Packing up a tent: Rain fly packed separate from tent body?

[MJones]

Glenn’s great question about closing zippers or leaving them open reminded me of a tent packing question that I have had for some time now, should the tent fly be packed separate from the body of the tent.

If the fly is wet from rain (or to a lesser extent dew or condensation), should it be packed separately from the tent body so that the tent body doesn’t get wet?

 

[Subvet]

I just watched a trip from Northern Scavenger (Nova Scotia), and he advocates keeping the rain fly and tent body separate in two 5L dry bags after rain/heavy condensation.

 

[jdeerfoot]

I will never separate my tent fly from the tent body. On a Wabakimi trip several years ago I made a distressing discovery - when I set up my tent on the first night, I discovered I did not have the fly. It then dawned on me that I had given the fly to my wife the previous fall for some quick modifications. It was sitting at home in her sewing basket awaiting the addition of several pullouts.

I made it through the trip without having to double up with a buddy because I always carry a spare 10x12’ tarp, which served as the fly on this trip.

 

[Ripple]

For canoeing i use a freestanding tent from eurika. To set it up, the rain fly goes on last and comes off first. So I pack it all together. Other freestanding tents allow you to put the rain fly up first,( take down last). This is an advantage in keeping the inner dry.
I usually pack my gear in a dry pack(sealine) a wet anything in there and every thing gets damp. So I've been trying out a portage pack from recreational barrel works to be able to separate items. It's been working OK. When I pack a back pack I focus on weight, volume, and piece count. Portage packs in that aspect do not make great sense, but ifeel they do have an advantage in separating items and making them more accessible.