The SNUGPAK 1.2.3.4 Wild Camping System:
Wild camping is certainly very exciting, but it is also an essential skill to master when you venture into remote environments with difficult and dangerous terrains, regardless of the weather or time of year. Knowing how to do lightweight wild camping is an essential skill for mountaineering, adventure racing, or any other adventure where the threat of war is considered possible. Developed by Snugpak® as an easy reminder for wild campers, the 1-2-3-4 system will help you get a good night's sleep.
Remember:
- One good night's sleep is required
- Two access points
- Three work areas
- Safety in four dimensions
1- One good night's sleep required:
Whether you have decided to go wild camping, a forced bivouac, or are doing your best while being completely ignorant about camping, being prepared in advance and being able to organize yourself ensures a good night's sleep. And this despite the environment, terrain, and weather. Consider the equipment you need, including items that include a traditional sleeping system:
- Shelter / Tent / Tarpaulin
- Insulating ground mat
- Appropriate sleeping bag
- Bivvy bag, if necessary
For you, a good night's sleep means being warm, dry, and in a comfortable environment!
2 - Two access points:
When setting up camp, make sure you are not in a corner or area from which you cannot escape in an emergency. Ensure you have two access points and that they are in the normal direction of travel! This is particularly important when camping in valleys or on mountainous terrain.
In an emergency, do you have more than one exit available to flee the campsite?
3 - Three work areas:
Your campsite, no matter how small, needs three distinct areas. First, the main area where you will set up your tent or bivouac. Then a cooking and administration area, ensuring that the risk of a tent fire is minimized. And finally, a toilet area. Cooking inside tents is not recommended. Stoves may be necessary for some wild camps but can burn a tent in seconds. NEVER use a chemical heat pack in an enclosed space! Set it up and keep it covered, protected from the wind at a good distance from your shelter. Remember to avoid areas near water points and, if you cannot carry your "bodily waste," bury it sufficiently to not affect other users, at least 50 meters away from your campsite! No one likes to be woken up by a sweet smell of excrement, right?
4 - Safety in four dimensions:
Finally, think about the safety of your camp in four dimensions. In winter, you may spend a considerable amount of time in your tent, from sunrise to sunset. Look up and down, left and right, forward and backward, to ensure your camping spot is safe. Don't forget to think about the weather. Will your tent be safe in an hour, overnight? And if the weather changes?
Now that your campsite is safe and you are preparing to go to bed, imagine what could happen during the night! But that is another story...