Tarp Adirondack (lean-to with side walls)
The Adirondack is a lean-to whose sides are pulled down to create a shelter closed on three sides with an open front. It is roomy, well ventilated and protects better against side wind than a simple lean-to.
- About 20 minutes
Explained simply
Imagine a shelter with a wall at the back, a wall on the left and right, and an open front – like a bus stop. That is exactly what the “Adirondack” looks like, only made from a sheet. The roof slopes down to the ground at the back, and the sides are pulled down and fixed.
That way you are protected on three sides but have plenty of air and view at the front. It is comfortable for a break or for several people. If the wind comes from the front, though, the shape does little.
Look up before you pitch to check for dead branches above you, and do not use a fire or stove under the sheet.
How it works
The basis is a simple shed roof, also called a lean-to: a line is rigged between two trees, the sheet laid over it and staked down at an angle to the ground at the back. With the Adirondack, enough fabric is left at the sides to pull it forward and down. That creates two side walls.
Wind coming at an angle from the side now hits the side walls instead of blowing under the roof. Because the front stays open, plenty of air still circulates. So less condensation forms than in closed pitches, and you do not feel cramped.
The name comes from the three-sided wooden shelters along trails in the Adirondack Mountains in the north-eastern USA. The tarp version only adopts the form: back wall, two sides, open front.
What really matters
The back wall goes into the wind. Check the wind direction carefully before rigging the line. If the wind shifts and then comes from the front, it blows straight under the roof – the pitch then offers little protection and can act like a sail.
When laying the sheet over the line, distribution matters: place it so that enough fabric is left behind for the back wall and at the sides for the walls. A small tarp is usually not enough for three walls – then a simple lean-to or an A-frame makes more sense.
Loose side walls flap noisily and let wind through. Stake them taut and evenly. Guying the front edge slightly forward stops it slapping in the wind and helps rain run off to the front.
When it makes sense – and when not
The Adirondack is ideal as a group area: for breaks, meals or waiting out a shower when several people want to sit side by side. It offers a view out and plenty of space, and the gear stays dry.
For the night in changeable weather, more closed pitches are more robust, because wind easily blows in through the open front as soon as it shifts. In addition, the sheet gives no insulation against the ground: anyone sleeping under it still needs a sleeping pad or a thick layer of dry material.
If you cook near an Adirondack, do it not directly under the sheet but outside at a safe distance – and only where cooking and fires are permitted.
Safety: what to watch out for
As with any tarp: look up first. Dead trees and hanging branches are one of the most important hazards when camping in forest, especially in wind and under snow load.
No stove, candle or fire under or directly next to the sheet. Synthetic material melts and burns, and carbon monoxide can collect even under a partly open sheet. Sparks from a campfire can burn holes in the tarp.
Wild camping, bivouacking, fires and attaching lines to trees are regulated very differently by region. Check local rules, do not damage living trees and leave the site as you found it.
How to practise it
Start with a simple lean-to and then extend it into an Adirondack by pulling the sides forward and down. Try out how far you need to shift the sheet along the line so that all three walls form.
Practise in pairs: one person holds, the other stakes. Watch how the shape behaves when wind comes from different directions. That way you learn when you should switch to a more closed pitch.
Step by step
Rig the ridgeline
Rig a ridgeline between two trees at chest to head height, back to the wind.
- 1
Rig the ridgeline
Rig a ridgeline between two trees at chest to head height, back to the wind.
- 2
Offset the tarp
Lay the tarp over the line so that there is enough material behind for the back wall and at the sides for the walls.
- 3
Stake the back
Stake the back taut down to the ground.
- 4
Pull down the wings
Pull the side corners forward and down and stake them so the sides are closed.
- 5
Secure the front
Guy the front edge slightly forward so that it does not flap.
Common mistakes
- Front facing the wind
- Side walls too loose – flapping
- Tarp too small for three walls
Quick view
Materials
Tarp
A larger tarp so the roof and side walls are covered
Paracord
Not a climbing or safety rope.
Tent stakes
Sleeping pad
Suitable for
- A group rest area or two people
- Wind from varying side directions, not from the front
Not suitable for
- Wind or rain from the front
- Small tarps
Prerequisites
- Two anchor points for the ridgeline
- Basic knowledge of the lean-to
Safety
- Wild camping, bivouacking, collecting material and fires are regulated very differently from region to region. Check local rules, do not damage living trees and leave the site without a trace.
How it works
As with the lean-to, the roof slopes down to the ground at the back. In addition, the side parts of the tarp are pulled down and staked. This creates a space open to the front that keeps out side wind while still giving plenty of air and view.
Advantages
- Lots of room
- Good side-wind protection
- Very good ventilation, little condensation
Disadvantages
- Front exposed
- Needs a large tarp and two trees
Deep knowledge
Background
The name comes from the three-sided wooden shelters that stand along trails in the Adirondack Mountains in the north-eastern USA. The tarp version adopts the form: back wall, two sides, open front.
It is popular as a group area for breaks or cooking at a safe distance from the shelter; for the night in changeable weather, more closed pitches are more robust.
Common mistakes
- Front facing the wind
- Side walls too loose – flapping
- Tarp too small for three walls
Limits and risks
- Ineffective with wind from the front
- No ground insulation
Material alternatives
Derived from material properties: a substitute must have all relevant properties. Observe the notes on the substitute.
- Tarp
- Plastic sheet / large bin bag (Tears easily; never pull over the head (suffocation risk).), Emergency blanket (Tears easily once punctured; short-term shelter only.), Document folder (waterproof) (Store securely – contains sensitive personal data.), Rain poncho (When used as a shelter, it no longer protects your body from rain.), Bivy bag (Never fully close off the face.), Tent (Do not cook or heat inside the tent (fire and carbon monoxide danger).), Heavy-duty bin bag (large) (Suffocation risk: never pull plastic bags over the head or face and keep them away from small children.), Group shelter bag (Airtight – ventilate regularly.)
- Paracord
- Rope (Never use unknown or damaged rope for life-safety purposes.)
- Tent stakes
- Sturdy sticks / poles (Do not cut live wood where prohibited.)
- Sleeping pad
- Dry leaves, grass or conifer boughs (Collect only where allowed; no protected plants. Check for ticks and insects.), Backpack, Dry spare clothing (Carry it in waterproof packaging – wet clothing barely insulates.), Wool blanket / duvet (Keep away from candles, stoves and heaters.), Insulated cool box (Keeps cold only for a limited time; without ice packs or ice it is not a fridge.), Sleeping bag (Do not store compressed long-term; do not pack away damp.), Newspaper and cardboard (Flammable – keep away from candles, stoves, heaters and embers.), Insulated cooking box (hay box, thermal cooker) (Never put open flame or embers inside – only the hot, closed pot.)
Results come exclusively from structured entries. No improvised instructions are generated.
Sources
Headquarters, Department of the Army (USA) (2002): FM 3-05.70 Survival
Principles of improvised shelters, site selection and shelter construction
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine (Wilderness Medical Society) (2019): Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Out-of-Hospital Evaluation and Treatment of Accidental Hypothermia: 2019 Update
Wind, wet and ground contact as factors in hypothermia