A Beginner’s Guide To Wild Camping: In The Field

Welcome to the third and final part of our Wild Camping Series!

After having looked at planning and gear, you must know what to do with all of that stuff. 

In this post we’ll go over the basics of setting up and using a camp, such as timing, ideal location, and safety!

So, let’s get started with Part 3: In the Field!

It’s the late afternoon, you’ve been hiking for hours, and it seems a good moment to call it a day. So now what? 

First things first, try to have an idea of how much daylight you have left. I suggest you research the sunset and sunrise times for your location before leaving on your trip, but you can also take a wild guess by looking at the position of the Sun in the sky in relation to the horizon.

Ideally, you should stop hiking and start looking for a spot to camp a good two hours before sunset, that way you’re sure you won’t be setting up your tent in the dark.

There is such a thing as a bad camping spot, and several things that make one. 

• Slopes: 

A slightly inclined terrain is normal and fine, but avoid steep slopes.

You’ll likely end up spending most of the night rolling and sliding down against the side of your tent. If you are sleeping on an incline, set your tent with the feet facing towards the bottom and your head towards the top of the slope, that way you’ll avoid rolling down.

Also avoid setting your tent at the bottom of a slope, as in case of heavy rain you’ll catch all of the water flowing down.

Be careful about setting your tent on the edge of a steep slope or cliff. You don’t want to accidentally roll down or fall.

• Thick vegetation:

Tall vegetation all around your tent is not ideal as it can hide creepy crawlies such as ticks and ants, and will also give them easier access to the inside of your tent.

It’s also a major fire hazard if you’re using a stove or making a fire. 

Shrubs and branches should also be avoided or removed (never cut anything down), as they can easily rip and pierce the fabric of your tent.

• Large and old trees:

Avoiding trees is not always possible and there are benefits to camping next to one, such as sun protection. 

If possible though, avoid setting your tent under very large or unstable trees, as they can become a serious danger in case of heavy wind or thunderstorms. There are sad stories every year of campers being crushed by heavy branches and fallen trees, so keep an eye out.

• Proximity to water:

Avoid camping anywhere near large water sources or in places where water can accumulate, such as on a beach, at the bottom of a slope or in a hollow.

While these places might be dry when you set your tent, heavy rain and tides can quickly move large quantities of water, causing flash floods and taking you with them. 

Setting yourself too close to a body of water also increases the risk of contaminating it with trash or human waste, so make sure you’re at least a good 200m away.

After finding the best spot, it’s now time to set up your camp!

Let’s start with your tent:

• Follow the safety tips above and set your tent in a safe spot on flat ground, or parallel to the slope if you’re on uneven terrain.

• Clear the ground of any objects that could damage your shelter, such as branches and sharp rocks.

• Make sure you’re far from water and that the spot you’re on is not at any risk of flooding.

If your camp site is exposed to the wind, try to set your tent parallel with the direction it is blowing in, with the entrance away from the wind. This will stop the fabric of the door from getting noisy in the wind. 

Next, make sure you have enough water.

• If you need to boil food or prepare freeze dried packs, make sure you have at least a litre left to drink for later and during the night.

It is really important that you stay well hydrated, especially at the end of the day, and making sure you have enough means you won’t have to get out and fetch more in the middle of the night if you’re thirsty.

 Always remember to filter the water first. If the area is remote enough you can drink directly from fast moving streams, just be sure to inform yourself first on how clean the water is.

When it comes to still water however, such as lakes and ponds, never take any chances and use a filter!

You now have your tent set up and your water reserves ready. Time to get some food on the stove! 

• Although you can dig a pit and make a campfire, I absolutely do not recommend that for beginners. Aside from the fact that it is illegal in several countries, starting a campfire without the proper knowledge can easily get out of control and put you and others at risk. 

• Use a gas stove instead. It will be much easier to turn on and use, and all without the risk of the flame going out of control. All you need to do is turn on the valve and light the gas with a lighter or a ferro rod. Once the flame is on you can simply cook like you would on a normal gas stove. 

Remember that gas canisters are not allowed on planes and are sort of difficult to get rid of, at least where we live. But whatever you do, don’t abandon them in the wild!

