watch out for anthills/ant roads if a campsite does not feel good or somehow sketchy, trust your instincts otherwise it will be a restless night anyways
@@TheRodNemisis On our first multi-day trip, my buddy and I strung up our ENO hammocks on some trees somewhere between Amicalola and Springer. In the morning, I woke up to him screaming from his hammock that he was covered in ants! I asked him if he had left some beef jerky in his pocket, for which I got the pointy end of the stick for sure. Turns out he had set up his rig right in the path of a SERIOUS pack of ants. Luckily, they weren't red!
100% in agreement with your list. You introduced the the subject of how first cover moderates cold, it also moderates heat, and I was pleasantly surprised with #8 being Look Up! The only thing I would add is I try to camp a good distance from other campers; it's usually quieter, avoids attracting animals to random food storage habits, and reduces damage to the environment (advanced LNT trains to camp on grasses as they quickly spring back up, but only if there are no "campsite improvements" that create a worn space).
@@NewsViewsAndTruth This, specifically get to know the trees you're camping near and what they tend to drop (branches or themselves). Should be plenty of clues around, like redwood branches harpooned vertically in the ground around here.
Awesome tips! I used to think I was an experienced backpacker, and then I watch your excellent videos and realize I'm a total amateur. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!!
I bet you know a lot of things I don't!! I think my knowledge is sometimes specific to ultralight, thru hiking, and efficiency. While many aspects of backpacking I could use some serious work!
I went on a trip with some dudes I didn't know all that well last year. I started the trip thinking I was The Man for all my rad gear and UL aesthetic. One of the fellas had a circa 1978 external frame pack, jeans, leather slip-on construction boots and a Hello Kitty Walmart tent. He out-hiked us all and had at least as much fun as I've ever seen someone have in the mountains. Humbled is an understatement.
@JupiterHikes, there are very few that offer, highly valuable, in-depth information as you. Being a solo female backpacker I try to never stay at popular campsites and will always look for stealthy locations first. Your tips on site selection helps immensely!
Great video for single wall tent owners. But for those of us looking for a campsite with a view of the stars, water, or mountains is part of the backpacking experience we really strive for. Thus we bring a double walled, free standing or semi free standing tent, (Nemo, Marmot, BA) and are very comfortable using guylines and rocking out. We are not thru hikers and are ok carrying a few extra lbs to make the camping experience more comfortable and enjoyable!
I agree, the more weight you want to carry the less this matters. In a storm or particularly bad weather this can still be valuable even if you do have that extra weight though.
Excellent advice IMO. In addition at altitude (like in the higher parts of the Sierras) I try to camp fairly close to a low point to get more oxygen while sleeping. I'll also be careful to find a site where water wont collect if hit by a rain storm. The problem with being too picky is that you pass all the fairly good sites in search for the perfect one and finally have to settle for a bad site.
Great point!! I tried to say a bit in the video that you're never going to find a spot that meets every criteria ever, you'll never find a perfect spot. I think with some practice people will see for themselves that sometimes 'good enough' is often as good as it gets! Nice to keep these things in mind, check the map for trail ahead, and use resources at hand to make decisions.
What valuable content! Great! Maybe you could do a part 2 and as exercise we are going through different places and scenarios together and you could show us what your thoughts are, and where you would set up camp and what are your thoughts in this specific situation etc.
I tried to do that with the B roll in this video. Showing a specific thing that directly relates to what I am talking about. ie some of my camps deep in the trees, our camp near the river. Maybe someday in the future I'll do another one with more examples.
Love the Florida Trail pictures. Florida trail camp selection is interesting, especially in the swampy areas. Water is more important here (especially with torrential rain and mosquitos/bugs)
Yep, something I need to work on, and it's great hearing it from you with all your experience. I actually used to spend a lot of extra time searching for the most scenic site with the perfect view from my tent, often with the predicable results (bugs, cold...). But I think I've got that mindset mostly out of my system now.
The most beautiful camp is awesome! And I frequently go for those, but when conditions call for it, or if I am traveling very light, then maybe I'll avoid it.
Great video! Happy to realize that I knew most of these things. New stuff to me was the thing about wind blowing bugs away, and basically all the things about avoiding popular campsites. Good stuff!
ive "used" them for about four years. less each year until last year when i carried for my tarp system when there were no trees. the only time i used them was for river crossings, snow or loose scree. if im not doing any of the above i leave my poles at home. i dont like hiking with poles. i like having my hands on pack straps, the ability to adjust the pack as im moving and being able to scramble with my hands free. i niw own a durston x mid 1 so i bought the zflick carbon tent poles from durston to use when i do not need the hiking poles. 6.6 ounces for the pair. 13 ounces lighter than my leki corklite hiking poles. i often bring both sets on shorter trips as we hike in, set up a base camp and then head offtrail up to hogh elavation lakes. lets me use the giling poles and leave the tent set up at base camp with the z flick poles. im in good shape, i trail run and work out abd i have excellent balance. i surfed and skatboarded from childhood. i often loan out my hiking poles to friends that are not in shape and they help them alot.
