Prepare (and succeed!) your 1st bivouac with Candie Trier

Watch the video

Listen to the podcast

Episode summary

Here’s a summary of the tips you’ll find in the episode.

What basic equipment is essential for a first bivouac?

A shelter, a mattress and a sleeping bag. For a first bivouac, there’s no need to go for the craziest features. A first bivouac is a first test, so it’s best to leave for one night, or even two. Be sure to check the weather forecast so you can set off in good conditions, and borrow/rent basic equipment to see if you like it!

How to choose the right tent, sleeping bag and mattress?

• Tent: choose according to season and climate, type of terrain (freestanding tent, tunnel, tarp or hammock), weight, comfort required, number of people, direct contact with nature, budget and level of discretion.
• Mattresses : look at R-Value (measure of thermal resistance: the higher the R-value, the better the insulation of your body from the cold ground), comfort (foam or inflatable) and budget.
• Sleeping bag: in addition to weight and material (down or synthetic), look at the comfort temperature (the only important factor!). Depending on where you want to go, count on summer: 0° to +9°C, spring, summer and autumn: -10°C to +9°C and winter: -16°C to -8°C.

What do you need for light, easy bivouac cooking?

There are many schools, many ways of doing things, and none is better than another, they’re just different:

• Preparing all your meals at home, weighing, counting calories, etc. You’ll sometimes need to cook or rehydrate (polenta, semolina) in this case: saucepan, stove, plate and cutlery. But you’ll also need to wash the dishes.
• Buy dehydrated or freeze-dried meals. More waste (packaging), but no washing-up as you just boil the water (stove with saucepan or jetboil) and can eat out of the bag. You’ll need extra cutlery and a plate if you don’t want to eat out of the bag. In this case, always dispose of your waste in real garbage cans.

What are your tips for packing a bag without overloading it?

Be careful not to take the “just in case” items;-) Make a complete list of the equipment you want to take, then classify what you want to take into three categories: the essentials, the useful and the useless. And ask yourself a few questions each time:

• For each object, is it really useful?
• What exactly do I need it for?
• Will I be using it every day, and if not, is it essential in the event of a problem?
• Can I do without?
• Can I replace it with something lighter that I have and that fulfils the same function?
• What could I make that’s lighter for the same purpose?
• Can certain accessories perform multiple functions?

Remember to weigh each piece of equipment (including the backpack) to determine the final weight of the bag you’ll be carrying.

Are there any classic beginner’s mistakes to avoid when preparing your equipment?

The most obvious is to take the “just in case” option and set off on your first tour with a bag that’s far too heavy.

What are the rules to be aware of in terms of legislation and respect for the environment?

There isn’t a single official rule, which varies according to the commune, national park, regional nature park, Natura 2000 zone, biotope protection zone, nature reserve or country… It may sound cumbersome when you put it like that, but that’s only to be expected, since the rules have evolved with visitor numbers, depending on the characteristics of the areas concerned, and so on. The important thing is always to define where you’re going to hike and check the regulations : tourist office sites, parks, Natura 2000 zones, etc. You can also make a phone call to your tourist offices, parks, etc. to check permits for bivouacs, the use of stoves, etc.

It may seem complicated, but these areas are sensitive and vulnerable, and the flora and fauna that live in them need our vigilance and respect if they are to continue to live. They’re under a lot of stress from rapid climate change, particularly in mountain areas, and from increasing visitor numbers, so if we want to continue to enjoy them, we have to respect them!

The basics after these initial checks: no noise, no garbage, no fires, no picking, no drones where prohibited. Simply respect.

Special focus on water: we don’t bathe in high-altitude lakes , for example. Tempting as it may be, these lakes need to be preserved, as they are fragile ecosystems that we destroy by bathing in sun creams, moisturizers and even our own perspiration, which is acidic and reflects our diet. We don’t wash in streams, we don’t wash our dishes in streams. We take water in a flask and a canteen, and we stay 50 to 70 metres away from wetlands so that the earth can do its job of filtering cleaning products, and of course, we take care to use biodegradable , chemical-free products .

What criteria should you take into account when choosing a bivouac spot for your first night outdoors?

For your first night, as for all others, there are a number of things you need to pay attention to in order to find the right bivouac spot. First of all, check the official regulations of the area. Then, find a safe spot: avoid the foot of cliffs, windy passes or putting yourself under a tree that doesn’t look in good shape, for example, but also avoid places that are a bit of a bowl – if it rains, it makes a nice bathtub.

Ideally, you don’t want to get too close to lakes , otherwise the night will be wet and therefore colder, and the equipment will be wet in the morning, making it longer to repack. Check for sheep droppings and cow dung to determine if it’s a herd area, and don’t get too close either.

Then, in terms of comfort: find a fairly flat area, not too many rocks, avoid excess pine cones and needles, not very comfortable, and it can find the tent on the ground. If an area seems to have been used by hikers the day before and looks good, it’s ideal to reuse it rather than impact another space.

It’s better to plan ahead, and not look for a spot at the last minute. But set up your tent within reasonable limits: a tent should be pitched between 7pm and 9am in a bivouac.

What apps or tools do you use to help you plan and locate where you plan to sleep?

I use my main hiking application: Outdooractive Pro (30€ per year), which allows me to have different map backgrounds: IGN map, with contour lines and all the elements of these maps, but also the open street map with additional elements such as running water points (fountains for example).

There’s also a satellite view to help determine certain things visually. Exposure and slope are also useful tools.

I couple this with Geoportail and Google Earth while preparing at home.

How to manage toilets and hygiene in a bivouac?

It’s important to talk about it: take a small titanium or retractable shovel with you, dig a hole 10 to 15 cm deep away from trails and bivouac areas, relieve yourself in it and plug it up. And put the papers in a garbage bag to take with you.

What advice would you give to someone apprehensive about sleeping outdoors for the first time?

I’d say you have to take it one step at a time. To get used to it, why not choose a hike you’ve already done in a day and sleep on the itinerary? One night on a familiar hike is reassuring. You can also go as a couple or with a friend. Going solo every now and then is fine, but maybe not for the first time.

Are there any tips for sleeping better in the great outdoors?

I’m not sure there are any special tricks. Personally, I love bivouacking and I’m capable of sleeping in a bivouac for several days in a row during long treks, but I’ve never spent a single perfect night in a bivouac!

It’s like that, my brain is in hyper vigilance mode and I wake up several times a night, I’m never hyper comfortable either, even if it’s not to the point of being in evil.

I love this getaway to nature and I know I’ll recover when I get home. That doesn’t stop me from going and sometimes the trick is…to go anyway!

What little “bonus” items do you always bring with you for added convenience?

My inflatable pillow. I don’t like putting my clothes in the sleeping bag’s compression bag as some people say, I don’t find it comfortable so I allow myself to take my inflatable pillow.

Follow Candie and discover her book

• Website: https://geonautrices.com/
• Book: https://www.lasportiveoutdoor.com/fr/recommends/livre-treks-le-guide-pour-oser-laventure/