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.

Don’t forget that when you select a location for your backcountry camp you are going to be spending a lot of time there in comparison to your overall trip. If you think about it this way, you’ll spend additional efforts to make sure that you have chosen the appropriate location. You will invariably be tired as dusk sets in and will not want to be racking your brain at that point, so make sure you have a clear picture before you set out.

Above all else you will need to pick a safe location for your backcountry camp. There are several things to look out for when making your decision. Make sure that you plan your day so that you are not fumbling around in the dark trying to find a place to set up. Depart early enough in the morning to enable you to enjoy your time and plan for your evening.

You do not want to have any bad surprises in the middle of the night when you are sleeping, so you must be careful when choosing the location for your backcountry camp. Not only do you need an area of flat ground, but you must look up and around to see that you are not in danger from any falling objects, such as loose branches which may become dislodged when you were sleeping.

Water is always your friend when in the great outdoors and many people choose to erect a backcountry camp near to running water as it can be very soothing when they are trying to sleep. In addition, you can use it for washing and for boiling. Don’t forget that you should not set up a camp in a floodplain at any time, as even though it may not be raining where you are, sudden torrential storms far upstream can cause flash flooding at your location and many campers have found this to their cost in the past.

Do you know what lives in the area that you are choosing for your backcountry camp? You should research this in advance to see whether large animals, such as mountain lions or bears frequent the area. In addition, look for large footprints or other evidence and if you see this, move on to a safer place.

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!

Pack your backpack well when setting out on a hiking or camping expedition. Remember that most of the equipment therein you will need for your overnight backcountry camp so you will need to make sure that you have planned ahead correctly.

Writer Steve Thibeault will give you a lot more information about a backcountry camp. Refer to www.survival-gear.com for all your needs.