The Freestanding Tent Debate Isn’t Really About Weight

What a windy night on a mountain taught us about tents.

We were camped on an exposed ridge near the highest point of the Colorado Trail, 13,271 feet above sea level. A wind storm was quickly approaching as the sun was setting.

We were with our friend, “Dirty Money”, thruhiking the Continental Divide Trail. Instead of pushing on into the dark looking for a sheltered place to camp, the three of us made the dec…