I finally tried a tarp-only shelter setup and it rained all night

Last weekend I ditched my tent and rigged a 10x10 tarp over a ridgeline in the Smokies, thinking it would be fine until a storm rolled in at 2 AM. The tarp held up but my groundsheet placement was off, so water pooled right under my sleep pad and I woke up soaked. Anyone else have a trick for angling the tarp or groundsheet to avoid that on wet nights?

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sean_murray10h ago

The pooling under your pad is a classic rookie move, I did the same thing once. I angle the tarp so one corner is lower than the others, water runs off that point instead of gathering in the middle. Also, bury your groundsheet edges under a few rocks or fold them up, that stops water from sneaking underneath. Did you have a drip line tied under the ridgeline too?