Fear/Anxiety – We Go Alone

Waking up to the smell of fresh dew on leaves, the grass around you still damp, and the sound of birds chirping you good morning–nothing is quite like it. But you know what’s even more amazing? Experiencing all that by yourself. But how do you overcome the fear of camping alone? You can overcome the fear of camping alone by accepting that the fear may never completely go away, and that’s fine. You can camp solo when you’re ready for it and can choose a safe campsite that you’re already familiar with. You can also bring things that give you comfort, like a pet dog or music. Excited to embark on your new outdoor adventure by yourself? Let’s talk about ten tips to overcome the fear of camping solo. 1. Accept That There Will Be Some Element of Fear Being scared is normal. It will always be part of doing something for the first time. And sometimes, it may never go away completely. Even experienced campers who have camped solo numerous times still get that occasional tingly feeling, especially at night when weird noises and animal sounds can be heard. That fear can sometimes be worse for women because there is a greater element of risk involved. But does that mean that if you’re a woman you have to simply deal with not being able to experience camping by yourself? Absolutely not! So if you’re dead set on camping solo, and you’re anxious because you can’t seem to shrug off your fear, don’t worry. You’re not the only one who feels that way. You may continue to feel that fear (or at least a hint of it) even as you keep camping solo in the future, and that’s fine. Accepting that there is always fear involved will help you prepare mentally, which is a vital part of the preparation for the trip. See, it’s not just the camping supplies you must get ready. 2. Go When You’re Ready And part of accepting that being scared is normal is deciding to camp solo once you’re ready–not before. Don’t do it just because of peer pressure or because you’re too curious about the experience. If you rush it, you might end up having your anxiety get the best of you, and you may not be able to enjoy the trip as much as you would have. You’ll know when you’re ready if you’re not hesitating. You can feel a bit fearful while still being sure that you really want to go. On the other hand, when you find yourself postponing the trip several times, questioning whether you should push through, or asking yourself whether you really should do it, then you may not be ready to camp solo just yet. That’s fine, too. You should do it at your own pace, so wait until you’re ready mentally and physically. In the meantime, why not enjoy camping with friends at a campsite where you’re looking to camp solo in the future? It may help you get a feel of the place and be comfortable. 3. Choose a Safe Campsite When you have decided on camping solo, one of the first things that you should do is make sure to choose a safe campsite. This will mean an enjoyable experience, lessen what anxiety or fear you may have, and ensure that you are safe throughout your time at camp. You will spend most of your time in this location, so it’s essential to select one carefully. If you don’t know where to start, you can ask for help from an experienced camper. They may even be able to give you campsite recommendations based on your personal preferences, experience level, and budget. How to Make Sure Your Campsite is Safe Here are some tips on how to choose a good campsite: Do Your Research Nowadays, pretty much everything is on the Internet. If you don’t have someone to give you campsite recommendations or to ask for help from, you can always do a Google search of all accessible campsites in your area. Once you have a list of sites that you’re comfortable with, you can check discussion groups and reviews on those locations, paying particular attention to issues on safety as well as those that may affect your comfort or convenience. Discussion groups are a treasure trove of information, because these are places where people post honest opinions, suggestions, and even helpful insights that may prove beneficial for you at camp. Plan Your Camping Trip in a Good Weather Bad weather can ruin a good camping trip–especially if you’re alone and you have no one to help you pitch your tent in heavy rainfall. You don’t want to experience struggling to see around you even with your camp lighting on at full power and the freezing cold that rainy nights bring. And that’s just the part when you reach your campsite. Having to hike to your campsite when it’s raining heavily or snowing can make everything a double struggle. The chances of you injuring yourself or getting in an accident are much higher because of slippery trails. So, check the weather forecast and choose the sunniest days for your camping trip. Having your tent pitched and a bonfire going on a clear night when you can see the stars in the sky is a beautiful experience that you should not miss. Consider the 5 W’s of Choosing a Safe Camp Site Experienced outdoorsmen swear by the five W’s of surviving in the wild. These are: Wind. Always pitch your tent against the direction of the wind. Do not set up a tent in an area where the wind changes directions frequently. Water. As a rule of thumb, pitch your tent 200 feet (60.96 m) away from a body of water. Also, do not pitch your tent in a location where water collects, such as in a valley or a low-lying region. Widowmakers. Watch out for those tall trees. Their branches could fall on you or, worse, the trees could fall themselves. Before pitching your tent, check surrounding trees for signs of rotting, and do not set up directly below any trees. Wood. You’ll