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

[Diarmaid Harmon]

Anne.

 Fear is nothing to take lightly. Even the slightest fear can become a monster and drive you from the trail. Unfortunately the only real way I know of to overcome fear is to face that fear. Start out small with campouts by yourself in familiar places. As you get comfortable with that increase the amount of time and the unfamiliarity with the area. Is your fear general, camping alone or more specific, animals in the night ect. The more specific ones can be handled by learning about and using techniques that discourage night time visitors. 

Diarmaid "Irish" Harmon
irishharmon at comcast.net

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, Guinness in one hand, steak in the other, yell 'Holy Sh**, What a Ride!"


On Jul 10, 2012, at 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
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