Starting out?

Hi all

I will be starting the Camino de Santiago walk at the end of this month, I have decided to avoid hostels and hotels wherever I can purely as an additional challenge.

I managed to buy a Snugpak Stratosphere Bivvy Bag and a Snugpak Jungle Bag for next to nothing and am all about ready to set off.

I would like, however, some general advice on bivvying, I've ordered Ronald Turnbull's book from Amazon and hope that it arrives before next Wednesday when I go.  The kind of things I want to know are:

1. What should I look for when choosing a spot to bivvy?
2. Should I buy any kind of cleaning/anti-bac stuff to treat it with on the trip?
3. What advice would you give to a "first-time bivvier"?

Thanks in advance.

Ben

Find natural shelter, even getting behind a wall helps a lot

Avoid lush green areas, they tend to be wet.

When picking a spot look up.  Watch out for dead branches and over hanging rocks above you.

The bivvi bag solution is ok for a few nights but a tarp might be useful for nastier nights and for getting a bit more shelter for cooking etc.

Experience helps a lot, a couple of nights out will teach you all you need to know!

The occasional stop somewhere civilised allows you to dry kit and have a shower.

Steve D

Cheers Steve.

My idea is to bivvy for a few days then book into a hotel/b&b type place to clean my clothes, gear etc.  If the weather is bad I'll probably hit a hostel anyway.

Thanks for the location tips, as a complete beginner I'm glad that I can ask someone more experienced!

Most of my bivvi's have been over-nighters when sea kayaking or forced bivvi's on the hill, but you can be surprisingly comfortable with a bit of thought and you will soon be able to spot good bivvi's.

Steve D