Tents Today

Ah. You made it to your camping destination. You are surrounded by wilderness. You have a fire pit, and you see a nice big tree to utilize when nature calls. But before you settle into the camping swing of things, you have to pitch your tent. This is important because your comfort and sleep depends on how and where you pitch your tent.

Once you arrive at the campsite, you may already have an idea for the perfect place for your tent. There are some things to look at further before driving a stake into the ground, however. First of all, you want an area that is flat and absent of rocks. (Ever try to sleep over a pointy rock?) Of course, before you pitch you can remove rocks yourself. Also, be sure that the earth in this area is good for driving a stake into the ground.

In a wooded site this could be impossible. But, if around too many trees, water or sticky sap can drip onto the roof. If the weather is windy, you can take advantage of natural barriers like bushes to protect the tent from the gusts.

You do not want to pitch adjacent tents to close to each other, as well as not very close to the campfire.

Inclement Weather Tips:
Sometimes a camping trip can start off with some gifts from Mother Nature: rain or snow. There are some special tips to keep in mind when pitching a tent in the rain or snow.

If it is raining, be sure that you are not pitching your tent in a low area, near a natural drainage area or in a dip in the ground. You don’t want to wake up drenched or floating.

If camping in the snow, first of all make sure your tent can handle it. In the snow, you will want to seek out a flat area. Even if the ground appears to be even, the layers of show could very well be uneven. Stomp around the area to flatten the snow in a process called “tamping.” Then, let that harden for about a half hour. This will create a firm ground for pitching. Also, avoid pitching your camping tent under a tree. This way, a big clump of snow will not fall onto the tent’s roof in the middle of the night.

If conditions are real icy, chances are you’re already an expert camper/hiker and wouldn’t be battling the elements without knowing how. There are ice axes that can get a stake into frozen turf and literal ice blocks.