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i was wondering what everyone thought when it came to campsites selection in a couple different situations
1. the valley will be colder temp wise but will the lack of wind offset this
2. the hillside will be warmer but will the wind negate that
3. top of a hill, no wind but basically no shelter
plus i'd like to hear what you are looking for when choosing your campsite
i myself want something close to water, level, and sheltered if possible, this is the "big 3" for me
boot
I vote for "close to water, level and sheltered if possible."
Oh?! That's not an option. :)
Granted round here the 'hilltop' is not that far a walk from the 'valley' but it's windier then all getout up there. Mountains must be a lot different.
As a general rule, I like being close to water too. Unfortunately, it's been so dry here that there's almost zero water in the creek beds anyway, so last weekend I tried the top of a hill. It was a nice change of pace, but as soon as we get enough rain to at least have a few pools in the creek beds, I'll be back to camping closer to my amphibian buddies again. :) I may try a hillside some time this winter. If you find the right spot on the right hillside you can still have shelter from the wind and be far enough up from the valley floor to have a few degrees higher temperature.
A friend of mine tells of doing some anthro work at a rock shelter in the western Ozarks. It was the dead of winter, and generally, quite miserable. Except.
They were amazed to discover that this spot chosen by earlier humans was almost balmy...mid-slope, south facing, high thermal mass. Traveling to and from the site, they dressed appropriately for the season, and once there, worked in shirtsleeves.
location, location, location = water, suitable trees, shelter from wind.
young blood taught me about sites. out of wind and not the lowest. he took me to his site on Spinger, 12/31/08, i will never forget. :)
Depends on the weather. High windy ridges have less bugs if is is warm weather. OTOH there is lightning in a storm. Bottom of the valley is potentially wet. Part way up the hill with a tarp wind block or in a cove when cool. Water always an issue.
we don't need a level spot, we haz hammocks!
KM (who would be interested in seeing that cave-ish spot yesss...)
Level spots are for groundlings! :) One thing I LOVE about hammock camping is that I can go places that are inhospitable to groundlings: rock outcroppings, hillsides, near canyon walls, over cacti or other bramble, etc.
Avoid valleys and low areas because they get cold at night. I like finding great views, if possible. Shelters areas on a hill, or lee side, help avoid rain and wind.
Personal preference too. I think level spots are probably fine for big group hangs, perhaps, when there is a lot of community interaction, but when I'm backpacking, it certainly is not a consideration.
Pretty much everything dejoha said. I don't particularly care if the ground is level or flat when I'm hanging. I can avoid the catabatic wind/air by staying out of valleys as well as avoiding the brunt of any bad weather by not staying on peaks. Site selection can protect me from the worst of the weather while properly pitching my tarp will take care of the rest. Carry enough water for at least a half day (including all cooking and cleaning needs) into camp each night. Enjoy the solitude and the aspiring views from the hammock.
I chose not to post a vote, as I find the wind conditions you correlate to terrain seem to not apply to the mountains. Most of my hikes are in the Whites. My perfect campsite is a place unviewable from the trail, adjacent to a flowing stream or waterfall, and has a fallen tree or boulder to sit on. Perfectly spaced trees, of course. I don't pick anywhere near the tops of mountains (too windy).
If I had to vote, I'd vote "Other" because all I need are two trees, no widowmakers, and no signs of impending doom.
The hillside will be warmer because of the light wind. The wind is sometimes created by thermals coming from the valley floor, they create the wind but the heat as well (sort of). So I would say that no, the hill side wind would not negate the higher temperatures. Its very true what Oldgringo said about ancient peoples. They were way smarter then we give them credit for. Water is great, but it is also going to be responsible for cooler temps. I know I'm always going to be warm enough for where I'm going, so sometimes I just go for the most awesome hang spot, just because we can.
Depends on weather conditions and where I end the day up hiking at. Like a room with a view thou as a preference :)
Hill tops when the weather is not threatening and there is a view. Valleys on warm evenings. Leeward side of hill most other times and when by myself.
Set up to match the objective. John Muir once climbed up into a tall fir tree on the side of a mountain to watch/weather a blizzard. Claimed he was warm and dry, and had a hard time keeping from falling asleep from the bows rocking in the wind.
If the weather or your objectives change, you've got a hammock! Move.
