Re: Camping alone
I started in my early 20's and was never very skittish about it. I motorcycle camped and backpacked some in a canyon Wilderness area, then went to truck camping. Most of the time I slept out on the ground under the stars, or would pitch my tarp as a shelter if the weather was uncooperative, sometimes just toss the top half of the tarp over my bed if it started raining or snowing in the middle of the night. I spent about 10 months of each your for about 5-6 years living out like that, with other time fun camping before that period and after. The times in developed campgrounds I could count on one hand, I usually sought remote dirt roads out in National Forests that petered out into nothing, and were semi-accessible to a town but rarely had any other people around, if there were people where I wanted to camp, I'd go somewhere else so we could all enjoy the tranquility. I never had a problem with people or wildlife, though I was always prepared and armed. Even after moving to grizzly country about 25 years ago, I still sleep out under the stars some or sleep in a tent, and haven't had any troubles. I never tell anyone where or when I'm going, or when I'll be back, as it often spur of the moment and I don't decide until I see the place if I'm going to camp there. Cell phones don't work in most places I go.
The moral of the story is, camping isn't guaranteed to be safe, but is fun and interesting. I've never let any perceived risk hamper my enjoyment of it. Be smart, be prepared to take care of yourself, and go enjoy it.
I started in my early 20's and was never very skittish about it. I motorcycle camped and backpacked some in a canyon Wilderness area, then went to truck camping. Most of the time I slept out on the ground under the stars, or would pitch my tarp as a shelter if the weather was uncooperative, sometimes just toss the top half of the tarp over my bed if it started raining or snowing in the middle of the night. I spent about 10 months of each your for about 5-6 years living out like that, with other time fun camping before that period and after. The times in developed campgrounds I could count on one hand, I usually sought remote dirt roads out in National Forests that petered out into nothing, and were semi-accessible to a town but rarely had any other people around, if there were people where I wanted to camp, I'd go somewhere else so we could all enjoy the tranquility. I never had a problem with people or wildlife, though I was always prepared and armed. Even after moving to grizzly country about 25 years ago, I still sleep out under the stars some or sleep in a tent, and haven't had any troubles. I never tell anyone where or when I'm going, or when I'll be back, as it often spur of the moment and I don't decide until I see the place if I'm going to camp there. Cell phones don't work in most places I go.
The moral of the story is, camping isn't guaranteed to be safe, but is fun and interesting. I've never let any perceived risk hamper my enjoyment of it. Be smart, be prepared to take care of yourself, and go enjoy it.
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