- 1). Locate a site for the half-tent shelter. Choose an area with zero risk of falling rock. The site must have trees, boulders or other anchor points.
- 2). Tie a rope between two trees -- or other anchor objects -- to create a rigid line. Adjust the length of the rope that is one-half the width of the tarp.
- 3). Drape the tarp over the rope, and fold it in half. Align the corner grommets, and pull the corners to the ground at an angle.
- 4). Use a rock to hammer one tent stake through each corner. Set the stake at an angle opposite of the tarp for maximum strength. Cover the exposed lip of the tarp with rocks and dirt.
- 5). Cover the floor area inside the shelter with leaves and soft plant material. This forms a comfortable bed. Build a short wall on the exposed sides of the shelter to block wind and add security to the sleeping area. Stack rocks and sticks to build the wall.