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How to find the best place to camp out

For inexperienced campers, pitching a tent can be a difficult and tedious operation. After an unsuccessful attempt, having to repeat the process might be even more stressful. It’s all about the where when it comes to setting up a tent—the location you pitch your tent has a significant impact on the comfort and safety of your camping. Follow these recommendations for locating the perfect camping area to make your camping trip go well and avoid any unfortunate set-up complications.

Physical Location

When looking for a nice campsite, the most crucial thing to look for is flat ground because it might mean the difference between an excellent night’s sleep and wake up to a nightmare. In places littered with pine needles, sand, grass, or soil, you are more likely to get a good night’s sleep than in places cluttered with rocks and roots. Established campsites will usually maintain a level and safe locations for pitching your tent, frequently with attractive backdrops such as streams or meadows. Use a small rake or similar instrument to clear away any rocks, stones, or tree branches that might poke you while you sleep once you’ve found a large and comfy location large enough for your tent. If you don’t have a rake, you can clear up your site with your foot. Assess the quality of the ground before erecting your tent by placing your sleeping bag or mattress over it and evaluating the comfort.

If at all possible, avoid setting up camp on a slope. Whether you’re on top, bottom, or in the centre of a slope, all of these spots are dangerous. Beginner campers may feel that camping in a valley at the bottom of a hill is a good option because of the superb wind and sun protection. If it rains, though, you may wake up in a puddle or, worse, in a lethal flash flood. You may have to settle for somewhat sloping terrain if there is no flat land available. Make sure your head is on the upward slope, and your feet are pointing downward. If you lie down sideways on the hill, you’ll undoubtedly slide to one side of the tent, forcing your body against the tent wall material and risk becoming wet from condensation.

Natural Conditions

Always seek a location that is adjacent to a shaded space. A tent in direct sunlight will turn into a sauna. Because the sun’s damaging rays can damage or prematurely age some tents, always check for tent maintenance recommendations before trekking out into the wilderness. Find a spot that has a natural windbreak. If you’re camping somewhere, try to orient your tent so that the door faces away from the wind to provide the most protection from severe gusts. It will be challenging to obtain a decent night’s sleep if your tent constantly billows in the wind. Furthermore, due to the inadequate insulation, your tent will feel much cooler if you are facing the wind.

Some campers believe that camping near a water source is safer in case they run out of water. This, however, may not be the most secure option. This is due to a number of factors:

  • If it rains, camping too close to a watercourse might be risky if a flash flood wipes your campsite away.
  • Water resources might be contaminated if you camp too near to a body of water. Many developed campsites are 100 feet or more from a source of water.

Keep in mind that your campground should be close to a water supply but not too near.

The Forest

Forested places are great camping spots. Many of the developed tent sites will be flat and tent-friendly. Backcountry locations will need a bit more thought. Most developed areas will have more compacted soils, necessitating substantial pegs to keep the tent in place. Soils in forests come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some grounds are difficult to stake through, while others are loamy and may not retain stakes effectively. These soil problems are particularly prevalent in remote environments. To ensure you have the right stake, do some study on forest soil types.

Colder Areas/Prone to Snow

When camping in the snow, avoid picking a campsite near trees burdened with large snow loads that may fall off in the wind or during higher daytime temperatures if there is thick fresh snow. Avalanche-prone basins and slopes should also be avoided in hilly terrain. Stay among the woods and up the hill from the bowl’s base. Once you’ve found a good area, push down the earth with your snowshoes or skis to make a solid, hard surface. Although winter weather conditions vary by location, it’s always a good idea to invest in a 4-season or winter tent for sufficient protection from snow and severe winds at exposed tent locations. A snow stake might be useful if you plan on camping in heavy snow.

Final Tips

When you depart, properly dispose of your garbage and leave no evidence of your presence on your campground. Don’t leave your “footprint” on the Earth as a general rule.

Article by Lovey Naomi