How to Choose the Perfect Campsite

In outdoor adventure sports, food, drink, transportation, and shelter are paramount. When in the wilderness, you're likely to encounter numerous dangers and challenges. Therefore, without certain wilderness survival skills, survival is difficult.

The first step in wilderness camping is choosing a good campsite. An inappropriate campsite not only creates significant trouble in setting up a resting area and inconvenience during camping, but can also pose a threat to personal safety. Therefore, choosing a good campsite is crucial.

1. Principles and Methods for Campsite Selection

When choosing a campsite, the principles and methods vary depending on the location, environment, and season. However, the four key principles for choosing a campsite are water availability, a flat site, shelter from wind and shade, and safety from danger. Specific methods can be used as follows.

(1) Choose a High Place to Camp

Camping should be done in relatively high, dry, and well-ventilated areas. In the summer, consider areas with fewer mosquitoes. Avoid camping in concave areas, especially during the rainy season, on riverbanks, along streams, or in river valleys, as these areas are generally damp and prone to flooding. If camping is near a stream, be sure to set up your tent on elevated ground at least a few meters above the water surface, in an area with good drainage, and plan an escape route in case of danger. The presence of rocks encased in mud is a common sign of a debris flow. Avoid camping too close to a debris flow path.

(2) Choose a shady spot for camping

While shelter from the wind and shade may seem like a minor concern when camping outdoors, it can be a major challenge for ensuring a good night's rest and sleep, ensuring you have enough energy to continue your adventure the next day. This is especially true in valleys and riverbanks. It's important to camp in a location sheltered from the wind, with the tent flap facing away from the wind. This is also important for fire safety and convenience. How do you know if the tent opening is facing away from the wind? It's simple: just grab a handful of sand or snow and scatter it in your hand. If you don't have any, use a small piece of cloth instead. The direction the tent opening faces in the direction of the blowing sand or snow indicates the direction of the wind.

If the camp is for more than two days, in good weather, choose a shady spot, such as under a large tree or on the north side of a mountain. It's best to camp in the morning sun, not the evening sun. This way, if you rest during the day, the tent won't be too hot. Another method is to first determine the direction of the east. As we know, the sun rises in the east. Choose an east-facing tent with a ridge or large tree in front of it to block the sunrise. This way, you can get a good night's sleep in the morning.

(3) Choose a clean camping area

If the ground is covered with a lot of rotting wood and leaves, it's likely to harbor venomous insects like scorpions and centipedes. If you have no other options, clean the ground thoroughly. Avoid camping near ant nests. Choose a dry, well-ventilated area with few mosquitoes. Use the breeze from the campsite to deter mosquitoes and flies.

(4) Choose a site without the risk of falling rocks

When choosing a campsite, carefully observe the terrain and surrounding conditions. Avoid rolling rocks, overhanging branches, or weathered rocks above your campsite. If you notice any signs of loose rocks nearby, do not set up your tent, especially if you're close to a rock face. Stay away from steep slopes to prevent falling rocks. In snowy areas, avoid areas where avalanches are likely to occur.

(5) Avoid blocking wildlife routes

Many wildlife routes are relatively fixed, especially to areas they frequently visit. If there's a water source nearby, and that source is the only source of potable water in the area, you shouldn't camp near it, especially if you don't block access for animals. Animals rely on water just as much as they do on food. Even if there aren't venomous snakes or large carnivores passing nearby, herbivores may still trample our temporary homes.

(6) Don't camp under waterfalls

The humidity below and near waterfalls is high, and this moisture will slowly soak your clothes. Water has a strong thermal conductivity, so damp clothing loses its warmth and becomes uncomfortable.

Waterfalls also create a lot of noise, which can be irritating and add to the already fragile psychological burden of being in a dangerous area. More importantly, the noise can make us unable to hear the cries of rescuers, distract us from passing planes and occasional pedestrians, and make it even harder to detect approaching wild animals.

(7) Don't camp under isolated tall trees

Tall, isolated trees are likely targets for lightning strikes, and living under them can make you an indirect victim of lightning. In addition, tall, isolated trees often serve as a scent source for wild animals, especially those with strong territorial instincts.

(8) Don't stir up a hornet's nest

Bees are social insects with swarming behavior. Many stinging bees, such as wasps and hornets, are particularly potent in the wild. Generally, bees won't attack humans. However, if people intrude on their territory or accidentally stumble upon their hives, they are likely to attack.

Many bees produce a volatile hormone after stinging, signaling their companions to rush to their aid. Many people have been stung and even died from poisoning in the wild because they offended one of these bees. When camping, observe carefully; there are usually several bees flying around near a beehive, making them easy to spot. Try not to make friends with them.

(9) Don't feel at home in the deep woods

Unless you don't have access to more open areas, don't set up a tent or temporary shelter in the deep woods. The disadvantages of this approach are: lighting a fire can easily cause a forest fire; returning from a foraging trip might result in not being able to find "home"; there's no way to send a distress signal; aircraft are least likely to find targets under the trees; and when exhausted (especially for the injured) and left to move around waiting for rescue, it can be difficult or impossible for anyone to find the target.

(10) Don't camp too close to a water source.

Mosquitoes, bugs, horseflies, and other stinging insects are common near water sources. While most people won't mind a few bites in extremely dangerous situations, they can disrupt explorers' sleep and affect their recovery. It's also important to note that mosquitoes in the wild can spread infectious diseases like forest encephalitis.

When choosing a campsite, it's also important to leave ample time for the selection. Generally, you should start looking for suitable campsites along the route in the afternoon or arrive at your designated campsite early to select one. Never wait until dusk to start choosing a campsite. Because, in general, after a day of trekking, it is difficult to have enough energy to choose a better camping spot, and the opportunities for choice become fewer and fewer as night falls.