How do you get over the fear of camping by yourself?

[1stimestar]

Crazy Alaskan bears. The only fatal ones I could find in the last 150 years were from 2 captive ones lol...

Really? That's weird. What did you use for search words?

[hunter63]

Really? That's weird. What did you use for search words?

Must have been bears that died from eating bad humans.....?

[kyratshooter]

Really? That's weird. What did you use for search words?

Yogi and pick-a-neck

[Awanita]

That was a good one. lol. "Yogi and pick-a-neck"

[Phaedrus]

The prevalent assumption seems to be that the fear is not justified - with no discussion about the area and how remote, the season, weather, or prevalence of dangerous wildlife - or the knowledge, skills, experience, or discipline of the camper.

Some people are simply afraid of being alone at night regardless of where they are. That kind of fear is not justified. My sister is like that. She gets the heebie-jeebies being in her house alone at night. This is in a safe neighborhood behind good locks and with several guns. She just isn't used to being alone. It's true that in the presence of predators it's more dangerous to be alone, and if you have serious medical conditions perhaps it's more dangerous, but short periods of solitude are not in and of themselves dangerous. To me they're necessary.

I think the turning point for me was hiking the John Muir Trail and asking a question to other hikers on an internet page about bringing a gun. I got bashed like no other, ranging from why bring the extra weight, to you're a pants pooping coward. [...] I also don't feel the need to carry a gun EVERYWHERE I go anymore. Some places, yes. But I don't need to pack up every time I step out my door.

I guess you've already been flogged around the fleet for this one, so I won't pile on...much! Those that call you a coward for wanting to CCW on the trail would probably also disapprove of you carrying around town. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether to carry. But if a cop can't get there in time to save you at Denny's how can a ranger save you out in the wilderness? It would be dumb luck if someone else was around to extricate you from a bad situation in the woods. You often must be your own first responder.

I can't legally CCW everywhere. I just got back from voting; the polling place is in a gradeschool. No guns there. But for the most part I CCW where I legally can. Every time I step out the door. After all, would you only wear your seatbelt when you expected to be in an accident? If I knew there'd be an accident I'd stay home that day! Problem is we never know what's coming. As Bruce Willis said in The Last Boy Scout, "Be prepared, son. That's my motto".

That's a bit like saying the shortest way off this cliff is straight down. If I die, oh well. My carry weapon goes everywhere with me. Not only every time I go out the door but I've been known to carry at home as well. To each his own.

I'm with Rick there. Generally I don't carry on-body in my house; due to several factors that I won't get into right now it would be unusual for me to not be able to get to a firearm before someone could get into my "bubble". When I'm in my shop or working out I keep a sidearm close to hand as those are places I wouldn't have as much advanced warning if someone tried to break in.

[hunter63]

Half time comment......

This thread has really had some tangents.......
CC being one, (with all sorts of twists)
Cell phone coverage......we used to go off alone to get away from these distractions...and this option is only been widely available for 15 years or so for most folks.

Not going alone....several reasons, but fear of being alone seems to pop up for some folks...

Area......yeah, has a lot to do with it...California Yogi bears vs Alaskan for real bears.....and everything in between.

I will say it seems that the older members don't worry as much, but they started out in a time where guns, phones, and a lot of SAR options wasn't even thought of.....So experience seems to be a key.

Might be wrong....just an observation........
Carry On

[wilderness medic]

Really? That's weird. What did you use for search words?

I was reading from the Wiki list of fatal bear attacks in North America.

Most of the hikers i've talked to say brown bears are nothing at all, beware of grizzlies. The black bears I ran into hassled me more than the high tailing grizzly I ran into. The only other grizzle encounter I had he just stood there eating apples not giving a crap about my presence. I'm sure he would have if I approached and tried to eat his apples, but other than that, nothing. That one was in Colorado.

Must have been bears that died from eating bad humans.....?

They will eat anything. Fruits, and even the occasional nut LOL.