Just happened last weekend set up in a designated camp site and it rained hard before I knew it I was on top of a little pond. Pretty rough night but still a good time
Someone once suggested that they simply pack up camp early in the morning before the dew appears. I am not really sure if that works, but it is an interesting concept.
Good advice, especially on looking up. They don’t call them widow makers for nothing. Eight years ago I lost half my home to a tree that fell during a micro burst. We were having the tree removed but the storm took it first. Take care
Growing up in Florida with the yearly hurricanes I was always afraid of that happening to us. I don't live there anymore but now on trail I have seen it a few times. Most in the wildfire burned areas of the PCT where camping is very ominous. Hope everyone plays it safe with environments like that or big storms!
@@JupiterHikesThis is very true. As experienced as I am I will admit I have made camp in areas that were not the best. Especially when making camp in the dark and being extremely tired. Take care and thanks for sharing your experience.
A major benefit of tree cover is it reduces radiant heat loss to space on clear nights. The reason frost accumulates on car windshields even if it never gets below freezing at night is because heat naturally radiates from the warmer car to the much colder upper atmosphere.
@@stor954 Yes, we do sometimes get lucky. Hamish Brown has written of starting at 4am to get the main climb of the day over with before the sun became an oven but, much of the time, if the wind stops blowing, the midges come out. I think ReadyForScotland could be a good trade mark for a tent maker.
@@Asdf-789 Great attitude! And usually correct about the temperature changes. There was one night, though, in an Akto, when my breath froze to the tent overnight. I had swept a lot out when I went to sleep but a lot more must have formed because, when a warm front came in, it started raining inside my tent. A tarp would have been better, mainly because I would have had my sleeping bag inside a bivouac bag. BTW, during the last fortnight, my watch has given me a dB warning every time I’ve been out for a walk or ride. Noise levels have been a little bit above rustling. Still, at least battering into a block headwind on the bicycle has done wonders for my stoicism.
Great advice, but I would add one thing (and maybe you said this and I just missed it). When looking for that campsite in the trees, look up. You want to camp among/under healthy trees. Avoid the "widow makers", the dead trees and large dead branches. My two favorite campsites ever were on some heavy pine duff - best night of sleep I've ever had on trail - and about 2/3rds of the way up a climb, away from water and the other hikers, with great views of the surrounding mountains and meadow below.
That was my final tip in the video :) I think the one big thing I missed was lightning specific campsite choices, but have answered any questions in the comments that have been raised about it. Widow makers are definitely a scary thing, and I should have put that tip immediately after the first one about trees!! Oops. I think it's super important as wildfires are becoming more of a yearly thing in bigger and bigger ways. I know that is when I am most conscious, when going through burned areas.
I just swapped to a tarp setup for a section hike I'm planning this spring; I've traditionally been a hammock camper. This video is hugely helpful, thank you!
For the tarp user a good campsite can really do wonders. I've always enjoyed just how many different trails and environments I've been able to use a tarp because of stuff like this. With a tent you won't have to think about this kind of stuff as often which is cool too
@@JupiterHikesI love camping under a tarp in the hammock, but I hate the extra weight + setup time it requires to get a good hang. I've been using a twinn tarp and it's so much faster! Now I just need to get used to the bivy.
I've always been impressed by your campsite guidelines. Great advice. I especially took note of your advice not to camp near water. That one's difficult. I live in a mostly uninhabited area with over 4000 lakes and my access to my preferred campsites is by water. I've never had another camper at my preferred lake to camp. But though I have wanted to take your advice to camp away from water I haven't yet got around to doing it. And I've mentioned that bit of advice to my friends and they give me strange looks. No one in this area would consider camping away from water but I like that idea because the deer flies here bite viciously hard. And it's difficult to find level campsites. All land travel here is either up or down. Perhaps this summer as I'm looking at a tough portage into a remote body of water...Thanks for your video.
Sometimes I'll camp near the water, but see if I can go up a bit higher. Still in view of the lake, but maybe 100 or 200 feet above on some kind of outcropping or similar. Get the beauty, but then some of the benefits of being away. And as you said, most would rather just carry a few extra pounds, and deal with the mosquitoes than do this. Which is all good too! For the ultralight thru hikers however, or if really bad weather is expected, then it's super valuable to consider.
I’m thinking when you look up to look for not only dead trees, but dead branches, and hornet/wasp/bee nests. You wouldn’t want to camp under a bird/raptor nest/cavity either. Look for owl pellets on the ground and “whitewash” on the leaves/ground.
Bird-wise, yes. You wouldn’t want to disturb a nesting bird just in case your presence affected their behavior- feeding parent sitting on eggs, feeding young, or worse. Some birds might go after you- I’m thinking raptors. I think you have a good point to look up. We talk about scanning the ground, but a look around up and down makes good sense.
