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United Kingdom · GBP
Bushcraft Camp Setup Guide: The 5 W’s to Check Before Pitching Camp (Wind, Water, Wildlife, Wood & Widowmakers)
The 5 W's of Pitching Camp — What to Check Before You Set Up Shelter
Wind, Water, Wood, Wildlife, and Widow Makers — five essential checks for a safe and comfortable night outdoors.
When the opportunity arises, there's no better feeling than throwing your overnight gear in the bag and heading out for a camp. Depending on how far you're travelling, you may find yourself needing to pitch in a hurry before night falls or the weather turns. But some things shouldn't be rushed.
If you want to make it through the night, these are the 5 W's you must consider before pitching camp — ignore them at your peril.
1. Wind
Most woodland camp spots benefit from trees acting as a natural windbreak, which is a blessing. But if you've ever spent a night on an exposed mountain ridge or pitched in the wind tunnel of a riverbank, you'll know how relentless it can be — and how difficult it makes getting any proper sleep.
Beyond a broken night's sleep, we also need to consider the wind's effect on our fire. By blocking the wind with a tarp, we can inadvertently create a wind eddy that pulls smoke back into the shelter, almost as if we were facing directly into the wind.
The eddy effect is created by tarps or shelters disrupting wind that would otherwise move in a straight line. The airflow breaks up, slows down, and curls back on itself, creating small circulating pockets of air that pull smoke back into the shelter.
Pitch at an angle to the wind — this usually gives the best balance of protection while preventing the eddy effect.
2. Water
All camps need resources, and if you're not carrying it in, a reliable water source is essential for cooking, drinking, and hygiene. Pitch your camp as close to water as is practical — but beware. A dry riverbed may make for a soft, inviting camp, but it can quickly become a flash flood zone overnight.
Stick to higher ground and avoid areas that look washed out. Rushes and reeds are a good indicator of damp ground — it may be dry when you go to bed, but no one wants to wake up in a pond.
On a hot bush camp in his late teens, Chris and his group joked that a bit of rain would cool the night down. Their prayers were answered — and then some. Twelve hours of heavy rain followed, the 4x4 sank into the saturated ground, and they sat in a soaked tent playing cards on a floating table while waiting for the tow truck to arrive.
3. Wood
Another key resource — for building and for fire. If you're hammock camping, consider the type of wood around you. Is it strong enough to support your weight? There's no use slinging up on a gnarled old elder that will give way as soon as you sit down, or choosing a solid-looking anchor only to find it's rotten to the core.
Before you hang anything, give the tree a solid push and look for signs of rot, fungal growth, or dead bark. If in doubt, pick another tree.
4. Wildlife
Woodland clearings and game trails can offer a break from dense undergrowth and brash, but be mindful of who or what else uses your chosen site. Look for droppings, tracks, and claw marks to gauge whether you're likely to get a night-time visitor trampling your tarp.
If you're heading somewhere hot, good admin to avoid bugs in boots and snakes in sleeping bags is essential. In the boreal forest, consider using bear bags to keep food stored well away from camp.
5. Widow Makers
This may sound like an over-dramatic name for hung-up branches, but as the name suggests, the outcome can be serious. Always check overhead for potential hazards that could be dislodged during your stay — wind and weight can have an effect high up that isn't obvious from the ground.
Some trees, such as oak and beech, are known to drop large limbs in summer as a way of retaining moisture. Take extra care during unseasonably warm spells.
Watch the 5 W's Explained
A quick walkthrough of all five checks to run through before you pitch:
The 5 W's of Pitching Camp
Wind, Water, Wood, Wildlife & Widow Makers — explained in the field.
Watch on YouTubeIf you found this useful, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more bushcraft how-to videos — we're adding new content regularly.
Have a great weekend.
Cheers,
Chris & the FF Team
