Chitika

torsdag 3 september 2009

Choosing A Location For A Backcountry Camp

By Steve Thibeault

If you always dreamed about the great outdoors and really want to get away from it all one weekend by planning a trip into the wilderness, you're probably doing some research to pick up some best practices, tips and tricks to make sure that your get away is safe and enjoyable. At the back of your mind you may be thinking about your comfortable bed at the end of each day and really focusing on the best place to set up your backcountry camp.

The location for your backcountry camp is very important as you will be spending a great deal of time there in relation to the overall length of your adventure. Before you set out in the morning make sure that you have a clear picture of what you need as you do not want to be stressing yourself as dusk is quickly falling.

Planning is everything when you're looking for a successful wilderness adventure. Set out first thing in the morning so you give yourself plenty of time to deal with all these issues at the end of the day. Remember that safety is the number one priority and you will need to be focused when you arrive at your backcountry camp location.

Don't just choose the first area of flat ground that you find for your backcountry camp. You must make sure that this location is safe, first and foremost from any falling objects. Look up and around you to see if there are any loose branches or danger from other falling objects which may become dislodged when you are sleeping.

It is always nice to camp close to running water for a couple of reasons. Firstly you will be able to get water to boil and to wash with and secondly the sound of running water is often soothing when it is time to sleep. However, you should make sure that you are above the floodplain as you never know when the level of the water could rise. Sudden torrential storms far upstream have been known to cause safety situations for campers even though it may not be raining where you are.

Before you set out you should have a good overall awareness about the inhabitants of the area. What kind of wild animals live there and could they be a threat to you, in particular mountain lions or bears? If you see evidence of large animals, footprints and so on then you should move on until you come to a more appropriate location for your backcountry camp.

As you will almost always went to start a fire, check to see if the area has a sufficient amount of loose wood to help you do so. Set up your fire away from dense undergrowth or other areas that could quickly ignite and leave you with a situation you would much rather not have to deal with!

You will need a certain amount of gear and equipment to sustain you as you head out on a camping or hiking expedition. Most of the stuff inside your backpack you will need for your backcountry camp, so make sure that you plan correctly and include everything that you will need.

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