It's crazy how often I'm mentally noting or bookmarking on google maps good campsites whether im out camping or just out and about. Even flying I'm looking down and thinking about campsite selection lol
In places like Yellowstone where you mostly have to stay at established sites, and they have advantages like being maintained by park services, but what advice do you have to avoid interactions with larger animals? Hang your food, keep a clean camp... All that, but any other things that you have learned would be great. Thanks for the great content.
You got it! Hang your food, keep a clean camp, don't cook food at your site, get loud and shine a light if you hear things. And keep your gear inside your tent as often animals will chew on it to get the salt! My partner had her shoes carried off by a porcupine in the night once, while my shoes were safe. Still, only so much you can do at these places and that's the problem. It's nice when they offer bear lockers and things like that, though not present everywhere. When those lockers aren't available you could go a step further and keep your food inside an odor proof bag, like a tightly sealed turkey basting bag to remove the scent, on top of using something like an ursack or bear can.
My friend and I were camping up on Mt Lemon and at around 2 in the morning a large dead pine tree decided to fall over. There was no wind ! Shook the ground we woke up but had no idea what happened until the following morning when the road out was blocked by that large tree.
great suggestions re tent site. I've done most of my backpacking in the alpine zone of the mountains, and I will admit that camping in the deep forest gives me the heebee jeebees! Part of the reason for that is because I'm claustrophobic. I also wonder about trees or branches falling on me :-\
Thanks for the tips! Could you explain tip #8 a little bit more? I'm always cautious about trees but I don't know what signs to look for when looking at how sturdy a tree or branch is.
If you are hiking through a burn zone or if a big storm is coming this is probably most important. Otherwise what I would look out for is a branch or tree that is broken, almost broken, or leaning in a strange way. A tree that looks like it has been damaged by maybe lightning, maybe it's dead from other causes, or maybe a wildfire has seriously compromised it's health. A good healthy tree might have a lot of green, it won't look sickly, it will be thick and sturdy. In the miles before your camp you won't have noticed 10 other trees of the same variety all fallen. That's I guess a bunch to consider!
Great video, but I wonder, what do you do when there is going to have a big storm, with lightning I mean? You don't want to sleep in an open area for obvious reasons, but it is also not recommended to stay next to a tree haha
The chances of being struck are low, but there is of course still a small possibility. Staying low, below treeline, and not out in the open are all good things. Staying away from the tallest of trees, and not setting up directly underneath a tree. Instead a little bit away incase something does fall or if that tree is struck. It's usually unlikely that you personally will be struck but more that something much taller nearby will, and that lightning passes through the ground to you, from it. If it's a really terrible storm, I'd probably be on my toes crouched down, with my foam mat under my feet as that would be the most safe position. Not something I'd want to do for hours though.
One more tip: if you set up your tent on a nice little inexplicably flat, bare spot in the Sierra Nevada forest, be prepared for a thunderstorm to turn it into a pond
Prefer Cowboy-camping for ease of setup, views, freedom of movement, etc. when conditions permit. The option also opens opportunities. Getting under foliage isn't always easy, The smaller the footprint, the more spots under foliage are available. 2) The reason condensation is way worse under a Western night sky is the coldness of sky-shine. Mitigate condensation with mylar blanket (if wind is small) over tent. 1oz of mylar can replace the twenty-foot trees that might not be available that night (tents only). 3) Therefore, weather forecast is handy for campsite selection. In fact, it's often the first criterion on deciding whether Cowboy-camping is viable or not. Only then, campsite selection may commence.
When searching for a campsite sometimes we find a ok campsite. How do you decide if you stay at the ok campsite (perhaps 30m earlier than you wished) or continue on searching for a campsite that might end up being worst ? Regarding camping near water, although in general is a bad idea, but sometimes you can't avoid it. What are the things you look for to avoid ? Wind direction, natural cover (rocks, and trees), etc.
That is something that gets easier with experience. Being able to recall what you passed in the *last* 5 miles and if there was anything better. If not, then you likely won't find better in the *next* 5, unless the environment has drastically changed. Or being able to look at a map and spot certain features in the topography that exist ahead, but did not behind you. Of course there is always the question of if you *need* to stop now, or really want to stop now. Versus if you are willing or able to go considerably further. Sometimes 'good enough' is as perfect as it ever needs to be! I think as for your your next question it is all still the same. I will try to camp under trees, I will try to find a spot that is more elevated, I will try to find a spot that is more sheltered. These tips are not something you can do every night, nor do you need to. They are just suggestions on how to make things more pleasant or safer to some degree.
Another great video. Could you recommend a sleeping bag around 30 degree that will fit nice and not take too much room in my palante ultralight pack? I watch your videos all the time and I appreciate you
Down compresses significantly more than synthetics, so I would start there. Then again, a quilt will be much smaller in volume than a full sleeping bag, so that would be number two. As for brand, Enlightened Equipment, Katabatic Gear, Zpacks all make great quilts. Hammock Gear does a lot of sales.
