[pct-l] Newbie - 'alone in the dark' freak outs on the trail

[Kathi]

Hi Anne,
I am currently dealing with this same problem. I've started 
section-hiking and there really isn't anyone around because I'm not 
hiking with the PCT heard or anything. So I am setting up camp really 
alone and it is strange once I've got everything set up and there I am 
by myself and it's just turned dark and while I am tired from hiking I 
am too nervous to sleep. So what am I doing? I am giving myself a talk 
and telling myself that I've got my bear can away from my tent, I don't 
have anything bears would be interested in within my tent. I tell myself 
that having another person their would not make a difference if there 
was a maniac out there, in fact if a bear was bent on getting in my tent 
another person would not make a difference either. I have started 
keeping a journal which makes me think about the highlights of the day 
and not the "scary" unknown out there. Really there isn't anything to be 
afraid of but I am. Sometimes I tremble as I go to sleep and I just keep 
telling myself I'm okay. I try and visualize a lake I visited that day 
or some of the views I saw, I think about my dog, anything I can get a 
mental picture on that is happy and makes me stop thinking of the "scary 
dark"! I am getting better but it is a slow process. I've talked to 
other women who've had the same problem and they just slowly get used to 
it over time. I guess it is one of those things the more you do it the 
more used to it you get.

Since you are thru-hiking I think it will be easy for you. You can 
choose to leave from the kick-off which will put you within very close 
proximity to a lot of people doing the same thing and you will have a 
camaraderie going with them. You will be able to talk to them at night 
as you set up your tents together and then when you are tired you can go 
to sleep. I am finding with section-hiking that while others are 
sometimes around to talk to they are friendly but since we haven't been 
hiking together and aren't having the same goal so we chat for a little 
while and then go our separate ways. That is a bit difficult for me but 
I'm making my way through it. Self talk!!! So far that is what is 
working is a good self talk.

I like the advice given about going familiar places and camping.
Take care!
Kathi "Puddles"


On 7/10/12 1:42 AM, Anne Estoppey wrote:
> Hello everybody
>   
> Another newbie question from me, I am afraid.
>   
> I have been field working, and camping and such, but it was always with people, or at least in some sort of campground with a few people. Planning to hike PCT in 2013 (thru-hike or sections) I know I will be facing the 'alone in the dark' overnight on the trail. Well, errr, yes although I am old enough, I feel unconfortable to camp alone, and I admit that I even freak out a little bit. I know it is silly, and the experienced hikers out there are definitely allowed to have a cheap laugh ;-)
>   
> Nevertheless, what are your experiences (when you were still a newbie) with coping with possible 'night freakouts'?
> How did you deal with this? Was it quickly a solved problem because one is so tired that you just sleep and that's it? Shall I bring a little teady bear with me? Or a little glow in the dark thingie? Are they some 'hiker tricks' that I dont know about yet?
>   
> Thanks in advance for any answers :-)
> Anne
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.
>