Pitching a tent in wind and rain

A tent only withstands wind if the forces are carried into the ground through taut lines and well-set stakes. The poles alone are not built for that. Each guyline takes part of the load and stops fabric and poles from deforming or breaking.

The narrow or low end facing the wind offers the smallest surface. If the tent stands broadside to the wind, it pushes as if against a sail. The entrance is on the lee side so that no wind and rain blow in when you open it.

A taut fly sheds rain and does not touch the inner tent. If the two layers touch, water is pressed through the fabric. Vents reduce condensation, which otherwise collects on the inside of the fly and drips down.

The spot: use natural shelter from the wind such as bushes, rocks or a terrain edge, but no hollow where rainwater collects. Look up for dead branches overhead. Do not camp in dry streambeds or right on the bank.

The order: lay the tent out flat and stake the windward corners first. Hold on to it the whole time or weigh it down with your backpack. Then come the poles and raising it. With tents that allow it, the fly is pitched first so the inner stays dry. The manufacturer's instructions for your tent take precedence.

Anchoring: use and tension all guylines. Drive stakes at an angle away from the tent so they do not pull out under load. In soft ground or sand, rocks on the stakes or buried anchors help – such as a stick or a filled bag to which the line is tied and which is buried crosswise. At night, as the wind picks up, retighten lines and knock snow off the fly.

A tent does not protect against lightning, and the poles do not make it safer. In a thunderstorm avoid ridges, summits, isolated trees and open areas and get into a building or vehicle in good time. In hurricane-force wind on ridges or summits, retreating is wiser than any pitch.

In rain never cook inside the tent or in a closed vestibule. Stoves can set the tent on fire, and carbon monoxide can collect in the small space – invisible, odourless and dangerous. Cook outside, even if it is uncomfortable.

Water can rise quickly in heavy rain. Hollows, dry streambeds and bank sites are therefore unsuitable. Also look up before pitching: dead trees and branches can fall without warning in wind.

A well-pitched tent offers much more protection in wind and rain than a tarp or bivy bag: you have room to change, your gear stays dry and you are protected all round. How much wind a particular tent can withstand depends on the model, the pitch and the site – this entry gives no figures for that.

In thunderstorms in exposed places, in hurricane-force wind on ridges and summits, and in hollows or on stream banks in heavy rain, the tent is not the right protection. Then it is better to descend in time, find a more sheltered spot or move to a hut.

The best preparation is a trial pitch in good weather. Anyone who knows their tent can pitch it reliably even with cold hands in the rain. Practise the storm order deliberately once: windward side first, never let go, then poles, then all lines.

Also try pitching the tent on your own, and mark the windward end or the right poles if they are easy to mix up. Practising nearby in windy but safe weather gives you a feel for how strongly wind pulls at a tent.