I do a bit on my phone, and my only advice is that I like to keep it simple. That way I actually keep up with it! If I were trying to write a novel everyday, that wouldn't last. Whereas if I am just taking notes on feelings or major events, I can keep that up for the full duration of my hike. For me personally this is how I later am able to write guides for certain trails as I can recall, through my journal, every day of my hike.
Elevation, wind and water are pro or con. They're features that can be used to advantage or disadvantage. With the exception of flying insects, finding cooler places is an advantage in the Southeast during warmer months. In colder months, those same locations are less attractive.
Everything has it's pros and cons! Hopefully the video is helpful just to know the effects of these places, should someone want to avoid a certain thing.
@@JupiterHikes You did a great job of describing what the features do. I merely noted that the same features can be leveraged to advantage. Sort of like camping near a waterfall on a warm night as the moving water creates a breeze to reduce bugs and knocks the temperature down. In colder times, wouldn't want either.
Great video. I passed up wise site selection for the convenience of closer water sources and regretted it lol. Now that I'm trying tarp & bivy, good site selection may be more of a requirement.
The chances of being struck are low, but there is still a possibility. Staying low, below treeline, and not out in the open are all good things. Staying away from the tallest of trees, and not setting up directly underneath a tree. Instead a little bit away incase something does fall or if that tree is struck. It's usually unlikely that you personally will be struck but more that something much taller nearby will, and that lightning passes through the ground to you, from it. If it's a really terrible storm, I'd probably be on my toes crouched down, with my foam mat under my feet as that would be the most safe position. Not something I'd want to do for hours though.
I was in the back country tucked next to some bush and trees away from the lake, up the hill I then watched all the other campers set up right by the lake. In the morning, I unzipped to see mommy bear and baby bear visiting the lake.
That was a weird situation, hiking the washington coast you can sometimes only progress forward during low tide. The night before we had to wake up at 2am for low tide, hike 5 miles in the dark, and then go to sleep again after getting through the weird section. So none of us really had a chance to choose a good spot, nor will everybody every night of their trips ever!
Every trail has these types of spots! I can think of the most on the Appalachian Trail, a shelter that's a mile or two from a road is prime. But every trail you'll find this.
Dont setup near game trails.not all paths are paths,they are the sidewalks for animals.down in the southeast water is where gators live.they dont come into camp...unless you setup IN their camp.roads are where humans live.your more likely to have an encounter with humans near where humans can see your fire or hear you,smell your smoke.think "stealth" camp.i am amazed at how many times ive had humans walk past me in places id never dream id see them,i mean deep in the muck n mosquitoes (looking for clay).
Won't a lake give away some heat during night? Edit: some text I found: Yes, a lake will radiate heat during the night. This process is known as **radiative cooling**. During the day, the lake absorbs heat from the sun, and at night, it releases this heat back into the atmosphere in the form of infrared radiation. This helps to moderate the temperature around the lake, often making the surrounding area slightly warmer than it would be otherwise
Thank you for watching! What would your advice be for choosing a good campsite?
No widowmakers
watch out for anthills/ant roads
if a campsite does not feel good or somehow sketchy, trust your instincts otherwise it will be a restless night anyways
@@TheRodNemisis On our first multi-day trip, my buddy and I strung up our ENO hammocks on some trees somewhere between Amicalola and Springer. In the morning, I woke up to him screaming from his hammock that he was covered in ants! I asked him if he had left some beef jerky in his pocket, for which I got the pointy end of the stick for sure. Turns out he had set up his rig right in the path of a SERIOUS pack of ants. Luckily, they weren't red!
100% in agreement with your list. You introduced the the subject of how first cover moderates cold, it also moderates heat, and I was pleasantly surprised with #8 being Look Up! The only thing I would add is I try to camp a good distance from other campers; it's usually quieter, avoids attracting animals to random food storage habits, and reduces damage to the environment (advanced LNT trains to camp on grasses as they quickly spring back up, but only if there are no "campsite improvements" that create a worn space).
@@NewsViewsAndTruth This, specifically get to know the trees you're camping near and what they tend to drop (branches or themselves). Should be plenty of clues around, like redwood branches harpooned vertically in the ground around here.
5 W's , Water, Wind, Wood, Widomakers ,and Wigglers . I use this in mind when choosing a place to camp
Awesome tips! I used to think I was an experienced backpacker, and then I watch your excellent videos and realize I'm a total amateur. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!!
I bet you know a lot of things I don't!! I think my knowledge is sometimes specific to ultralight, thru hiking, and efficiency. While many aspects of backpacking I could use some serious work!
I went on a trip with some dudes I didn't know all that well last year. I started the trip thinking I was The Man for all my rad gear and UL aesthetic. One of the fellas had a circa 1978 external frame pack, jeans, leather slip-on construction boots and a Hello Kitty Walmart tent. He out-hiked us all and had at least as much fun as I've ever seen someone have in the mountains. Humbled is an understatement.
@@JupiterHikesthat response is the reason everyone loves you bro!!!
man, your b-roll game is on point! Your videos keep getting better and better! Thanks Jupiter!