It's not like you're tied down to the ground and hammered in with half a dozen stakes. :lol:
If I limited myself to camping close to a water source I would have many awesome campsites that never happened. I camp where ever looks the most new and exciting :). I like seeing what mother nature can throw at me, being comfortable is what my house is for.
What are these valleys and hills you speak of?
I didn't vote, either, because, as others said, it depends on the weather.
In Summer, I may seek coolness by hanging on a hill top where wind is blowing, or in an area with steep valleys I may camp at the bottom where I can take advantage of the cold air drainage phenomenon.
In Winter, I'll likely avoid valleys and hilltops and instead look for areas sheltered from the wind. In Spring, or when thunderstorms are likely, I'll avoid hilltops due to lightning and valleys that drain a large area due to flooding.
However, if the weather is nice, I may just pick a cliffline for a nice view, or if the kids are along I may pick a valley so they can play in the creek.
Bottom line, my campsite selection just depends on the situation. :)
I would go with valley floor but not knowing the weather it would be safer on the hillside incase of a flash flood. just hang out and let the water go under you.
the viewAttachment 27305
Cold weather: On the lee of the hill Half way (or so) up the hill. Water nearby is nice, not critical,,,, usually.
Buggy weather, minimal chance of rain, in the wind!!!
Don't care if it's flat or hilly or rocky or etc. :lol:
Just watched this, and thought of this thread. :scared:
Up a canyon in the trees with a stream nearby.
I'd rather just be flexible. Hang for the view, but have a back up site or two picked out ahead of time, should conditions change or the situation arise.
1/3 of the way down the lee side of the break, with a little help from some tight brush or structure, ought to sock you away something cozy, in most situations.
It really is best to make the effort to do more than just look around and guess. Hike over or down to your back up choices and spend some time there. Just like when picking a ground site. Unroll a sit pad and take a few minutes to see if you'd really want to ride a storm out there. Check for widow makers now. You probably won't have the time to do it properly later, and if you have to move after dark, you'll basically be guessing, if you don't.
One of the things I've always disliked about tenting, besides the crawling, is when you've made your choice, if the weather would change, your first option was to hunker down and ride it out. Another is you can't see what's going on. With proper site selection and tarp coverage, a hammock allows you to sit out right in it, instead of hiding from it. :thumbup1:
I really enjoy the gurgling sounds of a creek as I fall asleep, but it's hard to beat a campsite with a view. I like to mix things up and try different spots.
Of course with foul weather or bugs I choose sites accordingly.
That reminds me of a spot we hung in last Fall. It was mid way up a hill, south facing and out of the wind. We could hear the wind all around but not feel it where we were. Warm too and others who were at the bottom of the hill in a field were colder.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldgringo
I choose a spot where weather will be easier to handle. Stay away from gully washers and possible muddy spots. I like being in the grass/ leaves or Galax for less rain splatter. I do choose sites nearer to a water source but not next to it and stay away from animal trails. Ridge tops can be dangerous here because of lightning so I drop down a bit if possible and that's where the water is anyway. Level isn't necessary in a hammock but nice. And a view is always a plus!
Don't forget to look for dead trees and shake a few live ones to make sure. I found a dead one last week that was so close to branches from a live one it looked like the leaves belonged to it. But when I shook it a little I could see otherwise and moved on.
Sorry I didn't vote, none applied.
I can only speak about places I've hung in Ontario, north and south.
The cold air really sinks into the depressions, river valleys, marshes, lakes at night. The difference between that beauty spot next to the lake or riverside and the hillside spot that's more sheltered and higher is considerable.
In the morning walking down the hillside to the river to get water can be like walking into a cold lake with each step colder and colder.
I vote hillside.
Being from Nevada - I choose a spot that has 2 trees close enough together for hammock camping. Harder than you might think.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...e/100_0016.jpg
In hilly terrain, low areas near lakes and rivers will be more damp and buggy, Hill tops are more likely to have higher winds but fewer bugs. If there is no wind and lots of bugs up the hills then at least the ground and wood should be dry. I prefer somewhere in the middle. The hill could even help block wind. If you have a hammock and fly then anyone of these locations would be a great place to camp. However, I just came back this morning from a full wilderness survival weekend in northern WI with lows in the 20's. with less daylight and no bugs around I built a brush shelter near the water but had to go quite a distance for a good supply of dry firewood.