Meanwhile, the other Gardner Peak entrance had a Wal-Mart $22 twin fold-up bed with a twin toddler Aero Bed mattress $70 from Target slipped into the twin bed. I slept on the twin bed set-up. My twin bed, my MACSport folding reclining chair, and all my camping gear felt dwarfed by the gargantuan sleeping space inside my Gardner Peak Tent!
My niece was in heaven claiming, "Auntie! This is NOT camping!" Ha! Funny thing is my brother decided to camp in the Bugaboo Dome tent on another Coleman queen-size bed set-up I purchased at Wal-Mart for him while my niece and I slept in the Gardner Peak Tent. My brother just loved the Bugaboo Dome tent so much that he begged me to let him have the Bugaboo Dome Tent as an early birthday gift. Alright-ok! So, soft-hearted sister here gave my brother the Bugaboo Dome tent...ho-hum!
Ok-so, now-I do not have a small camping tent just for me. What do I do? A very dumb thing! I returned to Sport Chalet and decided to buy the Eureka Zeus Exo 2 Tent for two people. I set the Eureka Zeus Exo 2 Tent up at my campsite...Oh, my! The Eureka Zeus Exo 2 Tent felt like I was sleeping in a COFFIN! I was simply claustrophobic! I returned the tent immediately the next business day!
I shopped at Big 5 looking for other Columbia Tents-none. REI-nothing. Sport Chalet had the Cougar Flats, but that cougar Tent is too, too big just for me camping solo, besides I have the Gardner Peak Tent! Target had nothing of excellent quality, same with Wal-Mart-zilch.
I have this old Greatland Insta-Set Tent which I purchased at Target that pops up in one to two minutes. I decided to use this tent until I found the Columbia tent I wanted. My old Greatland tent did not survive this past camping trip because the gail-force winds RIPPED my tent while camping on the beach! Of course, I have had my Greatland tent for about twenty years. My Greatland tent has been camping with me throughout Baja California, Hawaii, and Europe! Sadly, it is time to retire my Greatland Insta-Set Tent and buy another tent when I do my solo camping. This Greatland Tent design was probably one of the last well-made designs sold at Target. Since twenty years have past, sadly the quality at Target, Sears, and Wal-Mart for their tents have gone downhill in quality design features.
I came home weary from my Greatland Insta-Set ripped tent 1-week camping fiasco 2 days ago and went online in search of another 3- to 4-season tent. Well, to my delightful dismay, I found the Mt. Bachelor tent via www.amazon.com on sale for $90 with free shipping, so I bought this tent today.
Mt. Bachelor tent is reminiscent to my Greatland Insta-Set tent which I am very fond of the easy set up. However, the Mt. Bachelor tent has more cushy perks that it runs rings around my old Greatland tent! I can install my twin bed set-up inside the Mt. Bachelor tent easily with more ample storage space whereas in my Greatland Tent, I barely fit my toddler Aero bed inside with my twin bed frame with my large Coleman Heater including only two, very small storage pockets for keys. There is plenty of room for my other camping gear such as my Coleman big heater, my broom/dust pan, rake, clothes, etc., inside my new Mt. Bachelor tent!
Furthermore, Columbia/North Pole, LTD. provides a light with a remote control and free batteries. This Mt. Bachelor Tent like all Columbia Tents has the cyclone venting system whereas other tent manufacturers do not have this patented system featured. Maybe Kelty, MRS or Marmot might have another type of venting system, but it is not the same effective venting system Columbia offers.
I received my Mt. Bachelor tent via UPS/USPS on Saturday, December 17, 2005! Fast delivery, Amazon.com-AWESOME!
Overall, I have had years of experience camping as a military personnel and continuing into my civilian camping experience. I am sold on the Columbia/North Pole Tents. Still, I am hesitant to pay $750 for a MSR Wind 4, four-person, All-Season Expedition Tent made by MSR muchless purchase a tent made by Mountain Hardwear Space Station Tent which is a four-season tent made by Mountain Hardwear for almost $5,000 UNLESS, I will be camping at the North Pole or severe climate location such as North Canada for six months or more.
So, for now-I am very happy with the Columbia/North Pole Tent manuafacturer and their tent designs built for sturdiness, cushy perks, and keeping me dry and warm on miserably wet camping days to keeping cool during sunny, warm summer days with their patented cyclone venting system.
Incidentally, the Columbia zippers are not cheaply made! The zippers are very high quality which is very nice and very cool! I want you to know I lock my tent when I leave my tent to get supplies. The Columbia Tents allow you to lock your tent with a heavy duty combination lock. Another great feature from Columbia.
Have questions? Please view all the pics I downloaded to prove my point regarding tent designs. I am confident you will understand why Columbia Tents are 100% better than other tents purchased at sporting good stores and department stores. Believe me-I did a lot of shopping searching for the right tent to use for camping! I did a lot of researching finding the right tent for me online.
When camping you are out in Nature's element, so you must choose carefully the type of tent you will be using in that location or several locations all year round. The point is to use the tent you buy obtaining the greatest usage value dollar for dollar living away in the wilderness and away from the concrete jungle. Living in a tent protects you from severe weather exposure, so choose wisely.
One more thought: there are two tents that have caught my eye I would like for you to check out. Please tell me if these two tents are worth their weight dollar for dollar:
Berg's Thermo Tent for the tropics, and Heilberg The Keron GT Tent for Mt. Kilimanjaro/Mt. McKinley.
Hmmmm...I wonder if I should go test these tents for durability and comfort for these two specific locations: The Great White North heading towards the North Pole and Thailand?
See you somewhere around the planet!
Fabler