Other ways of sleeping out

Under the open sky

Sleeping with the sky as your roof works best when it is dry and not too windy. It also helps if the mosquitoes are not too troublesome. The forest can be a safe place to start (Pettersen, 2020).

Find a flat spot to lay out the sleeping mat, take out the sleeping bag and climb in. It is wise to keep everything packed together and a tarpaulin within easy reach — in case it starts to rain or snow.

You will need: a sleeping mat, a sleeping bag and a sleeping-bag cover.

Sleeping under the open sky.

Photo: Gina Wigestrand, Snuitide.

Under a rock shelter

This is a traditional way of sleeping out, much used by hunters and herders. Even today some of these rock shelters are used in connection with sheep gathering. Some rock shelters have barely room for one person, while others have room for a whole school class.

Check that the shelter has a relatively level floor, and that it does not drip too much from the roof when it rains. The challenge with this way of sleeping out is finding a rock shelter — they are often hard to spot.

You will need: a sleeping mat, a sleeping bag and a sleeping-bag cover. It is a good idea to bring a plastic bag or similar to lay on the ground — it can often be a little dirty.

A rock shelter from the outside.