Bivouacking, but correctly!

Equipment:

Sleeping bag: Should be adapted to the expected temperatures...In the mountains, it can get quite chilly even in summer, a 3-season sleeping bag works well.

Mat: Insulates against ground cold. Can be a foam mat or a more comfortable, inflatable one...

Tyvek tarp: Protects against ground moisture, and protects the mat from damage...

 

Bivy sack or tarp?

Most misunderstandings arise with bivy sacks. A normal bivy sack protects you from wetness, wind, and cooling down during a sudden change in weather. However, you also get a problem with condensation. In an emergency, this is certainly the lesser problem; for a planned bivouac, it becomes rather uncomfortable. This is precisely where the difference lies with more expensive bivy sacks. The material here is more or less "breathable," meaning less condensation. This goes up to a "bivy tent" like the BD Spotlight Bivy. If you're not sleeping on a ridge or summit, you can also consider taking a light tarp. Waterproof protection, with very good ventilation (little to no condensation). However, it can become problematic with a lot of wind, and you need some experience with pitching and guying it.

As long as you are still in a wooded area, a hammock can also be a great solution. To protect against ground cold, an insulated mat or an underquilt can also help here.

 

Now you can already sleep....Before that, there's still something to eat...A gas stove is the first choice for short trips above the treeline, such as the Jetboil Flash, which includes the pot, otherwise a small gas stove like the Soto Amicus and a light pot, e.g., from Toaks...plus snacks, possibly instant meals, and a few more snacks...headlamp and a spoon...

Important: Often there is no water at the best spots, you have to bring it with you. Works great in Platypus collapsible bottles, which you can even use to transport wine very well. (Yes, it works, no, the wine doesn't smell like plastic ;-))

 

Of course, not the smallest scrap will be left behind afterwards, and human waste should also be truly buried without a trace, or even better, taken with you!

 

 

Hope this article was helpful for you, have fun bivouacking!