Shelter
Site a tarp for wind and rain
Where you pitch matters more than what you pitch.
TA Outdoors — 15 Tarp Shelter Setups
Step-by-step
Skip valley bottoms — cold air pools there overnight.
Skip ridge tops — wind hammers exposed sites.
Look mid-slope, back into a treeline, with the closed end into the wind.
Check overhead for widow-makers: dead branches, leaning trees, loose rock.
Pitch the low end downhill so water runs away, not under your bag.
Related outdoor skills
Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.