Site Selection for Camping Carefree

Constructing a tarp shelter, or placing a hammock or tent in the wilderness isn’t as simple as setting it up to then snore away soundly. Planning your site around certain hurdles can be the difference between a good night’s rest or a soggy sleeping bag. Remember that shelter site selection is key to not only provide comfort but to also avoid dangers.

One must always consider the 6 W’s of Shelter Site Selection when choosing a camp for the night. The following list is key to ensure your adventure goes smoothly.

Wood

Every hunter, hiker, or wilderness enthusiast enjoys their nightly fire for several reasons. Fire, or affectionately called ‘Hiker TV,’ extends the light of the day, allows us to stay warm, heats up our delicious meal selections, and is the key to our social nexus. Without wood, our option for fire would be slim as it functions as our kindling, fuel, and sustainable fuel. Consider camping where wood selection is near and not far to avoid having to carry to your kindling where trees are scarce. If the temperature drops and you are unprepared, then that fire could mean the difference between waking up warm or having hypothermia.

Water 

Water is the essence of life and we need it not just for hydration. Water helps our bodies to stay clean and our clothes and containers also! Camping near water allows us to not have to load up on liters to simplify our chores and remedy thirst. Remember to not camp too close to water as tides and winds can change, but also sheltering on the shoreline puts you at a higher risk for visits from fur-bearing friends.

Weather/Wind

Weather is undoubtedly an important risk to consider when choosing where to lay your evening’s nest. One must camp high and dry but also consider the prevailing winds of your area when setting stakes or hanging hammocks. Are you camped in an area that could be a flood risk? Are you too high in elevation that you are in a lightning strike zone? Always be mindful of finding flat ground in a safe area from inclement weather and its many hazards.

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Widowmakers

With wind or no wind comes the danger of bare branches falling from above. Always look up and lookout for limbs with no lushness. Widowmakers also include dead standing in your neighboring area. It’s not a bad practice to give our towering tree friends a good shake so they don’t collapse on your camp.

Wildlife/Wigglers

Unless you want to be visited by bulldozing bounders, one must avoid setting up camp on a game trail or near a den. Some wildlife have a one track mind and will plow through your site instead of wandering around you. Animals, like us, don’t like to bust brush so camping on a woodline may not be a desirable option also. Consider storing your food in bear bags or canisters and cooking away from camp to avoid any unwanted visitors. Along with wildlife, we can’t forget the wigglers amongst us such as fire ants, wasps, and other critters or insects camping close.

This list is a good foundation for finding the perfect campsite, but there are other factors others should consider such as accessibility, leave no trace principles, and general vibe. If I were to add one more to this alliterative piece, it would be Wellness.

Wellness

Sometimes determining your site can be as simple as following your intuition. Choosing a site to avoid wildlife and other predators is a high priority and comes with developing situational awareness, but also choosing a site that has an overall good feeling can aid in washing away worries. Sometimes those bumps in the night are not grasshoppers or bears, but our mind playing tricks on us. Choosing a site that promotes wellness can be the difference between a night under the stars in bliss, or under our covers in fear. Always trust your gut.