Solo camping

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Who do you spend time with when enjoying your outdoor activities?

  • Alone, because theres no one else to join you.

    Votes: 137 20.3%
  • Alone, because you enjoy the solitude and silence.

    Votes: 284 42.0%
  • With a group of friends.

    Votes: 151 22.3%
  • With girlfriend/wife.

    Votes: 108 16.0%
  • With mans best friend

    Votes: 93 13.8%
  • Other

    Votes: 83 12.3%

  • Total voters
    676
Oct 5, 2009
4
0
Romania
two summers ago a bear came up to within 5 feet of her, but she stood
her ground and waited for me to grab a canoe paddle and scare him off
.....very impressed by her nerve... the incident didn't affect her willingness
to keep camping out in bear country....

I have always a Pepper Spray in bear country.
 

bivouac

Forager
Jan 30, 2010
234
2
Three Counties
What a lovely thread. It was fascinating to read how people felt. Everyone posted replies with disarming honesty. For myself, I feel as Thomas a Kempis felt - "As often as I have been amongst men have I returned feeling less of a man". I am happiest in my own company.
 
Jan 11, 2006
165
0
55
brecon
alone , but not by choice ....god im so lonley /sob....:lmao:
for some reason my m8s look at me silly ...it was -5 and snowing on friday 12
thats one more m8 wont come with me again lol
if its more than 1 or 2 people though i have no idea what the ideal number is,its weird 10 would be to many but 20+ would be ok maybe im just strange being ex army depends where, ofc i only wild camp now usually on a motorbike.
 

V4V

Tenderfoot
Aug 23, 2009
70
0
Yorkshire
www.r4nger5.com
It used to be alone, now it's evening up a bit towards 50/50 with friends. I enjoy their company, but tend to try and mother hen them a bit to get them to have everything they need for a good time. Now, I dont need to worry about them, it's a more relaxing experience, but I do feel the need to get out more on my own.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
Some good posts. I'm still wondering about the guy who goe out with friends, girlfrined or wife!. He's not posted since, do you think his wife has gotten his passwords and read his last thread? They do tend to take the dead bodies into the woods to bury in films so perhaps he's in a nice resting place where he wanted to be (albeit dead not alive with his wife and/or girlfriend)

Pango I use a 2man tent just for myself, does that make me a bigger assh*le?

I must admit I've only been solo camping once and that was only because I was too tight to pay for a hostel and too tired / lazy to drive home only to come back the next day to meet friends. Had a very nice camp having parked the car high up then walk about 1 hour to camp then one of the best night's sleep out and a good walk with mates the next day. Will try it again propely this year. Having said that it is good to be with mates. Once last minute I decided to meet a mate up on the hill for an overnighter. It was good to surprise them by turning up out of the blue. The look on their face made it worth it. Not everyone is happy on their own so it made their day to have company. I am sometimes like that and sometimes would be ****** off having someone turn up like that.
 

pango

Nomad
Feb 10, 2009
380
6
69
Fife
I know it probably sounds sad to a lot of people, and many of my friends really don't understand it, but the only times I've ever been truly contented is when wandering the hills and glens, or paddling my kayak on lochs, rivers or coast alone!

It's not that I'd take the hump were some other to turn up uninvited, more of a kindred spirit who'd be welcome at my fire anytime... and here's a dram!

I believe that most people are folk of many parts, ("...that man is not truly one, but truly two. I say two, because the state of my own knowledge does not pass beyond that point."; R L Stevenson) I have friends I meet up with at camping places or bothies, and some ripping times we've had. But the great majority of my stravaiging is done alone.

It's no problem so long as you don't let the Bogles get to you!
 

SCOMAN

Life Member
Dec 31, 2005
2,583
452
53
Perthshire
When I lived down in the SW I used to love heading out to Dartmoor alone. The peace and solitude after being enclosed in a grey steel box was incredibly welcome and really allowed me to chill out. During a security interview the Interviewer got incredibly excited about me going for walks and camping on my own in such a quiet place. I had to assure him that I wasn't meeting any friends called Josef, or Klementi and chatting about work. I finally assured him only after stating that having lived with 26 lads in a space not much bigger than my living room the need to spend time alone was always high on the priority list.
 
S

sccadmin

Guest
I started to wild camp on my own out of necessity rather than choice as I didn't know anyone else that was in to it, but now I really appreciate the time to myself.

Thats not to say I don't like to share it with others, I'm currently introducing my 6 year old daughter, slowly but surely.

But the sense of peace is always very calming when your in your own world concentrating on something specific and forgetting about the daily grind!
 

Thoth

Nomad
Aug 5, 2008
342
28
Hertford, Hertfordshire
I have wild-camped alone & have enjoyed the tranquility. But I'd rather go with SHMBO & the Dog for company. The first time we took the dog out into the woods she couldn't work out why we'd stopped. Until I lit the fire - then she lay down and was clearly very content! I enjoy having someone to share a view with too. I often go with friends too. I think I'd vote for 'all of the above' :)
 

Lodian

Nomad
May 23, 2007
355
0
32
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Wow its been so long since ive been camping at all- solo camping is much more relaxing but it depends what your after really if you want a good laugh and some banter then definatly with friends. Just for some time out take the dog so you don't feel as lonely if you don't like being on your lonesome.
 
Jun 10, 2010
5
0
Sussex UK
Married 42 years and enjoy time on my own and also time with wifey in the outdoors.
Allways been one for the outdoors and if I get the urge to get away depending on where and when the answer will be either "wait for me" or "see you when you get back".
Had a great life before we met and this has continued throughout.
Al.
 

jonnie drake

Settler
Nov 20, 2009
600
1
west yorkshire
outdoor stuff is a pain with the better half... all she does is moan about how theres 'too many creepy crawlies' etc. Sometimes I do stuff on my own, sometimes stuff with mates. I learn more and see more on my own, which is great, but its also great to have somebody to have a blether with a share the experience when you come accross something amazing, say like spotting a deer or finding a huge fungus!
 

Bush_Man

Tenderfoot
Jun 25, 2010
74
0
Portugal
I think it depends on the place, time, and mood.

Sometimes it's just great to gather around the campfire and socialize like I normally do when in scout activities but being out alone in the woods makes me decide what I really wanna do and being alone can actually be very good.

Men are social individuals that sometimes need their own space...
 

Opal

Native
Dec 26, 2008
1,022
0
Liverpool
Another thing about being on yer own, you are more likely to have a good chat with a stranger, when yer with yer mates, it's just.."hello!". I've had excellent info from folk when on my own.

I left my missus by the pool one day in Halkidiki, I jumped on the scooter and headed up the coast to a small harbour I'd spotted on our travels. As I fished and was catching small bream, a middle aged lovely Greek gentleman scrambled across the rocks to chat with me, for at least an hour I'm glad to say.

This man was a scientist and showed me what urchins I could eat, he opened one with a small penknife and offered me a taster, it was lovely. If I'd have been with the missus, maybe we would not have met.
 

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