Camping fears

Yep. BTDT. It was only one, but after that I never swam in that river ever again. I keep thinking I'm gonna see another body come floating down.

 

my biggest fear is going into nature to get out be one with it, bathe nude in the water etc and finding people who are into the opposite big rv's scared of nudity etc, yuppies should stay home.

 

That's a fear? Sounds more like real life!

 

Camping isn't just for nudists, you know.

 

I agree it isnt just for nudists but others should not be shocked to see another camper bathing nude openly in the lake etc.

 

I try not to let those sort of fears stop me, but I do take my big bowie or machete normally just in case (Although in reality I need them anyway). I'd like to take my dog camping more though, not because she'd protect me, she'd probably lick the person, but just for that added comfort of having 'someone' there. It's not quite camping alone in that case, but it's more alone than with another person.

 

I used to backpack and camp by myself many years ago and I really enjoyed it, until I wrenched my knee and had to hobble almost two days to a county road for help.

It brought common sense into my thinking about the lone wolf thing.

You haven't lived, until you try to haul a backpack across hilly ground, with a knee that hurts like the dickens and won't hardly hold you up. My armpit was rubbed raw from the homemade crutch, even though I had used every sock I had for padding.

This was an experience I never wanted (or want) to repeat again.

Very scary experience, I still go camping, but always with at least one other person. I do miss the solo trips, but the risk just isn't worth it to me now.

 

I've done tons of solo camping in the wilderness. If you know how to truly be alone with just yourself, it is the ultimate situation for self realization and communion with nature...:sultan:
If not, it will be the ultimate situation for boredom, insecurity, even terror.:devil:

Although I have hiked and camped with guns and dogs, (a good dog is a lot of fun to hike with if they don't get themselves into trouble) I have come to the conclusion that guns, dogs, lots of equipment... just a pain the ass. (just my opinion folks) Guns+ammo is too heavy for equipment you'll probably never use, and Dogs attract predators.

Anymore when I hike solo, I carry nothing. I hike as far as a full belly full of water and maybe a candy bar will take me round trip (about 7-10 miles medium pace) then I go home and eat a good meal and sleep in my bed!

I live in the Rockie Mountains, all I have to do is hike straight up the mountain behind my house and within 20 min I am in roadless wilderness where chances of seeing another human are almost nill. As I said, I do not carry firearms. Yes, this is Bear country, mountain lion, wolves, but so fucking what, I have a much greater chance of getting killed by a drunk or what-not on the highway everyday driving to work!

For me the coolest thing about solo camping is being outside at night with a fire, groovin' on the primitive vibe.... these days I simulate it by going somewhere I can drive late at night, build a fire and hang out until sunrise.. then go home and sleep in my bed! :sunny:

ZW

 

My friend once told me a story about his friend's parents who were camping in NH. They were at a small campground and were the only ones there. They woke up one morning and found that their bags had been rummaged through, although they couldn't find anything missing. It spooked them but there wasn't much they could do at the time. When they got home they looked through the pictures they took on their camera. Someone took pictures of them while they were asleep in their tent! They must have snuck into their tent, went through their stuff in search of a camera, took their pictures and left. Seems strange that someone would do all that just to mess with somebody. It freaked me out though, I camp in NH often.

 

That is creepy as shit.

I would never go camping alone. Sometimes I think because I'm not a small woman, I wouldn't be targeted, but I don't know...

 

Camping alone, seems alright if your not overly concerned about the health of your sphincter...

 

I would say go to the crowded camp sites. you have to pay most of the time and there are shower facilities and general stores so no it is not super primitive but who cares you are a lot safer. a lot of the nicer camp sites here in california have security guards.

I would never camp alone at some sketchy middle of no where camp site where no one else is there. the park rangers visit those I am guessing like once a month.

almost every time I go hiking or camping there is always at least 1 sketchy person around.

for example. a campsite I was at has your own lot for you tent. you get like a big open space and it is your area and you pay for it and you are about 70 feet from the next person's tent.

so like late at night some sketchy dude was walking around on other people's lots and walking within 2 feet of people tent's. I was like wtf is that guy doing. He even looked in the window of someone's trailer.

 

There are alot of weirdos out there and you never know what thier real intentions.You can only guess about someones characters, they might be a con-man rapist night stalker killer type. Best bet ,have a weapon and don't hesitate to use it if someone crosses the line (derringer/salt reload/ or police tazer ) and use the buddy system. I carried an extendable batton which could perry a gun or knife at close range and drop some body in one fluent motion. Try to secure your campsite. Set up lots of noise making boobie traps to wake you up from a deep sleep, be creative, it might save your life.

 

dental floss makes good tripwire W/ some cans and pebbles...

 

So do claymores....

 

Gotta luv those claymores.........

As a kid we did the family camping thang right on up till I was 15 or so then Mom and Dad bought some vacation property, built a cabin and a dock. Many good memories from those years.

Did the backpacking thing for a few years. Learned a hell of alot going year 'round winter too.

Camped Primitive style at Mountainman Rendezvous for quite a few years. That camping style morphed into Barter Faires starting in 1990 or 91.

In all those years of camping I really only got scared twice. I was 12 or so and got lost in the woods. Long story short I learned to never wander off the trail and ALWAYS carry a SURVIVAL KIT.

The second time I got scared I was 40something. My truck broke down on a desolate stretch on a mountain pass on my way home. At least ten miles from the closest town. Long story short I was glad to have my good buddy in a shoulder holster. Never had to draw it tho I thought it might come to that. Shortly after that an ASE certified mechanic stopped and after a bit of tinkering we made it to his shop where he repaired my truck and had me on my way pretty darn quick.

The Boy Scouts are right. Always be prepared.

 

So true.
even after being in scouts all my life, one of my fears is about food and water and what if i cant find it, i just hope when i go out in a couple of months everything will kick back in.