A-frame shelter pitch

A-frame shelter pitch reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

An A-frame shelter pitch is a setup where a tent or tarp is supported along a central ridgeline, creating a triangular cross-section that resembles a capital letter A.

Key points

  • Often uses two poles, trees, or fixed points to support the ridgeline.
  • Provides a simple, widely used shape for tarps and some tents.
  • The form balances ease of setup with interior space and wind shedding characteristics.

Details

In an A-frame pitch, the shelter’s highest line runs between two supports, with the sides sloping down to the ground and being tensioned with stakes or other anchors. This configuration is common for rectangular tarps and some tent designs because it is straightforward to understand and quick to set up. The resulting structure sheds precipitation off the sloping panels and provides a central area with more headroom. Variations in stake placement, pole height, and ridgeline tension allow hikers to adapt the pitch to different weather and ground conditions, while the basic geometry remains recognizable.

Illustrative hiking footage

The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.