[HOW TO]
SKILLS, TIPS & TRICKS TO GET YOU HIKING LIKE A PRO
Trail photographer Tom Bailey spends half his life in a tent in search of the best shot, pitching on mountains across the UK in all weathers and conditions. Here are his top tips for finding a great wild camp site.
DO choose a dry, well drained spot to pitch your tent. Look at the plants – if they’re moisture-loving ones you know you’ll slowly sink into a bog overnight. Areas of short green grass are the best sites. Once you know what to look for they’re easy to spot. Ironically, you can often find these close to rivers and lake shores. lay down in the area
DO you’ve chosen, before you get the tent out, to make sure you’ll be comfy there. Remember you could be laying down for at least eight hours.
DO keep a tent peg handy, so that the moment you find a potential camping spot you can test the ground to make sure it will take pegs. Knowing if a site can take pegs is fundamental to the tent still being there in the morning.
DO keep a selection of different pegs that you’ve collected over the years – thin ones, strong ones etc. This way you’ll know you can nearly always successfully get your tent pitched.
DO always look for a level area, or a very slight slope, so that your head is marginally higher than your feet. You’ll sleep much better that way.
DO pitch your tent so that it points into the wind and not sideways to it. But remember to check the forecast, as wind direction often changes through the night. You might be better off pitching with those later winds in mind, so you don’t have to get up in the night to tighten guy ropes and pegs.
DO pack for comfort and warmth, especially in spring and autumn when nights are still long. The more you sleep, the further you’ll be able to walk the next day. I’m a recent convert to inflatable pillows, as they really help me sleep.
DO wait until a rain shower has passed before pitching your tent. There’s no point making things harder than they need to be.
DON’T ever think you can have a campfire when in the British mountains. It’s what most people imagine when they think of a wild camp, but the reality is it’s rightly not allowed. Take an extra layer to wear instead!
DON’T pitch your tent on a path. Flat ground is often hard to find and the path can be a temptation, but remember, you’re not the only one out in the hills.
KNOWLEDGE
■ ASK AN ANIMAL BEAVER Castor fiber Q Why do you make dams? A Not to catch fish! We’re obligate herbivores, which means we only eat plants. We build dams to create ponds in which we build our lodges. The lodge is our home and is a covered island in the pond made of twigs, logs and mud with a few underwater entrances. In winter, it provides us with a safe, warm place to raise the kits (baby beavers).