Thank you! Hopefully soon I'll be out in the wild collecting more broll soon :)
@@JupiterHikesman I can't tell if your use of the mountains in the background at 8:34 was intentional but you hit the middle and peak just right 👌
@JupiterHikes, there are very few that offer, highly valuable, in-depth information as you. Being a solo female backpacker I try to never stay at popular campsites and will always look for stealthy locations first. Your tips on site selection helps immensely!
You’ve changed my life. Thank you
I'm not an ultra light packer myself but these tips are golden for everyone in terms of campsite selection. Thanks for sharing!
Very under-rated topic that was beautifully explained. Always enjoy your information delivery style… Low stress, easy to follow, accepting, simple
You've been pumping out some really useful info here lately, dude. Thanks!
Thank you! I am trying
Agree!
Great video for single wall tent owners. But for those of us looking for a campsite with a view of the stars, water, or mountains is part of the backpacking experience we really strive for. Thus we bring a double walled, free standing or semi free standing tent, (Nemo, Marmot, BA) and are very comfortable using guylines and rocking out. We are not thru hikers and are ok carrying a few extra lbs to make the camping experience more comfortable and enjoyable!
I agree, the more weight you want to carry the less this matters. In a storm or particularly bad weather this can still be valuable even if you do have that extra weight though.
Excellent advice IMO. In addition at altitude (like in the higher parts of the Sierras) I try to camp fairly close to a low point to get more oxygen while sleeping. I'll also be careful to find a site where water wont collect if hit by a rain storm. The problem with being too picky is that you pass all the fairly good sites in search for the perfect one and finally have to settle for a bad site.
Great point!! I tried to say a bit in the video that you're never going to find a spot that meets every criteria ever, you'll never find a perfect spot. I think with some practice people will see for themselves that sometimes 'good enough' is often as good as it gets! Nice to keep these things in mind, check the map for trail ahead, and use resources at hand to make decisions.
If anyone should know these things, it's you! Thanks for all your sage advice!
Thermal belts are located half way up- 2/3 up a hill side in a valley. These areas can be many degrees warmer then above or below the thermal belt.
Great information!! Thank you!
Lot these type of videos lately . This is stuff we need to know . And you have a lot of experience
What valuable content! Great! Maybe you could do a part 2 and as exercise we are going through different places and scenarios together and you could show us what your thoughts are, and where you would set up camp and what are your thoughts in this specific situation etc.
I tried to do that with the B roll in this video. Showing a specific thing that directly relates to what I am talking about. ie some of my camps deep in the trees, our camp near the river. Maybe someday in the future I'll do another one with more examples.
Love the Florida Trail pictures. Florida trail camp selection is interesting, especially in the swampy areas. Water is more important here (especially with torrential rain and mosquitos/bugs)
Yep, something I need to work on, and it's great hearing it from you with all your experience. I actually used to spend a lot of extra time searching for the most scenic site with the perfect view from my tent, often with the predicable results (bugs, cold...). But I think I've got that mindset mostly out of my system now.
The most beautiful camp is awesome! And I frequently go for those, but when conditions call for it, or if I am traveling very light, then maybe I'll avoid it.
Great video! Happy to realize that I knew most of these things. New stuff to me was the thing about wind blowing bugs away, and basically all the things about avoiding popular campsites. Good stuff!
ive "used" them for about four years. less each year until last year when i carried for my tarp system when there were no trees. the only time i used them was for river crossings, snow or loose scree. if im not doing any of the above i leave my poles at home.
i dont like hiking with poles. i like having my hands on pack straps, the ability to adjust the pack as im moving and being able to scramble with my hands free.
i niw own a durston x mid 1 so i bought the zflick carbon tent poles from durston to use when i do not need the hiking poles.
6.6 ounces for the pair. 13 ounces lighter than my leki corklite hiking poles.
i often bring both sets on shorter trips as we hike in, set up a base camp and then head offtrail up to hogh elavation lakes. lets me use the giling poles and leave the tent set up at base camp with the z flick poles.
im in good shape, i trail run and work out abd i have excellent balance. i surfed and skatboarded from childhood. i often loan out my hiking poles to friends that are not in shape and they help them alot.
Just happened last weekend set up in a designated camp site and it rained hard before I knew it I was on top of a little pond. Pretty rough night but still a good time
Has happened to me a few times and what do you know that's always the moment I realize my tent floor has a leak!
Someone once suggested that they simply pack up camp early in the morning before the dew appears. I am not really sure if that works, but it is an interesting concept.
Words of wisdom ya'all 😊❤
Good advice, especially on looking up. They don’t call them widow makers for nothing. Eight years ago I lost half my home to a tree that fell during a micro burst. We were having the tree removed but the storm took it first. Take care
Growing up in Florida with the yearly hurricanes I was always afraid of that happening to us. I don't live there anymore but now on trail I have seen it a few times. Most in the wildfire burned areas of the PCT where camping is very ominous. Hope everyone plays it safe with environments like that or big storms!
