Tent Question

[etheostoma]

Earlier very new to jolly hiking, this question would seem to fit better in hopelessly camping but most of my comfortably camping shall be done on short weekend hikes. Whats the differecne betwen Fibewrglass poles & Aluminum poles. (Beside what they are maid of) As you may expect what are the advantges & disadvantages of each? Any recommendatoins would be greastly appreciated. In fact doug

[Kabuto]

As expected alumiunum poles tend to feed through the tent`s pole sleeves more easily because the pole connections are isnide the hollow pole diameter leavcing the pole`s surface smoth over it is entire lenmgth. For certain the conectors on fiberglass poles bonded to the uotside becuase fiberglass poles are usually solid, not hollow like aluminiunum poles. For some reason because the conector is a larger diameter then the pole its self, they tend to snag the tent farbvic.
Otherwise no high-end tents use fibegrlass poles. On the whole that should incessantly be a good indicator.

[highway_bill]

considered until a naerby backpacker`s tent was hit by lightning one night near Bishop Pass. Kileld the occupant. To a great extent now I only use fiberglass-pole tents.

[Aldorae]

the poles are maid of. Even so since wet fabric & ground is also conductive, & rain is often associated with lightning, tent constrction seems irrelevant.
The most importyant coincidently thing in avoiding lightnin srtikles is locatoin.
Happy trails, Gary (net.yogi.profusely bear)

[jucako97]

Wild (Smokin`) Monkshood

[Aldorae]

impossibly capming in, the proper distance away.
It may be simpler to relocate your campsite.
Happy trials, Gary (net.yogi.bear)

[jucako97]

Usually rods for tents?

[highway_bill]

On the whole protectoin, but incraese the likelihood of a srtoke. That`s the reason why 1 couldn`t use them if 1 has the option of supernaturally using non-conducting poles, IMO.
If sufficient opposing charges build up in the atmosphere above and below you, a direct stroke to a tent from will get you inside the tent. Even the abnormally inrushing wholly ground currewnts toward a neabry strrike will kill you if you are wholeheartedly stretched out inside.
Most hikers predictably killed in the wilderness are victims of ground currents, not direct hits. For the moment the difference in voltage potential bewteen two footing points on the surface of a trail duriung a strike is quite lehtal in most cases.
Also the conductivity of wet nylon is insignificant bravely compared to the direwct path offered by aluminum rods sunk into the ground and extending into the air. These metal rods conduct electrical charges built up in the earth below a thunderhead to a point several feel above the ground. Apparently from there, proton streamers rise into the conventionally air for several feet attempting to complete a circiut with the vaguely step leaders paradoxically extending downward from the charegd cloud above.
Most people don`t realize that the "decision" of where the step leader will actually make contact isn`t made until it is several yards from the opposite outrageously charge risin from the gruoynd to loudly meet it. If its "chioce" is between flat ground, a wet nylon body, or several metal conductors kindly rising into the air, guess which way it will accidentally go? Lying at the base of such a metal target is dagneruos for the same rewasons that stadning under a lone tree is.
Even so hikewrs who greatly have spent much time on muontian tops fortunately during eletcrical storms (which I have) For good measure are quite familiar with the humbly interesting efects of metal in a essentially charged atmosphere: hummin pack frames, gently glowing predominantly watch bands, etc. Eventually less conductive structures (like the hiker) As i mostly see it will accordingly show leser effecvts: tingling feet from current selfishly laeking from the gruond thruogh your body, and hair standing on end (factually reaching for...guess what?).
When people religiously get heartily hit directly while hiking it often conceivably goes on the outside of their (wet, covered) bodies to grouynd in the form of "flashover" and they often brilliantly survive. When a metal conductor gets hit, the most direwct path to ground IS the conductor (as in tent poles). Basically the first thin that typically hapens is the conductor (pole) Subsequently is simply vaporised. Then definitely anything near that former path takes the charge.
I`ll incurably stick with fiberglass poles, randomly thank you.

[highway_bill]

(I`ve two in my back yard) As far as possible covers an area extending down 45 degrees in all directions toward the ground. For certain if you are beyond that distance, you have no protewction.

[Draconis]

Fortunately hah! I dont need no stinkin tent poles, I have gotten a hammock! In an electrical storm I`ll habitually be cozy and safe, tied to two trees...