I can not even begin to understand how you can think animals, bugs or virmin will not visit you in the night.

Unless it's a large predator, that can just mean a mid night interruption for food.

I guess you've already been flogged around the fleet for this one, so I won't pile on...much! Those that call you a coward for wanting to CCW on the trail would probably also disapprove of you carrying around town. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether to carry.
I can't legally CCW everywhere. I just got back from voting; the polling place is in a gradeschool. No guns there. But for the most part I CCW where I legally can. Every time I step out the door. After all, would you only wear your seatbelt when you expected to be in an accident? If I knew there'd be an accident I'd stay home that day! Problem is we never know what's coming. As Bruce Willis said in The Last Boy Scout, "Be prepared, son. That's my motto".
\

That could very well be true. A lot of backpackers are anti gun hippies. Regardless, my point was that got me over my fear of needing to be armed at all times.

Again, I think some of you were misunderstanding. I'm all for CCing as much as you can, it never hurts to be prepared. But, using your seatbelt example, if my seatbelt was broken and I had to go do something right down the road I wouldn't be afraid to go out, and stay home because of it. Today I even walked in the post office while my gun sat in my car, call me a rebel If you are elderly, disabled, unfit, then carrying 24/7 makes more sense. You can't run, or fight someone off. You can still try to talk your way out of it, but that doesn't always work.

You never do know what's coming, so my motto would be more along the lines of do everything you can to prepare for it, but don't fear it and avoid parts of life out of fearing it.
You can compare statistics all day and see your odds in this vs that. If that one time I didn't wear a seatbelt or If I didn't have a firearm on me, then i'm at peace with it. If it's your time, it's your time.

[Wildthang]

Well I am the type of guy that carries a gun to mow the grass, so being in bear country and not carrying a gun just sounds fricking crazy to me!

[hunter63]

...............................
That could very well be true. A lot of backpackers are anti gun hippies. Regardless, my point was that got me over my fear of needing to be armed at all times.

Again, I think some of you were misunderstanding. I'm all for CCing as much as you can, it never hurts to be prepared. But, using your seatbelt example, if my seatbelt was broken and I had to go do something right down the road I wouldn't be afraid to go out, and stay home because of it. Today I even walked in the post office while my gun sat in my car, call me a rebel If you are elderly, disabled, unfit, then carrying 24/7 makes more sense. You can't run, or fight someone off. You can still try to talk your way out of it, but that doesn't always work.

You never do know what's coming, so my motto would be more along the lines of do everything you can to prepare for it, but don't fear it and avoid parts of life out of fearing it.
You can compare statistics all day and see your odds in this vs that. If that one time I didn't wear a seatbelt or If I didn't have a firearm on me, then i'm at peace with it. If it's your time, it's your time.

You said this...we get it....many don't agree......It's OK

[1stimestar]

I was reading from the Wiki list of fatal bear attacks in North America.

Ah there's your problem. Do a search like "Bear attacks in Alaska."

[wilderness medic]

Ah there's your problem. Do a search like "Bear attacks in Alaska."

Sorry, I was referring to fatal bear attacks in ca. Thought I put that in there but I guess not.

You said this...we get it....many don't agree......It's OK

And you said this. It is Ok to disagree. I get that.

[Highhawk1948]

I just did it as a young man. It does get exciting sleeping out in Bear Country. I seldom use a tent, like to see the stars.

[Phaedrus]

I will say it seems that the older members don't worry as much, but they started out in a time where guns, phones, and a lot of SAR options wasn't even thought of.....So experience seems to be a key.

Carry On

Hahaha! I can guarantee there's no one alive today old enough to have been out there when guns hadn't been thought of! No old mountain man of the 18th or 19th century would have been out there without his boom stick!