@@JupiterHikesThis is very true. As experienced as I am I will admit I have made camp in areas that were not the best. Especially when making camp in the dark and being extremely tired. Take care and thanks for sharing your experience.
Excellent points. Rarely addressed
Good stuff. 4’th reason not to camp next to water bodies: high moisture environment- leading to condensation/ saturation issues.
A major benefit of tree cover is it reduces radiant heat loss to space on clear nights. The reason frost accumulates on car windshields even if it never gets below freezing at night is because heat naturally radiates from the warmer car to the much colder upper atmosphere.
THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP
Really good video. Covers many aspects of tent site selection and gave a few reasons I’d not thought of before. Thanks
Trees and no wind. You’re unlikely to enjoy Scotland.
Hiking in Ballater twice in last few weeks and absolutely no wind. Was amazed how calm it was :)
@@stor954 Yes, we do sometimes get lucky. Hamish Brown has written of starting at 4am to get the main climb of the day over with before the sun became an oven but, much of the time, if the wind stops blowing, the midges come out. I think ReadyForScotland could be a good trade mark for a tent maker.
@@Asdf-789 Great attitude! And usually correct about the temperature changes. There was one night, though, in an Akto, when my breath froze to the tent overnight. I had swept a lot out when I went to sleep but a lot more must have formed because, when a warm front came in, it started raining inside my tent. A tarp would have been better, mainly because I would have had my sleeping bag inside a bivouac bag.
BTW, during the last fortnight, my watch has given me a dB warning every time I’ve been out for a walk or ride. Noise levels have been a little bit above rustling. Still, at least battering into a block headwind on the bicycle has done wonders for my stoicism.
Nah we good, just gonna stick to the much more epic mountains here in the states 😉
Great advice, but I would add one thing (and maybe you said this and I just missed it). When looking for that campsite in the trees, look up. You want to camp among/under healthy trees. Avoid the "widow makers", the dead trees and large dead branches.
My two favorite campsites ever were on some heavy pine duff - best night of sleep I've ever had on trail - and about 2/3rds of the way up a climb, away from water and the other hikers, with great views of the surrounding mountains and meadow below.
That was my final tip in the video :) I think the one big thing I missed was lightning specific campsite choices, but have answered any questions in the comments that have been raised about it.
Widow makers are definitely a scary thing, and I should have put that tip immediately after the first one about trees!! Oops. I think it's super important as wildfires are becoming more of a yearly thing in bigger and bigger ways. I know that is when I am most conscious, when going through burned areas.
You're at the peak of your game. Great info. - Signed, longtimefan
I just swapped to a tarp setup for a section hike I'm planning this spring; I've traditionally been a hammock camper. This video is hugely helpful, thank you!
For the tarp user a good campsite can really do wonders. I've always enjoyed just how many different trails and environments I've been able to use a tarp because of stuff like this. With a tent you won't have to think about this kind of stuff as often which is cool too
@@JupiterHikesI love camping under a tarp in the hammock, but I hate the extra weight + setup time it requires to get a good hang. I've been using a twinn tarp and it's so much faster! Now I just need to get used to the bivy.
heard you mention this a few times and its helped me a ton! still learning. glad to see a full video on it.
Excellent video. You're the best, Jupiter.
I've always been impressed by your campsite guidelines. Great advice. I especially took note of your advice not to camp near water. That one's difficult. I live in a mostly uninhabited area with over 4000 lakes and my access to my preferred campsites is by water. I've never had another camper at my preferred lake to camp. But though I have wanted to take your advice to camp away from water I haven't yet got around to doing it. And I've mentioned that bit of advice to my friends and they give me strange looks. No one in this area would consider camping away from water but I like that idea because the deer flies here bite viciously hard. And it's difficult to find level campsites. All land travel here is either up or down. Perhaps this summer as I'm looking at a tough portage into a remote body of water...Thanks for your video.
Sometimes I'll camp near the water, but see if I can go up a bit higher. Still in view of the lake, but maybe 100 or 200 feet above on some kind of outcropping or similar. Get the beauty, but then some of the benefits of being away. And as you said, most would rather just carry a few extra pounds, and deal with the mosquitoes than do this. Which is all good too! For the ultralight thru hikers however, or if really bad weather is expected, then it's super valuable to consider.
Absolutely! ❤ Jupiter 😊
Thanks for the valuable information, Jupiter!
I’m thinking when you look up to look for not only dead trees, but dead branches, and hornet/wasp/bee nests. You wouldn’t want to camp under a bird/raptor nest/cavity either. Look for owl pellets on the ground and “whitewash” on the leaves/ground.
Haven't considered that, is that to avoid disturbing them?
Bird-wise, yes. You wouldn’t want to disturb a nesting bird just in case your presence affected their behavior- feeding parent sitting on eggs, feeding young, or worse. Some birds might go after you- I’m thinking raptors. I think you have a good point to look up. We talk about scanning the ground, but a look around up and down makes good sense.
