Don't do this on public land...

for one it's illegal (except in emergencies then, of course, by all means)

and for another its a real [censored] thing to do because all the low branches end up getting plucked near all the good campsites and it slowly makes a place that would have continued to look pristine look like a human infested dump.... and as much as you may have thought you're "way out there" you're really not, people, regardless of how remote, excepting for maybe in Alaska tend to camp in the same spots... the dry sheltered flat spots with access to water and nice views.

DEFINITELY don't do it high country near tree-line... each branch you cut may have taken 40 years or longer to grow... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />