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Almond Flour
...get off my lawn!



Registered: 12/26/08
Posts: 11,340
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Backpacking Alone...
#17059115 - 10/19/12 12:56 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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I tried backpacking solo for one night. It was horrible. I was scared, lonely, was up the entire night....paranoid about wild life, etc. etc. 
I have this fantasy of thru hiking the appalacian trail or the pacific crest trail...and you can bet your ass there would be some lonely nights on such a hike, with people MILES away from you.....not a quarter mile on a well traveled trail like my first solo night 
Is it something you just get over? Is it just a matter of doing it over and over to desensitize yourself to it? I'm 23, do I need to age a little?
What will give me solo confidence in the back country
-------------------- Hippies and Liberals love Pope Francis, so why dont I quote him for you guys. "There is NO SALVATION outside the Catholic Church"
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PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
Loc: beautiful BC
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Experience.
I would feel the same in the back country, but have lived in a tent extensively cycle touring and during other traveling expades, so i think i would get over it quite quickly.
Think of it this way - you are more likely to die of dehydration or exposure than from animal attack. The comfort of another person is irrational in alot of ways, so it's best to understand this.
If your trained and doing things correctly (hanging your food, cooking away from your camp, etc) you should essentially have nothing to worry about.
Regarding a long distance thru hike, i think after a few sleepless nights and 60miles or so, you'd be sleeping like a baby. :P
(i am also interested in PCT.)
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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hippowest



Registered: 09/20/12
Posts: 101
Last seen: 7 months, 16 days
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: PDU]
#17072208 - 10/21/12 11:05 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Sort of unrelated, but the PCT is amazing. I have not done it but I have hiked a couple sections of it, and honestly every time I wish I could just keep going. It is such an amazing trail.
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Absent Minded



Registered: 04/13/12
Posts: 3,300
Loc: Way Down South
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: PDU]
#17072566 - 10/21/12 12:27 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
PDU said: Experience.
I would feel the same in the back country, but have lived in a tent extensively cycle touring and during other traveling expades, so i think i would get over it quite quickly.
Think of it this way - you are more likely to die of dehydration or exposure than from animal attack. The comfort of another person is irrational in alot of ways, so it's best to understand this.
If your trained and doing things correctly (hanging your food, cooking away from your camp, etc) you should essentially have nothing to worry about.
Regarding a long distance thru hike, i think after a few sleepless nights and 60miles or so, you'd be sleeping like a baby. :P
(i am also interested in PCT.)
this. honestly, sleeping in a tent with people sucks! I used to do it in scouts but would doubt if I could do it now. I honestly have trouble falling asleep in the same room as someone unless I'm drunk. It's just a mental thing but now it's the case. Add in snoring, and I'm up. All night. Sleeping alone in a tent on the trail is such a nice experience.
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Beats More Beats sheekle: fuck peace love and unity sheekle: death despair and misery sheekle: is where it's at
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Quote:
Almond Flour said: I tried backpacking solo for one night. It was horrible. I was scared, lonely, was up the entire night....paranoid about wild life, etc. etc. 
I have this fantasy of thru hiking the appalacian trail or the pacific crest trail...and you can bet your ass there would be some lonely nights on such a hike, with people MILES away from you.....not a quarter mile on a well traveled trail like my first solo night 
Is it something you just get over? Is it just a matter of doing it over and over to desensitize yourself to it? I'm 23, do I need to age a little?
What will give me solo confidence in the back country
Experience will. I've spent most of the last 20 years solo hiking in the High Deserts and mountains of Wash, Oregon, California and I wouldn't have it any other way. Things are the most fun after several days alone and you settle in. Just keep at it.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
Edited by Icelander (10/26/12 10:22 AM)
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MisterMuscaria



Registered: 05/13/08
Posts: 27,646
Loc:
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I much prefer it alone.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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I don't mind a good dog along at times. They don't intrude on my solitude to any great extent and can provide companionship without distraction if they know how to care for themselves and are well trained. They are good at noticing things you might miss also.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
Loc: beautiful BC
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: Icelander]
#17111085 - 10/27/12 10:39 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Hiking solo, with a dog sounds ideal to me.
Any experience with caring for a dog through extended foul weather though?
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 6 years, 4 months
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I'm not much older than you and I solo a lot, granted i do have the dog with me. There's always a little paranoia weighing on the mind no matter how much experience a person has. That's a good thing though. People who become to comfortable or confident get complacent and end up in trouble out there. It's definitely something you get used to though. I don't know how much experience you have, but keeping your skills sharp and having a knowledge of the area flora and fauna as well as a good knowledge of where you are on a map really helps to ease the apprehension. You don't want to desensitize to it though, that's dangerous as hell. Be confident, but always wary of the environment and just keep at it. You'll learn to rationalize the fear and use it as a reminder to stay on your toes.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: PDU]
#17114338 - 10/27/12 09:43 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
PDU said: Hiking solo, with a dog sounds ideal to me.
Any experience with caring for a dog through extended foul weather though?
That would depend on the dog. Most dogs are easily up to inclement weather. If it's very cold short hair dogs need a coat. Your dog needs to be in good shape from daily hikes and exercise. My dogs can outdo me easily but we hike together 1 to 3 hours a day and almost never miss a day. Their feet are up to almost anything. Most in shape dogs can easily help out by carrying a pack of their own.
My big dog Kilo can easily carry 25 lbs but he's really a big strong dog and weighs about 120 lbs.

