How long of a pole?

[William O.]

When setting up as diamond shelter, how high (long) should the pole be?

 

[J.D.]

how much height do you want at the front peak?

 

[William O.]

I'm looking at a 10X10 tarp to make into a diamond shelter and I have a walking stick made from a cedar root that is 4'10" long, but I can get cedar staves longer than that to use as a walking stick/shelter pole if I need more height. I'm 6'4" and want to make sure that I have enough room under the shelter when it's set up.

 

[mmahlock]

If I were you I'd set it up in backyard and try different heights until you get the height you like. Remember that as you raise the corner you will shrink the area covered by the material. With no pole you cover an area 10 ft. by 10 ft. with a pole 10 ft, you will cover an area 10 ft. by 0 ft. Stake down the three corners to cover the area you need lift the remaining corner and make a pole that height. :hatsoff:

 

[Emet Huntsman]

I use a 12x12 diamond shelter and a walking/shooting stick that measures right at 4' to hold up one corner. If there are trees available and I need more center height I find an overhead branch and tie a lifting line to the center of the shelter.
Either way, I have plenty of room for my bedroll and to get my gear out of the weather. I don't spend a lot of time other than sleeping in the shelter.

 

[William O.]

That sounds good, my walking stick is 4 feet 10 inches and could serve as the front pole. I may get another shorter cedar stave to use to attach the lifting line to and roll it up inside the tarp.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[mmahlock]

If you are going to use a "lifting pole" to raise the center of your fly it needs to be a bit taller than the height you want to raise the center that way you can use it outside the fly and not have to constantly move around it.

 

[Poor Private]

I have a 7'x7' diamond (shelter only) Just enough room to sleep in long ways and still be able to toss my weekend stuff in alongside. I have weathered a sever thunder storm in it and read a book with my back proped up against the pole. My pole is about 5' in height give or take. I can tie my 3 band musket to the pole for storage. I just cut a long pole and kept standing it up until I like what I saw.