It's crazy how often I'm mentally noting or bookmarking on google maps good campsites whether im out camping or just out and about. Even flying I'm looking down and thinking about campsite selection lol
thank you so much for sharing your treasure of experience and intelligent observation
Awesome advice, much appreciated.
wow, very helpful video!
In places like Yellowstone where you mostly have to stay at established sites, and they have advantages like being maintained by park services, but what advice do you have to avoid interactions with larger animals? Hang your food, keep a clean camp... All that, but any other things that you have learned would be great. Thanks for the great content.
You got it! Hang your food, keep a clean camp, don't cook food at your site, get loud and shine a light if you hear things. And keep your gear inside your tent as often animals will chew on it to get the salt! My partner had her shoes carried off by a porcupine in the night once, while my shoes were safe. Still, only so much you can do at these places and that's the problem. It's nice when they offer bear lockers and things like that, though not present everywhere. When those lockers aren't available you could go a step further and keep your food inside an odor proof bag, like a tightly sealed turkey basting bag to remove the scent, on top of using something like an ursack or bear can.
@@JupiterHikes More great advice, thanks again!
Very good contend. Keep it up! Greetings from Germany✌️
Avoid the Widow makers! Aka dead standing 🌳
My friend and I were camping up on Mt Lemon and at around 2 in the morning a large dead pine tree decided to fall over. There was no wind ! Shook the ground we woke up but had no idea what happened until the following morning when the road out was blocked by that large tree.
Great advice as always!
Thanks for doing this topic!
Awesome video! Thank you!
Awesome video! Very helpful ❤😊
awesome advice, thanks!
great suggestions re tent site. I've done most of my backpacking in the alpine zone of the mountains, and I will admit that camping in the deep forest gives me the heebee jeebees! Part of the reason for that is because I'm claustrophobic. I also wonder about trees or branches falling on me :-\
Thanks for the tips! Could you explain tip #8 a little bit more? I'm always cautious about trees but I don't know what signs to look for when looking at how sturdy a tree or branch is.
If you are hiking through a burn zone or if a big storm is coming this is probably most important. Otherwise what I would look out for is a branch or tree that is broken, almost broken, or leaning in a strange way. A tree that looks like it has been damaged by maybe lightning, maybe it's dead from other causes, or maybe a wildfire has seriously compromised it's health.
A good healthy tree might have a lot of green, it won't look sickly, it will be thick and sturdy. In the miles before your camp you won't have noticed 10 other trees of the same variety all fallen.
That's I guess a bunch to consider!
This was outstanding
Thx Jupiter for all that info 🤙🏾
Great video, but I wonder, what do you do when there is going to have a big storm, with lightning I mean? You don't want to sleep in an open area for obvious reasons, but it is also not recommended to stay next to a tree haha
The chances of being struck are low, but there is of course still a small possibility. Staying low, below treeline, and not out in the open are all good things.
Staying away from the tallest of trees, and not setting up directly underneath a tree. Instead a little bit away incase something does fall or if that tree is struck. It's usually unlikely that you personally will be struck but more that something much taller nearby will, and that lightning passes through the ground to you, from it.
If it's a really terrible storm, I'd probably be on my toes crouched down, with my foam mat under my feet as that would be the most safe position. Not something I'd want to do for hours though.
And be mindful of where water pools during lightning.
You can find good or best camping spots imediatly when you start hike in the morning 😂
In the evening there is only small poor plave in the swamp. 😅
As someone who mostly backpacks in the southeast, warmer is rarely a perk. I want the coldest site I can find other than in the dead of winter.
One more tip: if you set up your tent on a nice little inexplicably flat, bare spot in the Sierra Nevada forest, be prepared for a thunderstorm to turn it into a pond
Prefer Cowboy-camping for ease of setup, views, freedom of movement, etc. when conditions permit. The option also opens opportunities. Getting under foliage isn't always easy, The smaller the footprint, the more spots under foliage are available. 2) The reason condensation is way worse under a Western night sky is the coldness of sky-shine. Mitigate condensation with mylar blanket (if wind is small) over tent. 1oz of mylar can replace the twenty-foot trees that might not be available that night (tents only). 3) Therefore, weather forecast is handy for campsite selection. In fact, it's often the first criterion on deciding whether Cowboy-camping is viable or not. Only then, campsite selection may commence.
Solid tips!
When searching for a campsite sometimes we find a ok campsite. How do you decide if you stay at the ok campsite (perhaps 30m earlier than you wished) or continue on searching for a campsite that might end up being worst ?
Regarding camping near water, although in general is a bad idea, but sometimes you can't avoid it. What are the things you look for to avoid ? Wind direction, natural cover (rocks, and trees), etc.
That is something that gets easier with experience. Being able to recall what you passed in the *last* 5 miles and if there was anything better. If not, then you likely won't find better in the *next* 5, unless the environment has drastically changed. Or being able to look at a map and spot certain features in the topography that exist ahead, but did not behind you. Of course there is always the question of if you *need* to stop now, or really want to stop now. Versus if you are willing or able to go considerably further. Sometimes 'good enough' is as perfect as it ever needs to be!