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PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
Loc: beautiful BC
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: Icelander]
#17117245 - 10/28/12 11:45 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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For overnighters, do they sleep outside the tent?
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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Black_Sunset
Amateur Anesthesiologist


Registered: 11/16/08
Posts: 2,451
Loc: Somewhere California
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: PDU]
#17126614 - 10/29/12 07:40 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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I'm 23, done a few solo 1 night overstays and I'm never worried about anything other than hunters or mice/raccoon eating my food. Things you should worry about when alone are water, clothing, and watching where you step so you don't break your ankle. Being afraid of your imagination is something that will pass with more experience. I've seen bears from my tent and had wild dogs check us out but they don't care, especially if your food its up in a tree and they are drooling over it.
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MushR
untitled



Registered: 04/23/12
Posts: 122
Loc: MidWest
Last seen: 3 years, 2 days
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Ive done one solo backpacking trip in my life. It was three nights w/ alot of hiking during the day in the middle of no where. I have to admit it was a bit scary at times. I had this stretch of about 15 miles without water which was a bit of a scare, but overall it was an awesome experience. Its just mental but I felt good having a good knife at my side.
-------------------- And cause I was a gazillionaire, and I liked doin it so much, I cut that grass for free. First PF Grow Log Trip Report
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: PDU]
#17128529 - 10/30/12 02:00 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
PDU said: For overnighters, do they sleep outside the tent?
Usually inside but my previous dog always slept outside.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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GuruBushHippie
MountainMan


Registered: 04/28/11
Posts: 3,434
Loc: USA
Last seen: 6 years, 4 months
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: Icelander]
#17129495 - 10/30/12 09:29 AM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said:
Quote:
PDU said: For overnighters, do they sleep outside the tent?
Usually inside but my previous dog always slept outside.
I find that it's definitely breed dependent. My buddy had a mutt known as and "Eskimo Dog" that would only sleep outside, ever. it even preferred to be out during blizzards. My husky on the other hand, will gladly curl up and sleep in the snow, but she's a total den creature and when the tent is set up she would rather sleep in it.
-------------------- Two roads diverged in a wood, and I cut straight through the forest, and that has made all the difference.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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both mutts. It's dog dependent imo.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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gluke bastid
Stinky Bum



Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 3,322
Loc: Charm City
Last seen: 5 years, 3 months
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I once went on a solo 3 day trip. It was in the middle of a work week during a spell of unemployment so I just went for it. Didn't see another soul the entire time. It was scary for awhile. I was worried about water, food, weather...the first night there were violent winds whipping me about and I remember thinking "what if a tree falls on my tent and no one knows??!!!"
The third day/evening, I made camp by a river. I had a tiny amount of mushrooms. Not much, just enough to give myself a jolt. I ate them and stretched out by the river and listened to the sound of the water as the sun was setting. All of a sudden, I realized that all of the fear I was experiencing was something I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME INTO THE WOODS. And I looked around at my environment...there was NOTHING to fear. Every sound, sight and smell seemed to want me to be at peace. And like THAT, I was at peace. I started laughing uproariously, knowing no one could hear me, no one was watching. I got ass-naked and splashed about in the river. I spent the rest of my backpacking trip completely happy, singing to myself as I hiked out.
Go solo! Just tell someone at home what you're route is going to be, and stick to it. If something bad happens, they'll know where to find you.
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Society in every form is a blessing, but government at its best is but a necessary evil - Thomas Paine
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Psychman1
Open the mind


Registered: 09/21/12
Posts: 377
Loc: Tittyland!
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
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I got lost on the Appalachian trail. Shit sucked.
-------------------- The molecule with miracles- alex gray
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Black_Sunset
Amateur Anesthesiologist


