>>2245922So long as it's not super windy, you should be significantly more comfortable with a setup similar to this tech drawing I've done for you.
Having the whole thing on a natural gradient means you don't have one end close to the ground and the other way in the air. Also you can use a stick or some shit to make a couple of drainage furrows so you have a dry area to camp out.
The warmth you'll get from this isn't tropical, but it'll certainly be enough to keep the worst of the chill off, and dry out your cold damp gear.
Setting it up with a slight a-frame profile will trap and direct more heat, and help the rain run off.
I'm a strong advocate of going when the weather's shit, so you know what works and what doesn't one day when you're actually caught out.
(If it's really shitting down, you can always go somewhere closer so you don't have to suffer as long.)
I did a couple of year guiding course, and at one point they waited for a heavy rain warning, and told us to bring gear for a day walk the next day.
Then they dropped us off at 2km intervals in the middle of nowhere for 48hrs so everyone could experience "why you should bring a bit extra gear on a day trip for emergencies."
Out of 20 or so of us, I think only about half had anything to light a fire with, and only 4-5 had anything to eat at all.
2 of us were totally sorted. He had a small sleeping bag. I built a small watertight shelter from ferns, a comfy nest inside, small fire, got blazed to bits and ate my 3yo choccy powerbar stash.
He was super comfy but bored.
I was adequately comfy and spent an entire day throwing stones at things with great amusement.