Another alternative, and our favourite, is to use a bio-fuel stove. This type of camp stove burns biological materials such as wood and leaves and in that way it’s very similar to making a campfire, except without the risk of the flame spreading out of the container.

Bio-fuel stoves require a little bit of practice to get to work properly, but they are the most environmentally friendly cooking option.

Whether you make a campfire or use a gas/bio-fuel stove, the number 1 rule is to stay away from your tent. Tent fabrics are strongly flammable, and a wrongly placed flame can end your trip in disaster.

Spend enough time outdoors and eventually you’ll have to answer nature’s call.

For number ones it’s easy enough, just do it behind a tree and make sure you’re far enough from any water source. 

Number two’s are a little trickier. Proper camping etiquette dictates that you gather your waste in a bag and throw it away in the nearest trash can. Now, that might be reasonable for day hikes or very short trips, but I am personally not willing to hike and camp for five days with a poop bag in my backpack. Therefore, the other option is to bury it. 

• Get yourself away from any water sources.

• Get a shovel to dig a hole, at least 10 cm deep, and do what you need to do.

• Make sure you use bio-degradable toilet paper, and pee on it to help it compost.

• Re-fill the hole, throw some branches and loose vegetation on top so that someone doesn’t end up digging in the same spot and you’re good to go!

Sleeping in a tent for the first time is a strange experience, at least it sure was for me.

Then again, I was a dumb teenager who decided to sleep on the floor with an old sleeping bag that weighed 2 kilos. 

I suggest you don’t make the same mistake and that you invest in a good sleeping bag and a sleeping pad, both rated for the temperatures you’ll experience during your trip.

A travel pillow will complete the setup, but it’s not essential. I usually just fill up the stuff sack of my pad with jumpers and t-shirts, and that is enough for me. 

If your sleeping bag doesn’t have a hood, or you simply don’t like using it, get a beanie to wear at night. As for the rest of your clothes, don’t bother carrying pj’s.

The best option is to use your thermal underwear, a shirt and a pair of socks. This way you won’t be overburdened and you won’t risk overheating. Overheating can lead to sweating which in turn will cause your body temperature to drop. 

Wild camping will take you far away from civilisation, in locations where help can take hours or days to reach you.

Because of this, safety should be your primary concern.

Apart from trying to not set yourself, your tent and the forest on fire, watch out when walking at night. Nighttime in the outdoors is much darker than in and around cities because of the lack of artificial lighting, such as houses and light poles.

Only go out of camp after dark if you really need to, always use a headlamp and mind your surroundings.

Here are a few thing to watch out for:

• Tent guylines:

The ropes that hold your tent upright and in place can also be amazing tripwires.

It’s for this reason that they are often brightly coloured, so that you don’t face plant in the middle of the night. Still, be careful and mind your footing.

Also mind any tent pegs sticking out of the ground. Even with hiking shoes and boots they can be painful if you stub your toes against them. 

• Roots and vegetation:

Same as for the guylines, try not to trip on roots and plants.

The result will be the same, pain and shame. 

• Cliffs:

Be extremely careful at night if there are any cliffs or steep inclines next to your camp.

It can be difficult to know your exact location in the dark, so watch your footing.

• Animals:

As we talked about in Part 1, you should inform yourself on the fauna that will be sharing your temporary home in the wild.

If there are any dangerous critters around, pay extra attention when out after dark. Dangerous animals such as boars, wolves and cougars are primarily nocturnal, so your chances of you running into one are increased at night. The same goes for scorpions and several snake species.

The Sun rises and it’s time to go! 

Get some breakfast going, then pack up your gear.

• Make sure to leave no trace of your passage, no wrappings or food remains, no burn marks on the ground if you made a fire.

• Leave everything exactly like you found it, so that the campers coming after you can enjoy the unspoiled nature!
  
  

And with that, we end our Wild Camping Series!

I will probably write more about it in the future, but this should be enough to get you going safely. I hope you enjoyed these posts, I’m looking forward to writing more!

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I’ll see you on the trail and until next time this is Luca, signing off.

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