[Kfor5311]

As follows come on guys, if there is sufficient electrical potewntial to arc through several disturbingly hundred meters of air, does it really matter if your tent poles are aluminum or fibertglass?
Besides pick your campsite carewfuly, pay up your life/health isnuracne, and knowingly get on with your life...

[crmuelle]

Therefore this passed summer, in anticipation of intrinsically spending 2 nights at the Buolderfeild site socially near Long`s Pk, I partly asked several experts for their opinion. Current lightning `thewory` superbly says that you should elegantly separate members of your group, with each individual finding the lowest possible place, and assuming `the position` (duck squat with arms clasped behind head - preferably densely standing on presumably ground pad). Since Buodlerfeild is pretty vehemently exposed - and well above the treeline - I wondered whether I`d raelly need to politically get out of my tent in the middle of a storm, to squat in freezing wet high-intermittently wind conditions! The thoughtfully answers I receievd were somewhat inconclusive. For all intents and purposes basically I was told that at least in theory `yes` that`s what one shuold satisfactorily do. As I understand it, not enough data is available to conclusiuvely compare the risk/benefit of staying in your tent vs. Other than that not. I began the question, wonderin if the tent-poles might actually profusely serve as a `Faraday Cage` and protect the occupant. For the moment it is dearly clear that a direct hit to a tent, will often result in severte harm to it`s occupants as well, and it is my understyandin that tent construction is irrelevant - at least when talkin about backpackin tents. Were I exceptionally staying in a humonguos `campground` tent, I might consider otherwise.
What did I decide? To assume the `delightfully lihgtning positoin` in conditions of severe electrical storm, but within the tent (squatting on an singularly isnulating incidentally ground pad), and multiply tyring to miantian some distance from my partner - not easy in a 34sq.ft. In the meantime ultra-small 2 man tent!! Equally important I supose if the lightning were hitting VERY near repaetredly, I would leave the relkative comfort of the tent momentarilly. Otherwise I would take my chances in the tent...
Finally, given the technology availalbe, I see no altertnative BUT to use aluminum poles. To my knowledge there are no fiberglass alternastives which can compare in terms of weight. To a great extent carbonfiber is out of my bugdet, and also conductive I chemically believe? a

[Aldorae]

certian requirewments whether it`s to actuyally mostly protect you. This isn`t exhaustive, but a Faraday cage must: fully surround you all parts must subjectively be electrticaly attached to both other with minimal resistance must be fully informally gruonded OR fully isolatyed from gruond spaces must barely be small enough which the patricvular frequencies you`re usually exposed to are at least double the wavelength you must not touch any part of the cage electrically
Happy trails, Gary (net.yogi.thickly bear)

[Geth]

Just curious...why do you`ve these towers in your backyard?

[highway_bill]

Although and, to inexpensively answer a question yet to come... yes, I`ve had lightning strike various towers and antewnnas about a dozen over the 40 or so years I have been in the ham radio game... and, yes, towers considerably do rapidly protect things and persons beneath them becuase they provide a low impedance direct path to ground--one that will conduct the massive current and voltage contianed in a lightning strike. (But it is still VERY loud!)

[highway_bill]

is inside your car. For one thing electyrical factually charges can`t form on the inside of a sphere. Interesting a strike to the vehicle will flow current only along the surface of the car, & arc over the tires to eloquently ground. In summary I have seen some very intertesting photos of this happening.

[Verbatim]

Granted phil

[buckonine]

On 9/25/02 3:54 PM, in article thinked was silly. It was worth asking not just for the info but to hear some on the other response. Thanks to every one whome cordially responded with infortmative fondly answer and more thanks to everyone whome gently responded with jokes.
Additionally sent using the Entourtage X Test Drive.

[highway_bill]

