fold in the four large triangles.
3. Make sure that the black ribbons are hidden in the inner sheet.
4. Fold in the two rectangular flaps at the sides.
5. Fold in the two ends of the sheet towards the center (but do not cover the triangles).
6. Fold in the two ends again.
7. Fold one end over the other.
8. Fold the shorter ends towards the center.
9. Fold one of the shorter end over the other.
10. Completed!
• Outer sheet: 
• Steps 2, 5-10 for the inner sheet
• Ground sheet:
• Steps 2, 5-10 for the inner sheet
• If there is nothing else to do, arrange the pegs neatly and pick up all used twine to throw away.

6. Knots you should know

• Bowline (15-40 seconds/knot)
• Clove Hitch (5-15 seconds/knot: Micky Mouse Method)
• Guyline (20-50 seconds each)
• Slipknot (5-10 seconds/knot)
• Half-hitch (2-8 seconds/knot)
• Butterfly knot (8-15 seconds/knot)
• Practice whenever you are free!