Setting Up Your CCS Lean Shelter

Setting Up Your CCS Lean Shelter
Maximum space for minimum weight and bulk
Photo courtesy of Borealis Paddling Expedition, used with permission
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CCS Lean Shelters
CCS Lean Shelters are rapidly becoming the shelter of choice among
experienced wilderness trippers. Boasting a volume to weight ratio of 4 to 5
times that of a typical backpacking tent, it allows you to reduce pack weight
and volume, and at the same time provides additional sheltered space once
you’re in camp. The high ridge line and the wide open front allow for a
large, luxurious and spacious feel that make camping a more enjoyable
outdoor experience, especially in inclement weather.
You can rig your lean between trees, support it with canoe paddles, or
trekking poles, and use stakes, downed timber, rocks, and even sand to get
a solid setup. A resourceful mind will rarely be out of options when setting
up a Lean Shelter!
Knot Tying
Being competent with only a few knots will allow you to setup and tear down
your Lean Shelter in no time at all. A little practice at home and you’ll setup
so fast you may never get wet again!
Three of the most useful knots can be found in the DVD, “The Forgotten
Skills”, by Cliff Jacobson. These are two half-hitches with a quick release
loop, a sheet bend with a quick release loop and a truckers hitch (also
known as a power cinch). The truckers hitch and another useful knot, the
bowline, are also described on a quick reference sheet that can be found on
the CCS website. One additional knot you’ll find useful when completing the
alternate high wind rig described at the end of this pamphlet is the prusik.
The prusik is a common climbers knot and can be found in most knot tying
books.
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Setting Up Your Lean Shelter
Start by looking for a region with a relatively flat and level pad that you
would be comfortable sleeping on. Don’t choose an area that is low and
typically pools water. Pay attention to wind and weather so you will be
well positioned to keep out the undesirable elements. Look for good tie
out points to set your ridgeline.
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Tree Setup of the Lean Shelter
1. Tie a section of line to either corner of the Lean. Tie each corner to a tree
such that the ridge of the lean is approximately 5 feet above the ground.
Use a trucker’s hitch to get extra leverage so you can get a nice tight
ridgeline. Use two half hitches with a quick release knot so the line can
be easily adjusted later if necessary.
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2. Stake out the back corners of the Lean Shelter, making the fabric fairly
tight:
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3. Stake out the front corners of the Lean shelter, again, pulling it tight so
that the sides are taut and close to the ground. If you are setting up a
plus model, it can be helpful to have the screen zipped in as a guide for
how far to set the walls apart.
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4. Tie out the awning to a couple of nearby trees, or stake it out to the
ground, depending on what your needs are for shelter from the elements.
The awning can be rigged straight out, all the way down, or you can rig it
to keep good ventilation going even while it’s raining. It is often good to
rig one corner lower than the other, keeping in mind which way rainwater
will run off.
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5. For added interior volume, as well as a more stable setup in wind, tie a
length of cord to the top loop opposite the quad loop and tie it back to a
tree, or go over a pole and stake it out…or use a paddle or pole, rigged to
the quad loop to push up the lean.
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6. Stake down the sides and back of the lean, stretching the fabric tight. If
you are using a plus model with a sod cloth, be sure to turn the fabric
underneath. If you have a floor, lay it inside the lean over the sodcloth to
help seal up against moisture from the ground.
7. Use additional lines tied to adjacent trees or staked out as necessary to
make for a nice tight setup. These lines will also serve as additional
support points in wind or rain.
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Additional tips and tricks
1. Leave a 10-20 foot chunk of cord tied up to each of the typical corners of
the Lean that get used for faster setup. When packing the Lean, bundle
up the cord so that it can be quickly untied without getting tangled up
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2. Be sure to seal up all the seams with the included tube of seam sealer.
The seams that need to be sealed for protection of the rain include the
ridgeline seams, the center seam, and the seams around the Quad Loop.
If you need additional seam sealer, be sure to use a product that is
compatible with silicone treated nylon.
3. If you are setting up the lean in an area that doesn’t have enough trees,
use poles or canoe paddles to prop up the corners and the Quad Loop.
Poles can be cut from dead and down wood, or you can purchase poles to
use with the lean if you know you will be traveling in an area that doesn’t
have many trees.
4. If you are setting up the Lean Shelter in an area that doesn’t work well
for stakes, tie a loop to the corner loops on the shelter and then tie them
out to a rock, root or stick. Don’t set rocks directly on the Lean fabric as
it will abrade the fabric and the coating.
5. There are many ways to set up a Lean Shelter. Versatility is a big part of
the appeal of this shelter. Use your imagination and be adaptable to the
situation!
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