When you're camping, rain can be a real disaster. If you don't take the proper precautions, your gear will get wet, you'll be soaked and your trip might be ruined. But if you have the right equipment and some general knowledge, you can create a rain canopy for your tent that will keep you and your belongings dry, and allow you to enjoy your trip.
Where you decide to pitch your tent can make a big difference, so don't rush it. Find a spot that is relatively high and near trees that have strong, overhanging branches. You want water to run down and away from you, not into your tent. Avoid pitching at the bottom of a hill or in a ditch or indent.
Throw a piece of rope over one of the branches of a nearby tree and then run it through the hole in the corner of one of your tarps. Pull it tight so that it covers the edge of the tent and tie a sturdy knot. Repeat this process with another corner of the tarp, attaching it with a different piece of rope to a different branch. Make sure that the tied corners are far enough away from each other so that the tarp lies flat when you pull on the opposite side.
Using the same method, tie the other two corners of the tarp to different branches. When tying the knots, make sure these two corners are set lower than the previous two. When completed, the tarp should cover the entire tent and rest at a taut, but shallow angle. This will allow rain to hit the tarp and run off the downward side, keeping your tent dry.
Take the second tarp and lay it on the ground where you will place your tent. Fold it so that it is about the same size as your tent, then set up the tent on top of it. If any part of the tarp is sticking out, fold it under the tent. This will keep you off the wet ground and also keep water from running into the tarp.