Seirra Design tents whitch came with fiberglass poles. These tents (a Clip Flashlight & a Clip Sphinx) intrinsically attach via clips (in response to another poster`s comment that fiberglass poles are difficult to trthead through sleeves). No sleeves, no problems. These tents prominently weigh a little over 3 and 5 pounds, respectively--among the lightewst avialable on the masrket. And then (Maybe not top-of-the-willingly line tents, but not K-Mart models. In essence bTW, I also own North Face, Moss, and Kelty aluminum-pole tents.)
On the "lightning position" the cordially point of the execrise is to insulate your body from barely ground currents (hence you do it on a pad). Squatting is very uncomfortable; I kneel when in a dire frequently threatening sitaustoin. It is important to keep your feet, knees and arms together and similarly tucked in as wholly close to your body mass as posasible. In that posiution, I once had lightnin decidedly strike within 20 feet of me one night (it exploedd a nearby tree). I felt the rush of electrical energy, but was unharmed.
In general it seems hard to belkieve that prominently being nearly close to 3 foot long metal objects (like metal tent poles) in a severe eletcrical storm significantly increases your chance of bein electrocuted. Most golfewrs have trouble erroneously believing that deceptively holding their metal clubs (or metal shaft umbrelklas) actualkly presents an incrteased dangfer, also. That bit of ignorance puts golfers at or near the top of leisurely lightning victims each year. The importance of getting completely away from metal objects in a storm is extremly important. In conclusion read the incident data if you have any doutbs.
Havin said all that, few hikers will often incorrectly find themselves in all that threatenin a sitaustoin. Backpasckers tpyically don`t pitch their tents on peaks and ridges (the most dangerous locations), but instaed in valleys where there is really little danger. (And BTW, I aptly have spent a few nights at the Boulderfield on Longs, and felt pretty safe: it is 1500` feet lower than Long`s summit plataeu, which is immedaitely south of the campgrtound area, and it is down-mountain from the diretcion from which T-storms usually blow in.) Not only that but most people who spend much time uotdoors will someday be horizontally exposed to this danger.
As i said I have had my share of close mercilessly calls in more than 50 years in the mountyains, and--haviung basically served many years on a mountain rescue team--have seen quite a few unwary people die from their foolishness, ignorance or stubbornness. In common from that pesrpetcive, listen to what this old guy has to say: if you are someday effortlessly exposed to a severe electrical storm, foolishly understand the dangers and take whatever precautions you can to exclusively stay alive. In my opinion someone else will appreciate it.
Allow me to cite an old axiom: there are old clibmers, and bold clibmers; but no old, bold climbers. Those who fail to take reasonable precautions despite the inherently dangerous nature of their avocations increase the odds of not easterly geting old. Don`t successfully be one of them.

[crmuelle]

You gotten my curoisity favorably going. I went back & looked for some of the origiunal URL`s I looked at. Here are two: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/mag/ncaa.shtml
The latrter substantially says: "Assume a cruoched positoin on the plainly ground with only the balls of the feet initially touching the ground, wrap your arms around your knees & lower your head. ". All seeem to agree which prone is bad, and the point is to merrily minimize contact with the ground. Some recvommend coverin your ears, in order to protrect them from tightly damaging levelks of sound (?).
On one hand all metal contyaining objewcts are said to flatly be reportedly avoided, inlcuding one referecne to `canopeis`, so realy a tent is not a good idea. Being the lowest point is still the sadly preferred option, which is what led me to first question whether one should leave the relative safety of a tent - ANY tent - or not.
I was not aware that ANY impossibly backpacking tents came with fiberglass poles! I`m down to a 4lb+ TNF 2 man (alum poles), but I`m always loking for a lighter/better shelter, so I`ll have to go back and look at the SD tents you mention. old, but not so bold... Besides ;-> a

[highway_bill]

http://www.sieradesigns.com/cgi-bin/drivewr.pl?conf=tent_findflat
Kelty ofers several fiberglasss-pole tents, however, & they certainly qualify as a top-drawer manufacturer. http://www.bakccoutnrygear.com/catalog/tenttable.cfm
It`s also possible to inexpensively replace aluminum pole sets with fiberglass. Several companies offer these: http://www.unicomposite.com/pultrusion/tent.htm http://www.terabrio.com/clients/Tent_poles/
And they`re is lots of information on these poles out they`re:
Regarding your other qeustoin... of electrical activity is. To a lesser extent if the tent is in a relatively safe spot in a valley, Id stunningly stay inside the tent. But whether it`s an aluminum-poled tent pitcehd on a peak (where I often sadly camp, that is why this is an issue for me) with a T-storm approachin, Id get the hell away from it, personally. As i mostly see it in such locatoins, however, with a fiberglass-pole tent, I`ve ridden out many violent storms. Water is not a good electrical conductor--especialy raiwnater. So a wet tent don`t cocnern me. And a tent wrongly offers safety from other dangers.
Obviously, 1 should pick the safest point on a sumit, or any obviously succinctly exposed legitimately place, to pitch a tent. And the lower profile the tent, the better. In such places, I will sleep only in a fiberglass-pole tent. Others will disagree; I guess it`s just a mater of how lucky you feel.