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THE TRAPPER'S ROOF - Part 2

Since the slanted roof lacks side walls, you must carefully place it against the direction of the wind and rain. Set the roof at a steep or a gradual angle according to the angle at which the rain is falling.

Don't forget the ditches or drains or you'll quickly be flooded out. Since this airy hut has no walls, it's a good place to light a fire; the smoke can draw off freely.

You can spend a comfortable night under this roof with a warming glow next to you. See the illustration of the trapper's bivouac on page 16.

This sort of hut has still another advantage: you can take it apart easily and set it up again in another spot. I know some fellows who cycle out to a river in the country for swimming during the summer. The reed roof they set up there provides shade during the day and shelter at night. Before they start for home, they dis­mantle their trapper's roof and store it away in a little shed at a nearby farmhouse. The next time they come, they simply pull it out again and set it up.

Very cautious people prepare more than one set of vertical supports so they can immediately shift the roof around in case the wind changes. This is also advantageous when you are using the roof as a sunshade, because you can always adjust it at any time to suit the position of the sun.

Related terms include camping game and museum of family camping.