How to WILD CAMP IN STRONG WINDS and SURVIVE!, by Wild Mountain Man on YouTube. 5 min 47 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 47 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Check the wind forecast before you leave home and pick a route with sheltered valleys or woodland where you can camp if the wind picks up.
Choose a low-profile tent with strong poles and plenty of guy line points. Practise pitching it at home so you know the order of steps.
Walk the pitch first. Look for ground sheltered by a hill, wall or trees, and avoid exposed ridges, summits and lone trees.
Point the lowest, strongest end of the tent into the wind. Keep the door on the leeward side so it does not blow open.
Peg the windward corners first, then the rest of the base. Keep the tent low and pull the fabric taut as you go.
Add guy lines to every loop on the windward side and peg them out at a low angle, about 45 degrees, so the tent cannot flap.
Put heavy gear inside the porch and keep the inner door closed. Store loose items in stuff sacks so nothing blows away.
Check the pegs and guy lines after the first hour and again before bed. Re-tension any slack lines and add pegs where the ground is soft.
Tips and common mistakes
Pegs pull out of soft ground in gusts, so use wider pegs or pile stones on the anchor points.
Never camp under dead branches or a lone tree, because falling wood is a real risk in high wind.
Keep the tent door closed when you go in or out so the tent does not inflate like a sail.
Questions
Which way should my tent face in strong wind?
Point the lowest and strongest end into the wind and keep the door on the sheltered side. This reduces strain on the poles and stops the door blowing open.
What if a pole snaps in the night?
Stay calm and check for injuries first. Splint the broken pole with a repair sleeve or a spare peg and tape, then re-tension the guy lines.
Is it safe to wild camp in gale force winds?
No. Gale force winds can flatten tents and drop branches. Move to a lower, sheltered spot or abandon the pitch if the forecast is that bad.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