Registered: 11/16/08
Posts: 2,451
Loc: Somewhere California
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Quote:
gluke bastid said: I once went on a solo 3 day trip. It was in the middle of a work week during a spell of unemployment so I just went for it. Didn't see another soul the entire time. It was scary for awhile. I was worried about water, food, weather...the first night there were violent winds whipping me about and I remember thinking "what if a tree falls on my tent and no one knows??!!!"
The third day/evening, I made camp by a river. I had a tiny amount of mushrooms. Not much, just enough to give myself a jolt. I ate them and stretched out by the river and listened to the sound of the water as the sun was setting. All of a sudden, I realized that all of the fear I was experiencing was something I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME INTO THE WOODS. And I looked around at my environment...there was NOTHING to fear. Every sound, sight and smell seemed to want me to be at peace. And like THAT, I was at peace. I started laughing uproariously, knowing no one could hear me, no one was watching. I got ass-naked and splashed about in the river. I spent the rest of my backpacking trip completely happy, singing to myself as I hiked out.
Go solo! Just tell someone at home what you're route is going to be, and stick to it. If something bad happens, they'll know where to find you.
HELL YEAH that's what I'm talkin' about! Yeah, and it's a good idea to give what trail you're going on, or your coordinates. I will be like, "if you don't hear from me by Monday then call S&R and tell them to go to X" haha
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Absent Minded



Registered: 04/13/12
Posts: 3,300
Loc: Way Down South
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Quote:
gluke bastid said: I once went on a solo 3 day trip. It was in the middle of a work week during a spell of unemployment so I just went for it. Didn't see another soul the entire time. It was scary for awhile. I was worried about water, food, weather...the first night there were violent winds whipping me about and I remember thinking "what if a tree falls on my tent and no one knows??!!!"
The third day/evening, I made camp by a river. I had a tiny amount of mushrooms. Not much, just enough to give myself a jolt. I ate them and stretched out by the river and listened to the sound of the water as the sun was setting. All of a sudden, I realized that all of the fear I was experiencing was something I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME INTO THE WOODS. And I looked around at my environment...there was NOTHING to fear. Every sound, sight and smell seemed to want me to be at peace. And like THAT, I was at peace. I started laughing uproariously, knowing no one could hear me, no one was watching. I got ass-naked and splashed about in the river. I spent the rest of my backpacking trip completely happy, singing to myself as I hiked out.
Go solo! Just tell someone at home what you're route is going to be, and stick to it. If something bad happens, they'll know where to find you.
nice one brother! and so true
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Beats More Beats sheekle: fuck peace love and unity sheekle: death despair and misery sheekle: is where it's at
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downhome
Toast Slayer



Registered: 10/31/10
Posts: 217
Loc:
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Experience is the only thing that will make the anxiety stop. Also a good plan.
I have been in the woods alone my whole life. I love solo hiking and camping. I don't get nervous because I am prepared.
hungry bears, yotes, wolves and cats can be scary but I wouldn't worrie about it. that is what bear mace, firearms and knives are for.
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I prefer mushrooms over war.
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wire5
Hippie Born too Late



Registered: 04/05/11
Posts: 1,566
Loc: Rollin' on the River
Last seen: 7 years, 11 months
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Re: Backpacking Alone... [Re: downhome]
#17178829 - 11/07/12 12:11 PM (11 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'm 21 and I've been backpacking alone since I was 17 (my friends are 's). I've actually grown to prefer it. I'm sure you will too, honestly you just have to look at the pro's. I don't have to worry about some one yapping my ear off the entire time. If I want to stop and look for mushrooms or do some foraging I can; and not feel bad about it. If I want to perch on a rock and write in my journal and I don't get bitched at "for taking to much time." As someone mentioned earlier sleeping in a tent with someone is kinda miserable. And finally, and my personal favorite reason, you can set your own pace, which is good for me because I tend to leave people in the dust .
I found that I tend to be much more confident and less worried when I study the hell out of the trail/area/maps/guide books before I go out. I also study a lot about the local flora/fauna. This helps prepare you to know what you can eat if you get stuck/lost (Also you can improve your diner if you find something good). Furthermore it will help you to understand animal behavior, how to tell if they've been in your area, and lastly what to do IF you do run into said animal. Also any survival book/show (some better than others do your research) will help you to better grasp what to do in an "Oh SHIT!" situation.
The only other advice I have for being in the back country alone is to keep your spirits up. Mix a lil' vodka or whiskey into your cocoa at night. Bring a harmonica and play it when you're bored/lonely. Keep a journal so you can write or draw when you want. A couple puffs of reefer when you rest or at the end of the day goes a long way. Finally chocolate in any form has a profound effect while on the trail.
As for the hiking Appalachian Trail, I wouldn't worry about being alone. I've hiked quite a few sections and have spent a great deal of time in the smokey mountains. I can honestly say that between the months of March and October there are enough people on the AT that you will quickly (within 5 days) run into some one whom you can form a group with. And even if you don't there will likely be at least one other person in the shelter/campsite that you stay at each night. The PCT however is another story, and I honestly know only the basics about.
Edited by wire5 (11/07/12 12:12 PM)
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