When making camp in the mountains, which direction should I face my tent?
Sometimes I hear that, when making camp in the mountains, a tent should be pitched so the door is facing a certain direction, usually downhill. I've repeatedly asked why I should do this, and the answers I've received are always "I don't know".
Should I pitch my tent so it faces downhill - or some other direction? Why?
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Depends on where you set it, where I'm from the wind is almost always the determining factor, when you're in thick trees and wind isn't a factor, then you set your tent wherever it fits. Which direction you're facing depends on the terrain and your exposure.
When we went camping a couple weeks ago, we set one of our tents up specifically to take advantage of the view:
Another determining factor for how you set up some tents is how level the ground is. If the ground is not perfectly flat, you want to orient your heads uphill, this way you don't wake up with a head rush, or if you're in a tent with a bunch of people, you don't all roll over and end up on top of the poor souls who got the spot furthest downhill. If your foot print is round, then you can still put your door wherever you want it, then set up you beds inside with the heads uphill.
Water is yet another factor when setting up your tent, you don't want to put your tent anywhere water might flow or accumulate. Low spots are great for protection from the wind, and are often flatter, but if there's rain in the overnight forecast, you might consider setting up on the high ground so you don't wake up in a puddle.
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You pitch the door downwind to help prevent blowing rain/snow from entering when you go in and out. Orienting the shelter to prevailing/expected winds is even more important for those of us that use tarps rather than tents. We don't have a door per se, but have less coverage so need to make sure we take wind into consideration when pitching it.
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The answer and reasoning I've heard is place the door facing upwind, or South / Southeast, as this is where the warmer winds tend to come from, northerly winds being colder. Face it east to wake up by the sunrise.
Note, this is regarding the Northern Hemisphere, but the same logic can be applied for the Southern one.
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Pitch the tent flat. If not flat then most people prefer feet down hill. You may prefer feet up. Lay down and decide what you what. Most people sleep head at the opening. Across the grade you roll - not good.
I like feet down hill and head at the opening so opening up hill.
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