Trenching?

[Nemesis56]

Just gotta ask... Saw a couple people using what looked ike a GI Handtool chopping and digging a trench all around their tent perimenter. Why?  Any ideas?
I'm figuring for either water drainage or something like that.  Seemed like a lot of work for site on a small rise.  I'm probally missing something.  Just never saw it before and the kids were asking.

[AustinBoston]

When I was in Boy Scouts (a long, long, time ago), we sometimes trenched our tents.  Done right, it would help rain water drain away.  If you don't understand drainage (and many 14 Y.O. boys do not) you can end up with more water, not less.

Most campground hosts would have a coronary to see you digging up a campsite today, and I have seen very few that needed it anyway.

It would serve no purpose with a pop-up.

Austin

[Nemesis56]

When I was in Boy Scouts (a long, long, time ago), we sometimes trenched our tents.  Done right, it would help rain water drain away.  If you don't understand drainage (and many 14 Y.O. boys do not) you can end up with more water, not less.

Most campground hosts would have a coronary to see you digging up a campsite today, and I have seen very few that needed it anyway.

It would serve no purpose with a pop-up.

Austin

I have enough trouble walking to the facilites in the dark on level ground as it is.  My luck, I'd step in the trench and twist an ankle.  Or trip and fall into the tent.

[wavery]

Maybe it was a mote......did you see any alligators? :p

[Nemesis56]

Maybe it was a mote......did you see any alligators? :p

I saw a guy with an alligator tatoo over most of what he had uncovered.  Kinda had a reptilian looking face.  I thought maybe the trench was to ward away
Wild Turkeys.  We saw both the natural and bottled kinds all over the place.

[dcampbell1969]

Maybe he was gonna put salt or something in the trench to ward of evil spirits??  Was he reciting some funky words when he was digging?  HAHA

[flyfisherman]

I don't know if that tent trench digging "philosophy" orginated with the Boy Scouts or the old grunt military. Can't remember doing that with the B/S, but we sure practiced it in the military. And I can tell you in a heavy, long downpouring rain it was of little value ... the water simply rushed over it and you found yourself in mud and water!

However, we popupers are above all that NOW! Please tell me that's so!
(I can't handle any more grunt memories!)

Fly

[Nemesis56]

Maybe he was gonna put salt or something in the trench to ward of evil spirits??  Was he reciting some funky words when he was digging?  HAHA

You might be on to something... He kept muttering incoherently...."I'll be a son of...I don't beleive this sh.... Who the hell.. what the...I'll be dipped in..."  Never heard him finish a complete sentence.  Maybe it was an incantation.  Told the wife and kids.."Let's put a salt ring around our trailer."  I watch Supernatural too.

[Nemesis56]

I don't know if that tent trench digging "philosophy" orginated with the Boy Scouts of the old grunt military. Can't remember doing that with the B/S, but we sure practiced it in the military. And I can tell you in a heavy, long downpouring rain it was of little value ... the water simply rushed over it and you found yourself in mud and water!

However, we popupers are above all that NOW! Please tell me that's so!
(I can't handle any more grunt memories!)

Fly

Most tof the trenches I dug in the service weren't for drainage...I seem to recall a French term...La treine or La train... Never did see no trains come by, but they smelled awful.

[SpeakEasy]

I did some very minor trenching last summer at a campground. We had been out for the afternoon, during which there was a thunderstorm. When we returned, we found that my daughter and son-in-law's tent was sitting in the midst of a large puddle. This was on a gravel "tent pad." A little judicious removal of earth allowed the puddle to drain. Of course, it drained into the add-a-room area of our popup, so a little more judicious trenching was needed. When we left after a few days I smoothed everything back to the way it was when we got there.

-Speak

[skamper75]

We have stayed in a couple sites lower than the road, of course water flows down the pull thru access and right under our carpet out front.  I trenched just enough to redirect the flow away from the carpet. Filling the trench in before leaveing of course. I try to use a couple rocks or logs to redirect first.  Problem has only happened a couple times in more year than I care to remember.

[Hargus]

Same here. I keep a folding shovel handy in case the site I'm on drains the water under the mat in front or in gathering areas. I guess were all still tenters at heart even if we're off the ground now.