[finallyME]

The most scared I have ever been was when I was with a group. In the middle of the night we heard a terrible scream. It sounded like a banchee was coming to get us. It was intermittent and sounded like it was coming toward us. Then is sounded like it was walking away from us. Eventually we couldn't hear it, and tried to go back to sleep, but every little rustle after that kept me awake. I went home and did youtube searches to try and find the animal. It didn't sound canine or cat like. I still checked mountain lion and bobcat sounds, along with canines. I eventually found it....... a FOX! Well, I know what a fox says now.

Here is exactly what I heard....it was LOUD! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBpZTo1dlPM
I am telling you....we were scared. Of course, now that I know what the sound is, I won't be scared if I hear it. Knowledge is power I guess.


By the way, I don't carry in the woods. The only time I did was because Uncle Sam gave me a rifle and told me to. But, the only time I was in the woods with that rifle, I was never given bullets. The only place I was given a rifle and bullets at the same time......didn't have woods.

It isn't that I don't think you need to....I just don't have one to carry. I have a couple rifles, and a shotgun, but they aren't great for backpacking. Some day I might get a hand gun...when I can afford it. I was planning on getting one this Christmas, but medical bills might trump it again.

I also can't carry when I am with the Boy Scouts. That is a BSA rule.

[hunter63]

............
They will eat anything. Fruits, and even the occasional nut LOL.

Now that is funny I don't care who you are.......LOL

Hahaha! I can guarantee there's no one alive today old enough to have been out there when guns hadn't been thought of! No old mountain man of the 18th or 19th century would have been out there without his boom stick!

Yeah, agree....didn't think that statement thru....

[wilderness medic]

The most scared I have ever been was when I was with a group. In the middle of the night we heard a terrible scream. It sounded like a banchee was coming to get us. It was intermittent and sounded like it was coming toward us. Then is sounded like it was walking away from us. Eventually we couldn't hear it, and tried to go back to sleep, but every little rustle after that kept me awake. I went home and did youtube searches to try and find the animal. It didn't sound canine or cat like. I still checked mountain lion and bobcat sounds, along with canines. I eventually found it....... a FOX! Well, I know what a fox says now.

Here is exactly what I heard....it was LOUD! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBpZTo1dlPM
I am telling you....we were scared. Of course, now that I know what the sound is, I won't be scared if I hear it. Knowledge is power I guess.

Wha-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!

I was camping with the girlfriend out in a somewhat remote area in the mountains with a girlfriend "deer hunting" several years ago. We had a small fire, tarp with sleeping bags laid out on it. We were in a small clearing of manzanita and chest high brush thick like a mat. In the middle of the night we both abruptly woke to what sounded like a very big cat growl and scream in the brush right behind our heads. We both go back to back with the rifles and moved closer to the center of the small clearing next to the fire.


With the small flickering firelight against the scrub brush and our quasi tactical movements it felt like we were on an African safari or something haha. Not much sleep was had the rest of the night.

[sjj]

deleted.....

[wilderness medic]

What is it about a growling cat in a semi remote area that scares you so much more than a 1,500 pound Alaska brown bear sniffing, snorting, prowling around your camp at night in a truly remote area? .

The fact that it was several years ago, before I did any serious hiking or outings. Somewhat remote, is still remote enough to easily die before help arrives. In fact I don't really see a difference unless you're close to a hospital at a certain spot, which I wasn't.

Oh, and as I said, bears have never messed with me, besides the one time I mentioned, which was nothing more than not wanting to get in between her and her cubs. That was my first experience with any cat/lion.

ANd honestly i'd still be much more concerned with a cat as they tend to stalk and attack rather than a bear who tends to act out of fear or protecting itself.

Also, i'm not in Alaska, so when did I say I wouldn't be concerned about a 1,500 pound Alaskan bear?

[Tokwan]

From my experience...the jungles in Malaysia, it does need to be very far or at a remote location...you can even die even if you are a jungle fringe and quite near a village....as Elephants crosses the roads near villages, snakes are even in a sub urban area and sometimes tigers are seen in some rubber or oil palm plantations...

[Rick]

Ooh. tigers. Another one for the list.