want to start a fire to keep warm and cook your food (especially when you run out of fuel), and wood is essential for this. Check the area for branches that you can use. Wildlife. Familiarize yourself with the wildlife in the area beforehand so you know what you’ll be dealing with. Also, beware of setting up camp in places where wild animals are common. Camp on Level Ground Another thing to remember is to pitch your tent on a flat surface. This will ensure that your tent does not tilt to one side, potentially dislodging it from the ground or causing you to get stuck on one side of the tent the entire time. Some people try to flatten out the campsite using rocks, branches, and other materials, but we strongly suggest you don’t do this. Having rocks beneath the tent floor will make it very uncomfortable to sleep on, especially if you don’t have a thick enough sleeping bag or blanket to line the tent floor. 4. Enjoy the Freedom of Camping the Way You Want If you’re feeling too scared of camping solo, think about the freedom that you’ll get to have when it comes to deciding what you do at camp, where you camp, and how long you’re staying there. Having company is always fun, but sometimes there are things that you want to do but can’t because your friends don’t like them. Remember the time when you wanted to bring your ukulele along but your camping buddies advised against it because they preferred quiet nights? Well, you can bring your uke along now. And not just that, you can eat and do whatever you want. Want to prepare elaborate camping meals? Go ahead! Camping is a great way to pause and even reconnect when we feel like we’re losing ourselves to the rush of everyday life. So, it’s not surprising that you would want to do it by yourself. Make the most of the opportunity, then, to camp exactly how you want to. 5. Plan Good Camping Meals Camping by yourself also means that you get to prepare all the food that you want. No more having to think about what allergies your company has, what they don’t like to eat, or whether they would think cooking big meals at camp would be too much of a fuss. Planning good meals for your camping trip will also help you overcome your fear of camping alone. Food has a way of making people happy. And you’ll be amazed at how having good food to look forward to can make being alone feel less scary. It wouldn’t just be an amazing outdoor experience. Camping solo can then also be a fun one. So, go ahead and unleash your inner chef. Say no more to ready-made meals and Fun Meal Ideas for Camping Here are some meal ideas that you might want to jot down: Grilled corn Chicken and cheese nachos Omelet and fire-roasted bread Beer-braised chicken Grilled burgers Chicken kebabs Honey-glazed chicken Grilled sausages or hotdogs 6. Get Familiar With the Location Before heading out on your camping trip, make sure that you give yourself enough time to get familiar with the location. You can do this by doing some research on the area, going camping in the same location with friends before going solo, and asking people who have been there for advice. Here are some important details that you need to have about your chosen campsite: Wildlife in the area and whether they are aggressive or hostile Safe areas to pitch a tent Potential dangers Access routes Things to prepare The more familiar you are with a location, the better you’ll feel about going there on your own. Knowing where potential dangers are, what animals live there and how they normally behave, and how safe it is can set your mind at ease and help alleviate your fears. 7. Bring a Furry Friend What better way to feel safe camping solo than by having your favorite doggo tag along? If you have a dog with you, you can be alone without actually being alone–if you know what I mean. Your fluffy bestie can be just as real as a human best friend, without being an actual human. They can also keep you safe by guarding you while you sleep, so you don’t have to worry about being too anxious to catch up on the zzz’s on your first night out on the campsite. Bringing a dog can mean extra baggage, but there’s nothing like their company to make everything feel alright. Don’t forget to pack up some of your pet’s favorite snacks and treats, so you can both have great outdoor mealtimes together. And most importantly, make plenty of happy memories. 8. Prepare for the Trip When prepping for camp, there is no such thing as being too prepared. The more prepared you are, the less worried or fearful you will be once you’re out in the open sleeping by yourself. Make sure to take into consideration your location when prepping, and don’t forget to bring survival gear with you. Here is some basic but important stuff that you should have in your pack for a camping trip: Paracord or survival rope Bear spray (if camping in bear county) Bug spray Swiss knife Flashlight Headlamp Extra batteries First aid kit Map Radio Sleeping bag Compass Supplies to start a fire (Lighter, fuel, camping stove) Toiletries Tent 10. Pack an Extra Camping Chair If you’re worried that being perceived as alone will make you vulnerable, you can pack two camping chairs for your trip: One for you and one for an imaginary person. You can set up these two chairs outside your tent in order to make it seem like there are two of you inside the tent. This can actually ward off dangerous people who may be wandering on the campsite. Final Thoughts Camping by yourself is a completely different experience. Don’t miss out on the fun, and don’t hesitate to set out on your own. I hope that the tips that I’ve mentioned above will help you feel less scared and more excited about camping solo.