Project completed: 19th July 2014
Project aim: support a basic tarp shelter with all natural cordage and pegs
Project location: Pandanus swamp area 70 km from Darwin.
Back in mid April I did a post on some natural cordage that I made from lemon grass: http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/showt...-cordage%85from-lemon-grass&highlight=cordage. I also had a play with making some out of fallen palm fronds that were in the yard. Aussiepreppers suggested that a project showing the cordage in use to support a basic bushcraft tarp shelter, using carved pegs and cordage as a ridgeline and corner support guy lines.
I finally made it out for a weekend of hammock camping with a workmate, after last weeks hammock trip with my daughter, so decided to see how the project would unfold. Thanks for the suggestion Aussieprepper, and apologies that it took so long.
A disclaimer - I was only trying to show the tarp shelter setup using cordage and carved pegs, so the shelter is not established with a fireplace etc (it's the middle of our NT dry season so we have a full fire ban anyway). The finished shelter was put to good use as a shade area and pack storage area. The tarp itself is a European style ex military hootchie/basha system with grommets.
Most of the cordage was the stuff that I made back in April - being a couple of metres of grass cordage, and a bit over a metre of the palm leaf version. I also has 2 metres of local vine that I did 3 string plait into cordage - not very successful but it was put to good use. I also spent a couple of hours yesterday making an additional 1.5 metres of grass cordage. I was interested to see how the April vintage stuff held up - I kept it inside but deliberately did not check it before the trip - meaning if I had a breakage it was back to square one and making a new batch.
One point to make very clear - for those who haven't practiced the art, cordage can be time consuming and lead to hand cramping up. In my case I get about 25-30 mins before I need to take a break and rest the hands and fingers. A bush crafter intending to establish a camp using only self made cordage needs to factor this in - it's definitely not a 5 minute job like making pegs.
Pics are numbered in order in case my uploads go astray.

Photo 1 - two of the basic pegs

Photo 2 - the tarp, page, and selection of natural grass, vine and palm cordage


Photo 3 - The ridge line

Photo 4 - Tarp pegged out

Photo 5 - Tarp supported buy ridge line

Photo 6 - grass cordage and guyline

Photo 7 - palm leaf cordage guy line

Photo 8 - completed tarp shelter
All up, an enjoyable afternoon setting this project up. And it stayed erect overnight, so the cordage has been brought home to be put to other uses around the garden.
Thanks again Aussiepreppers for giving me the incentive.
Project aim: support a basic tarp shelter with all natural cordage and pegs
Project location: Pandanus swamp area 70 km from Darwin.
Back in mid April I did a post on some natural cordage that I made from lemon grass: http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/showt...-cordage%85from-lemon-grass&highlight=cordage. I also had a play with making some out of fallen palm fronds that were in the yard. Aussiepreppers suggested that a project showing the cordage in use to support a basic bushcraft tarp shelter, using carved pegs and cordage as a ridgeline and corner support guy lines.
I finally made it out for a weekend of hammock camping with a workmate, after last weeks hammock trip with my daughter, so decided to see how the project would unfold. Thanks for the suggestion Aussieprepper, and apologies that it took so long.
A disclaimer - I was only trying to show the tarp shelter setup using cordage and carved pegs, so the shelter is not established with a fireplace etc (it's the middle of our NT dry season so we have a full fire ban anyway). The finished shelter was put to good use as a shade area and pack storage area. The tarp itself is a European style ex military hootchie/basha system with grommets.
Most of the cordage was the stuff that I made back in April - being a couple of metres of grass cordage, and a bit over a metre of the palm leaf version. I also has 2 metres of local vine that I did 3 string plait into cordage - not very successful but it was put to good use. I also spent a couple of hours yesterday making an additional 1.5 metres of grass cordage. I was interested to see how the April vintage stuff held up - I kept it inside but deliberately did not check it before the trip - meaning if I had a breakage it was back to square one and making a new batch.
One point to make very clear - for those who haven't practiced the art, cordage can be time consuming and lead to hand cramping up. In my case I get about 25-30 mins before I need to take a break and rest the hands and fingers. A bush crafter intending to establish a camp using only self made cordage needs to factor this in - it's definitely not a 5 minute job like making pegs.
Pics are numbered in order in case my uploads go astray.

Photo 1 - two of the basic pegs

Photo 2 - the tarp, page, and selection of natural grass, vine and palm cordage


Photo 3 - The ridge line

Photo 4 - Tarp pegged out

Photo 5 - Tarp supported buy ridge line

Photo 6 - grass cordage and guyline

Photo 7 - palm leaf cordage guy line

Photo 8 - completed tarp shelter
All up, an enjoyable afternoon setting this project up. And it stayed erect overnight, so the cordage has been brought home to be put to other uses around the garden.
Thanks again Aussiepreppers for giving me the incentive.