How to find a place to camp?

As you make your bed so you must lie - says an old Polish saying, and it works nowhere better than in the field. I remember at least a few nights that ended with the camp collapsing suddenly in the middle of the night. I was waking up in a puddle when the rainwater collected on the rocky bed. I was running after the tarp when a strong wind took the tarpaulin like a kite. I even jumped out of my sleeping bag as if I was burned because I was covered with ants and snails. All because I was staying in a place that was not suitable for a camp. How can you avoid similar adventures? Just take a moment to thoroughly analyze the site in accordance with the guidelines listed below.

7 features of an ideal camping site

I have presented the features of the dream place in 7 points. I did not specifically mention the issue of sleeping in a hammock, which largely eliminates many negative factors. What is the perfect place to camp on the ground?

1. A flat place

Look for a flattened hill. When it rains, the water will flow downwards and you will remain on a relatively dry patch of land.

Look for flat ground without stones, but with leaf litter - it will be soft and comfortable.
2. A place sheltered from the wind

Pay attention to wind protection. While the hill protects against gathering water, it increases wind exposure. For this reason, for the place to build the shelter, choose light hills covered with dense forest, suppressing gusts of wind.

3. A place in a deciduous forest

Choose a deciduous forest. The leaves in the treetops provide protection from strong sun and act as a partial protection against rain. Leaf mulch, on the other hand, is a great isolation from the ground.

4. A place not on the rocks

Avoid rocky ground. Such a surface does not absorb moisture and collects rainwater, besides it is hard, uncomfortable and cools down very quickly.

5. A place not under something that can fall off

Look up! Dead branches hanging over you or snow-laden branches can turn out to be a death trap, especially during stronger gusts of wind.

There is no moisture on a slight hill, which means fewer insects, a dry sleeping bag and better conditions for lighting a fire.
6. A place away from large animals...

Do not get in the way of animals. Literally. Most of the inhabitants of the forest follow paths taken once. These are characteristic trails curved in the litter. Sleeping on them is asking for a night visit by a boar or a fox.

7. ... and small animals

Watch out for vermin! Insects, arachnids, mollusks - there is a lot of this stuff in the forest. Most of them are harmless, but unpleasant upon closer examination. For example, imagine a snail crawling across your face. Some arthropods can ruin the whole trip to the forest (mosquitoes), and others can be dangerous to your health (ticks). If you want to avoid ants, choose a leafy mulch. There are definitely more of them in the coniferous litter. Ticks love ferns, tall grasses and mud. You can protect yourself from mosquitoes by applying mosquito spray and choosing a place away from water courses and reservoirs. Avoid heavily bushed areas, such as thickets and tangles of blackberries and nettles. Snails love wet places.

The eastern slope has a decisive advantage over the western one - in the rays of the rising sun it will be much more pleasant to get out of the sleeping bag.

Of course, comfortable conditions are not everything. You are probably going to the wilderness to take a break from civilization, so read on how to find wild, desolate areas. Finally, a bonus. If you spend the night in the mountains, be sure to choose the eastern slope. You'll be thankful to me! You will be awakened by the rays of the morning sun warming up your shelter. At the same time, the western slope will be very cold, completely eliminating the desire to get out of the sleeping bag.

Author: Kajetan Wilczyński

Editing: Tomasz Świgoń