Ground Cloth/Tent Footprint

You will encounter rain while you are at Philmont. Make sure you have a ground cloth to keep the bottom of your tent waterproof. After you set up your tent, roll the excess under so that if it rains, water will not catch on the ground cloth and pool under your tent.

Most higher end tents come with pre-fit ground cloths that will clip onto the bottom of the tent. If your tent does not have one of these, the best material to use is Tyvec. Most house construction sites will have plenty of excess that you can get for free. It is a light weight breathable plastic sheet designed to keep water out and to let vapors pass through.

You can also pick it up at your local hardware store such as Home Depot or Lowes. If you are borrowing a tent from Philmont, you will need to bring your own ground cloth or come ready to purchase one for $10 to $20.

Seriously, go to a local construction site. They throw their excess away. Why spend money if you can get it for free?