This is probably my shelter of choice simply because it's so easy and functional and quick to set up in the event of dying daylight or oncoming storm clouds. The diamond shelter dates back to the Fur Trade era and earlier, so it's tried, tested, and true. All you need to set up a diamond shelter is a tarp and something to tie a front corner to, i.e. tree, stake, pole, rock. First step, choose a corner to be your entrance where you will eventually tie off the corner. Go to the opposite corner, where your feet will go, and stake it down to the ground. Next, grab a side and either stake the corner to the ground or fold it under. (This allows for the shelter to be wider or narrower to accommodate your gear and others accordingly. If folded under, it becomes your ground cover.) Do the same on the other side and you've now got three corners secured. Take a piece of rope and tie the corner to your tree/pole/stake as high as necessary to make your shelter taut and allow for easy entry inside. Here's another plus to the diamond shelter: the height of the entrance can be raised or lowered to adjust to the sun, rain protection, and even keeping out bugs. I'm not going to lie and tell you no mosquitoes will come in, but you'd be surprised about how much this open-mouth shelter protects you from the bloodsuckers. So now for any finishing touches. If you're getting a lot of rain, it's always a great idea to dig a trench/trough around the edges of your shelter to disperse the water as it rolls off. It's also not a bad idea to stake any additional holes you have on the edges of your tarp or rest logs on the edges to keep your gear and sleeping bag contained during the night. Finally, the take down is quick and easy and it's so easy to be 'No Trace.' Check it out and "ride the high places!"- Jake
