Mt Whitney Zone Forums Gear Heads Ground sheets

Are they needed at Trail camp? I've decided to go get the Hogback tent and reviews says it has no ground sheet.

So I'm looking around and see a polyolefin "polycryo" ground sheet that is not-quite-large-enough but one reviewer duct-taped two toegther. Looks durable and lightweight.

I'm wondering if it can be heat sealed. I _think_ polyolefin is a thermoplastic and under low heat can be fused.


has anyone tried this?

To help keep your backpack weight down, you could use several large trash can bags, cut down the sides and laid down under the tent.

I have used the trash can bags as a ground sheet for some years now. I don't think you can find anything as light. They would be awful to use though if it is windy.

I have no idea about polycryo ground sheets. I've been using a Tyvek sheet for extra floor protection, although I've also gone without for entire Muir Trails and never had a hole poked into a tent floor. The ground at Trail Camp is mostly pretty eroded granite, which should be fine for a night or two without ground sheet. If it gets really wet, it will depend more on your site choice than how much you can stack under your tent floor.

Polycro is the thin film they put on window glass. It's very puncture resistant, has high shear strength, and is very light and compressible. On the down side, dirt clings to it like a magnet - which why it clings to glass. I rank it highly for a ground cloth material. I pack mine in a sandwich bag.

The silnylon flooring on Tarptents is pretty darn durable. I wouldn't worry too much about needing the extra protection on High Sierra granite.

Many thanks!