Whether on hitchhiking, hitchhiking, walking or cycling, we have to decide where to set up a tent. The chosen place should be, first of all, safe, but also simply comfortable. Putting up a tent in the wild is not something very complicated, but it is worth remembering a few most important rules.
A shady or sunny place?
When the sunset is already cold, we can be sure that at night and in the morning, the temperature can drop dramatically. Therefore, we should check where the west is and, on this basis, set up the tent in a place where the sun will heat it from the very morning.
However, if we know that the night is going to be warm and the temperatures are going to be very high, we should look for a shady place. In this way, we can avoid a situation where we have to leave a heated tent just after sunrise.
What should the terrain look like?
As most people probably know, the best terrain for setting up a tent is one that is flat and overgrown with grass. We should also check whether any branches or spikes protrude from the ground.
Many campers, however, forget about the fact that hollows in the terrain, the so-called basins, are not the best choice. We often hide in them to protect ourselves from the wind, but remember that it is to such hollows that cold air and rain flow. Therefore, if we want to avoid the possibility of night evacuation before the flood or lower temperatures, let's look for a better place.
How to protect yourself from the wind?
The ideal situation is when the tent is protected from the wind on all possible sides. Trees, bushes, rocks or any type of building - everything can be a shelter, and the wind already blowing in the evening can help us to find a place.
Even if we are very tired, let's not forget to attach the ropes as well. Especially in open spaces, we can save our tent from being hijacked by strong wind.
Draught in the tent can also be avoided by closing all chimneys or placing the tent so that it is perpendicular to the wind direction.
How to take care of safety?
Many people are afraid that sleeping in a tent in the wild is quite dangerous. It turns out, however, that the risk of someone robbing us is small and we can further reduce the risk by choosing a suitable place to stay.
So let us choose either a place as far away as possible from all buildings, or located as close as possible to them. If you decide to stay in a secluded place, let's choose one that is far from the road, preferably in the forest. However, if we prefer the company of people, let's try to ask for the possibility of setting up a tent on someone else's property. For the hosts this is not a big problem, and the chances that they will rob us on their own territory are very small. It is also worth looking for vacancies, which may turn out to be an ideal place to stay overnight.