I think as for your your next question it is all still the same. I will try to camp under trees, I will try to find a spot that is more elevated, I will try to find a spot that is more sheltered. These tips are not something you can do every night, nor do you need to. They are just suggestions on how to make things more pleasant or safer to some degree.
Another great video. Could you recommend a sleeping bag around 30 degree that will fit nice and not take too much room in my palante ultralight pack? I watch your videos all the time and I appreciate you
Down compresses significantly more than synthetics, so I would start there. Then again, a quilt will be much smaller in volume than a full sleeping bag, so that would be number two. As for brand, Enlightened Equipment, Katabatic Gear, Zpacks all make great quilts. Hammock Gear does a lot of sales.
@@JupiterHikes thank you for letting me know that. I appreciate you !
Super true!
Jupe do you journal on trail? Would love to hear your thoughts on it, what notebook you use, etc!
I do a bit on my phone, and my only advice is that I like to keep it simple. That way I actually keep up with it! If I were trying to write a novel everyday, that wouldn't last. Whereas if I am just taking notes on feelings or major events, I can keep that up for the full duration of my hike. For me personally this is how I later am able to write guides for certain trails as I can recall, through my journal, every day of my hike.
Dudeeee been waiting for this one for awhile!! 🎉
Elevation, wind and water are pro or con. They're features that can be used to advantage or disadvantage. With the exception of flying insects, finding cooler places is an advantage in the Southeast during warmer months. In colder months, those same locations are less attractive.
Everything has it's pros and cons! Hopefully the video is helpful just to know the effects of these places, should someone want to avoid a certain thing.
@@JupiterHikes You did a great job of describing what the features do.
I merely noted that the same features can be leveraged to advantage.
Sort of like camping near a waterfall on a warm night as the moving water creates a breeze to reduce bugs and knocks the temperature down.
In colder times, wouldn't want either.
great vid
Camp site selection is so stressful esp on busy trails. Always a rush to get to the good spots.
❤ from 🇮🇪
Great video. I passed up wise site selection for the convenience of closer water sources and regretted it lol. Now that I'm trying tarp & bivy, good site selection may be more of a requirement.
It's definitely something more to think about if a storm is coming!
Thanks, but add something to avoid lightening.
The chances of being struck are low, but there is still a possibility. Staying low, below treeline, and not out in the open are all good things.
Staying away from the tallest of trees, and not setting up directly underneath a tree. Instead a little bit away incase something does fall or if that tree is struck. It's usually unlikely that you personally will be struck but more that something much taller nearby will, and that lightning passes through the ground to you, from it.
If it's a really terrible storm, I'd probably be on my toes crouched down, with my foam mat under my feet as that would be the most safe position. Not something I'd want to do for hours though.
I was in the back country tucked next to some bush and trees away from the lake, up the hill I then watched all the other campers set up right by the lake. In the morning, I unzipped to see mommy bear and baby bear visiting the lake.
But i like peaks in am ..... coffe n sunsets and rises❤😊
`17th !
Jupiter has premium hiking skills.
High wind plus old trees.. Can risk getting crushed.
Listen, I've been finding THEE, BEST base locations for years and years on minecraft. I know what I'm doing
Ahhh the Goldilock Zone. 😅
2:34 John Z cameo- gets dissed by Jupe as example of what happens when you pick a terrible campsite! 😂
That was a weird situation, hiking the washington coast you can sometimes only progress forward during low tide. The night before we had to wake up at 2am for low tide, hike 5 miles in the dark, and then go to sleep again after getting through the weird section. So none of us really had a chance to choose a good spot, nor will everybody every night of their trips ever!
Camping in Scotland: more wind, more rain, more bugs, wherever you are 😅
Not pretty campsites can encourage you to hike later till dark and pack up early, since there isn’t much you want to stay looking at.
13:48 Alabama?
Every trail has these types of spots! I can think of the most on the Appalachian Trail, a shelter that's a mile or two from a road is prime. But every trail you'll find this.
@@JupiterHikes I thought about a special guy you had met there, under a bridge...
Dont setup near game trails.not all paths are paths,they are the sidewalks for animals.down in the southeast water is where gators live.they dont come into camp...unless you setup IN their camp.roads are where humans live.your more likely to have an encounter with humans near where humans can see your fire or hear you,smell your smoke.think "stealth" camp.i am amazed at how many times ive had humans walk past me in places id never dream id see them,i mean deep in the muck n mosquitoes (looking for clay).
I've seen a lot of trees that I thought were strong fall
Micro bears
"No bugs" Hahahaha! Not here in Jupiter. Oh wait...
Won't a lake give away some heat during night?
Edit: some text I found:
Yes, a lake will radiate heat during the night. This process is known as **radiative cooling**. During the day, the lake absorbs heat from the sun, and at night, it releases this heat back into the atmosphere in the form of infrared radiation. This helps to moderate the temperature around the lake, often making the surrounding area slightly warmer than it would be otherwise
the great divide in canada is awesome eh