Camping

[sampa]

Have you ever gone camping? And if so what did you take and what did you say in? Did you go with a friend or alone? Was there any purpose to your camping trip?

 

[Sif]

I've done lots of camping/trekking. Primarily many wilderness areas in North America. I've always gone alone. I did a trip once across an area above the Arctic Circle.

A lot of my trips I've been dropped off at one point, crossed a wilderness area, and been picked up at a different location.

I take a single tent, sleeping bag, water filtration/purification, spare clothing, map, compass, knife, firearm (always a high powered pistol and sometime I include a rifle), a fire starter kit, food, a personal locator beacon.

I've not met many people who enjoy the types of camping I do and I can understand that and that is one of the many reasons I go alone

 

[sampa]

I've done lots of camping/trekking. Primarily many wilderness areas in North America. I've always gone alone. I did a trip once across an area above the Arctic Circle.

A lot of my trips I've been dropped off at one point, crossed a wilderness area, and been picked up at a different location.

I take a single tent, sleeping bag, water filtration/purification, spare clothing, map, compass, knife, firearm (always a high powered pistol and sometime I include a rifle), a fire starter kit, food, a personal locator beacon.

I've not met many people who enjoy the types of camping I do and I can understand that and that is one of the many reasons I go alone

Amazing, that is my dreams someday. I connected with somebody at work who does that and offered pointers on assistance. I'm not ready though to make my trek. It's something maybe in time it will want to do. Possibly Michigan.

what is the most dangerous thing to you? The person I talked to said it was not bears, he was looking forward to seeing bears on his last trek. For him he said it was ticks.

 

[April_Rose]

I used to go camping all the time back when I was a Girl Scout.

 

[Sif]

Amazing, that is my dreams someday. I connected with somebody at work who does that and offered pointers on assistance. I'm not ready though to make my trek. It's something maybe in time it will want to do. Possibly Michigan.

what is the most dangerous thing to you? The person I talked to said it was not bears, he was looking forward to seeing bears on his last trek. For him he said it was ticks.

Ticks and mosquitos can be a problem due to the diseases they can carry. Bears (Grizzly and/or Black) usually won't bother people but they are wild and unpredictable. I've seen both species in the wild and they never bothered me. I've had several close encounters mountain lions. I've also seen wolves at a distance. One animal, however, that just seems mean are moose. Had a female moose try to trample me once. I was lucky to have been able to get into a think stand of trees where she couldn't get in to get at me.

The biggest danger, I feel, is getting seriously injured in the wilderness since I am alone. Even with a personal locator beacon it could still take rescue personnel some time before they could get to me

 

[April_Rose]

Ticks and mosquitos can be a problem due to the diseases they can carry. Bears (Grizzly and/or Black) usually won't bother people but they are wild and unpredictable. I've seen both species in the wild and they never bothered me. I've had several close encounters mountain lions. I've also seen wolves at a distance. One animal, however, that just seems mean are moose. Had a female moose try to trample me once. I was lucky to have been able to get into a think stand of trees where she couldn't get in to get at me.

The biggest danger, I feel, is getting seriously injured in the wilderness since I am alone. Even with a personal locator beacon it could still take rescue personnel some time before they could get to me

That reminds me of a really funny story. One year while I was camping with the Girl Scouts all of us girls decided not to listen to our leaders and absolutely insisted upon keeping our flashlights on during the nighttime. Turns out their warnings of attracting mosquitoes became a reality. -__- Moral of the story,.. listen to your elders. XD!!

 

[sampa]

Ticks and mosquitos can be a problem due to the diseases they can carry. Bears (Grizzly and/or Black) usually won't bother people but they are wild and unpredictable. I've seen both species in the wild and they never bothered me. I've had several close encounters mountain lions. I've also seen wolves at a distance. One animal, however, that just seems mean are moose. Had a female moose try to trample me once. I was lucky to have been able to get into a think stand of trees where she couldn't get in to get at me.

The biggest danger, I feel, is getting seriously injured in the wilderness since I am alone. Even with a personal locator beacon it could still take rescue personnel some time before they could get to me

thanks for your thoughts on the dangers out there. There is definitely a lot to consider. It is a risk to take. but when you've been doing it more than one time I think you have more confidence about the next. Just be prepared.

 

[sampa]

That reminds me of a really funny story. One year while I was camping with the Girl Scouts all of us girls decided not to listen to our leaders and absolutely insisted upon keeping our flashlights on during the nighttime. Turns out their warnings of attracting mosquitoes became a reality. -__- Moral of the story,.. listen to your elders. XD!!

Yep, they usually have some wisdom and experience

 

[Sif]

thanks for your thoughts on the dangers out there. There is definitely a lot to consider. It is a risk to take. but when you've been doing it more than one time I think you have more confidence about the next. Just be prepared.

I would also recommend starting off simple. Maybe a day or two. Maybe not crossing a wilderness area, may just an "Out and Back" type trip to start. See how it goes and gradually plan bigger.

Another unpredictable danger can be weather. I've seen heavy snow in July at elevation nd temperature drops well below freezing. Then there is the scariest weather issue (at least in my opinion): Lightning.