In order to have successful solo camping trips, it is necessary to take safety precautions, adequately prepare, set clear objectives, and maintain a flexible mindset.
It may sound simple, but thinking step by step is not easy and may take practice to master. In order to ensure your solo camping trip becomes a memorable experience (in a positive manner), I will guide you through the exact steps you need to follow.
Being Capable Versus Being Scared Versus Not Enjoying Camping Alone
Prior to proceeding, I would like to discuss the distinction between having the ability, experiencing fear, and merely disliking camping solo.
Whether Alone or in a Group, You Need to be Capable
Regardless of your preference to camp alone or with others, it is crucial to possess the skills necessary to handle a camping situation as if you were by yourself. This is because even in a group setting, unexpected emergencies can occur, potentially requiring the group to separate.
Is it possible for you to find your way back to the car or reach the top of a mountain in order to seek assistance?
If someone gets hurt and the rest seek help, are you able to remain at camp and aid your fellow camper? Are you familiar with the process of purifying water and managing a fire to ensure someone’s warmth?
Whether you are alone or with a group, it is important for you to have the ability to take care of yourself.
It’s Okay to be Scared
Feeling scared during your initial solo camping experiences is completely normal. Here, I have provided a few tips to enhance your self-assurance.
As you camp alone more frequently, you will find it increasingly easier to conquer your fear.
However, you may discover that although you are no longer fearful, you simply do not enjoy camping in solitude. This is also acceptable.
You Don’t Enjoy Camping Alone
I can testify that camping alone is not enjoyable for everyone, including myself. However, I still partake in it and possess the ability to do so. It’s just that I don’t derive pleasure from it when I am by myself.
When I am alone at camp, my mind remains active and does not settle down. A continuous flow of miscellaneous thoughts hampers my capacity to focus, read, or find tranquility. Due to being unable to concentrate, I ultimately end up feeling extremely bored.
I have taken numerous solitary trips before, as they are sometimes essential for my scouting or photography needs. Additionally, I find a great sense of joy in hiking alone with a full backpack, as it allows my mind to calm down and engage in productive contemplation.
If I manage to convince a few friends to join me, I am confident that my experience will be more enjoyable.
It is acceptable to have a preference for camping with other people. However, it is not acceptable to rely on them entirely and expect them to assist you in every aspect.
Safety Precautions For Camping Alone
Before we delve into the enjoyable aspects of solo camping, it is important to emphasize that having a companion is generally considered one of the most effective safety measures while camping. However, since you have intentionally chosen to camp alone, you will be foregoing this precautionary measure.
Is It Safe To Camp Alone?
While solo camping is not unsafe, it requires specific preparation. Opting for camping or hiking alone may be considered riskier than engaging in these activities with friends. Therefore, there are essential measures that must be taken to ensure a sense of security and protection in case of any unfortunate circumstances.
Deep Wilderness
If you’re going backpacking or to an area without cell service, you can still inform someone about your whereabouts and planned destinations by providing a time range. For instance, you could inform your accountability friend that you will be traveling from Point A to Point B and anticipate it to take 3 days. As a precautionary measure, you may also establish an emergency plan such as requesting them to call for help if they haven’t heard from you within 5 days.
A satellite messenger is an additional safety option available in remote areas. These devices have different capabilities, but their main purpose is to transmit an S.O.S. signal, ensuring that in the most severe situations, individuals can locate and rescue you.
If you find yourself in a remote location without any internet connectivity and desire a sense of security, satellite messengers can be an excellent solution, allowing you to feel safe even while being disconnected.
Notify Local Authorities
Whenever you engage in something dangerous, such as hiking in extreme weather conditions like the Grand Canyon or any other extreme sport, it is necessary to inform the park rangers about your intended location if you are going to be in a park or a nationally protected area.
First Aid
While being in a group calls for importance in knowing first aid, it becomes even more crucial when you are by yourself. Personally, I must confess that my knowledge of first aid and navigating a first aid kit is somewhat limited. However, if you are in the company of others, this becomes relatively less significant, although still quite important.
If you find yourself in a location where you have no one else around, then having a first aid kit along with the know-how to use it can make a significant difference between a genuinely hazardous situation and a minor inconvenience.
Bring a Phone (But Don’t Forget These Freedom Tips)
You might be camping because you want to escape from everything or create room for your mind to think, process, and concentrate on simpler issues.
The act of bringing a phone or smartphone on a solo camping trip requires careful consideration, as these devices and their applications are specifically designed to grab your attention, which may contradict the very reason for embarking on the camping trip alone.
If you desire to go solo camping and ensure safety while having a means to reach out for help during emergencies, while also enjoying the feeling of freedom, follow these essential guidelines:
- Turn your phone off until you need it. It’s annoying, but it helps put an obstacle in your way so that you don’t reach for it out of habit.
- Practice going without your phone leading up to your camping trip. Try turning it off for the day. This will help you disconnect while you’re out in nature and feel less anxiety.
- Turn off notifications. If you’re checking in with a friend at the end of each day, make sure and turn off notifications for all the distracting apps or else you’ll get sucked into the regular world when you don’t want to. If you aren’t used to this, it’s a good thing to practice as well for your solo camping trip.
Practice With Your Gear
Before you begin your trip, it is important to practice setting up and utilizing your equipment. This includes familiarizing yourself with tasks such as pitching your tent, inflating your sleeping pad, operating your stove, and filtering water (particularly in areas without drinkable water sources).
If there are no bear lockers available at your destination, you must determine whether to utilize an Ursack, bear canister, or acquire the knowledge to set up a bear hang. Ensure you confirm any specific regulations applicable to your camping location.
Find a Location Where You Feel Safe
It appears that there is a significant drive to do something completely unconventional and far beyond your usual limits in order to demonstrate that you are fearless. This notion is absurd.
It is our desire to challenge ourselves and experience a sense of accomplishment that motivates us. However, you have the freedom to approach it in your own unique way. There is no need to demonstrate your capabilities to anyone. You are already remarkable just the way you are.
