Backpacking Trails (page 3)
Perhaps this is a good time to go into some backcountry etiquette. The goal when backpacking is to leave the wilderness as untouched as possible, to “leave nothing but footprints.” The point here is to enjoy a setting that is wild and beautiful, so you need to help keep it that way for others. When possible, choose a campsite that will minimize your environmental impact as much as possible. Do not leave any trash behind anywhere—pack out what you pack in. This includes food scraps. If you have a fire, you can burn leftover food; otherwise, you will have to pack it out with you. Do not feed or leave food out for wildlife. This is not only dangerous to yourself, it domesticates wild animals that should remain wild. Only make a fire if there is already a fire ring in your site, and when gathering wood, pick up what is on the ground rather than cutting branches off trees. 
Stay on established trails as much as possible, trying not to trample any flowers or startle the wild creatures. When washing yourself, your clothing, and dishes, use only biodegradable camp soap, but even biodegradable soap should not be used directly in the water source. Collect and filter your water, and do your washing at least 200 feet away to avoid contamination. You will not be able to bathe in the lakes or streams, and some may not even allow swimming. Likewise, only fish where it is permitted. Finally, there is the rather uncomfortable subject of human waste. Always do your dirty business away from the trail, water sources and your camp site. In most areas, you are required to bury any waste and toilet paper at least six inches deep. (You did remember to bring a shovel, right?) However, some places require you to pack all that out. Find out the rules ahead of time.
The first thing you need to do once you find your site is set up your tent. Try to find a fairly level spot to set up your tent, if the best you can find is a little slanted, set up the tent so your head with be at the higher spot. This should be firm dirt or rock; avoid camping on soft mud or grass.
Clear away any debris that will poke you in the back while you sleep, like large sticks or rocks. If the spot requires a significant amount of clearing to be able to set up your tent, to the extent that you will be altering the appearance of the landscape, choose another site. Spread your tent footprint or tarp on the ground, then your tent on top of it. If you are not using something that is shaped to your tent, make sure no edges protrude out from underneath your tent. If it rains in the night, the water will collect on it, creating a nice puddle between it and your tent. I will not attempt to explain how to set up your tent here, as there is considerable variation in how to set them up. Follow the directions that came with the tent. If it is a new tent, hopefully you will have practiced putting it up and tearing it down at home a few times rather than attempting to figure it out while on the trail. If you want to be sure to wake up early in the morning, face your tent so that the flap is towards the east. The morning sun beating on your face as it rises can rouse even the deepest sleeper. Once it is all nice and set up, and firmly staked into the ground, you can set up your sleeping pad and bag inside. It is best to let your sleeping bag sit for awhile before sleeping in it, as they tend to get compressed while being packed tight, and will need awhile to fluff back up. Anything else you will be keeping in your tent overnight, such as your clothing, can be put inside now, too. Keep you tent zipped closed when not using it to help keep bugs out.
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