camp site selection

[drakkar]

How and why do you choose your campsites?

Being that I'm moving towards a more minimalist set up site selection I'm guessing becomes far more important.
I'm relatively low skilled when it come's to 'bushcraft' I'll be floating along the GDT somewhere near castlemaine just after easter, the forecast currently says a low of 0°c overnight.

Assuming I'll have the opportunity to pick my campsite in the perfect world (not just find a flat spot as the light is fading to roll out my bivvi) Do I set up on a ridge? in a gully? half way? In a bit of a dip? and so on. I've learnt the lessons about not setting up in animal super highways. And to play to the wind, but not much else.

If someone has some further reading on this for me it would be appreciated.

[icefest]

Dont' camp in the wind. More wind moves more air and buffets your insulation.
Don't camp in a valley. Cold air sinks and will pool in a frost hollow. Instead camp a bit higher.
Don't camp under trees in lots of wind. trees fall down. Instead camp downwind of them.
Don't camp in a tiny dip. Rain will flood this more easily.
Don't camp uphill/stream of your water collection point. No need to pollute it more than necessary.

Do camp where you will see the morning sun. This helps you get dry, warm and ready earlier.
Do camp near a rock suitable for table/seat use.

If you must make a fire in an unburnt area - move the grass sods to the side and replace them in the morning.

[madmacca]

Avoid trees with dead overhanging branches
Check for ants nests before you pitch
Avoid the bottom of deep narrow valleys in higher areas - these tend to form 'frost hollows' as cool air descends from further up
Flat ground soft ground in a river valley can be very moist and give rise to a lot of condensation - ventilate you tent as well as you can in these conditons.
If you are on an exposed ridgeline, pitch your tent in the lee of a rock outcrop, logs or trees. In snow areas, you can pile up snow on the windward side as a windbreak.

[north-north-west]

Don't camp in the wind. More wind moves more air and buffets your insulation.
Don't camp in a valley. Cold air sinks and will pool in a frost hollow. Instead camp a bit higher.
Don't camp under trees in lots of wind. trees fall down. Instead camp downwind of them.
Don't camp in a tiny dip. Rain will flood this more easily.
Don't camp uphill/stream of your water collection point. No need to pollute it more than necessary.

Do camp where you will see the morning sun. This helps you get dry, warm and ready earlier.
Do camp near a rock suitable for table/seat use.

If you must make a fire in an unburnt area - move the grass sods to the side and replace them in the morning.

I have to disagree with this point in general, although the bit about warmth is true. A good breeze keeps the tent ventilated and is the best possible prevention of condensation.
Different if you're going for the hammock/tarp thing, of course.
Very good advice otherwise.

[icefest]

Good point NNW. A bit of wind is good.

When it's blowing a gale then not so much.

[drakkar]

Thanks for the tips, will see how many I can put to use over the next couple of weeks.

[perfectlydark]

Checking for ants is great advice and something I regularly forget

[drakkar]

Thanks for the tips, day one we didnt get a choice and camped on a ridge on the west side. Dew in the morning was particularly bad compared to morning #2 were the sun removed it all nearly the moment it peeked over the trees. And then it rained