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Step 1
Look down. Choose a durable surface that will not be damaged by your presence. A durable surface is one that will not show wear or can spring back quickly from minor damage. Examples of durable surfaces would be hard packed dirt, gravel, bare flat sand, rock or thick leaf/pine needle litter. Examples of non-durable surfaces would be areas with little vegetation and/or prone to erosion (cryptobiotic crust, sand dunes in early stages of plant establishment, slopes, bare soil)
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Step 2
Look up. Is there anything that could fall on you? Things to avoid are dead/dying trees or tree limbs, loose rocks or large fruits or nuts (coconuts and osage oranges for example would certainly ruin your day if they bounced off your head).
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Step 3
Look around. Are you near a water source or a trail? You should be at least 200 feet from any water sources and trails and 100 feet from where you're cooking area will be.
