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[Rusty Madra]

If I'm brutally honest the first time I spent alone in a forest at night time freaked the life out of me. Every sound was potentially some knife wielding maniac on his way to attack, every rustle of the wind or sound of an Owl was possibly some evil spirit lurking in the dark woods to devour my soul. My mind raced to stories I heard about satanic cults using remote spots like this and all the people that go missing each year. By 1am I wanted my Mummy.... By 2am I was talking to God and somewhere in the night I realised that I had nothing to fear but fear itself and went to sleep.

There is no doubt that Solo camping is not for the faint hearted. I was to discover, however, that by facing ones fears head on there is enormous reward: in the outdoor experience, the opportunities an ability to solo camp brings and in the self confidence that stems from it.

For anyone wishing to master their fear of the solo camp I would recommend facing the fear gradually and building up to a solo camp by yourself. Perhaps start by spending some time in a forest alone during daylight hours, then during night and gradually work your way up to the solo camp.

Recognise your fear also. Embrace it. Never be ashamed to admit to yourself that you are affraid: it is simply a biological function akin to eating and sleeping. Evolution has given us a fine drug called adrenaline that pumps into our systems when we feel threatened. This is often mistaken for panic. It will make your legs go to jelly, it will make your stomach flutter and heart beat rise: never mistake these symptoms for panic: it is simply adrenaline being released into your bloodstream. There is no shame in any of the effects of adrenaline. There is however, great tragedy when we mistake these for panic and allow fear to rule our actions.

Next up assess the data on the matter of incidents in the wilderness. How safe or dangerous is the place you are about to go? Almost any spots that people might think of going are conversely some of the safest places in Northern Ireland. Check out the local crime map for a run down of what kind of incidents have been reported in the area, you will see that the wilderness is actually the safest place to be and you are far more at risk going to the shops for a pint of milk (http://www.nicrimemaps.org/)

Think about the likely outcomes of camping in certain spots and visualise your responses. For example if you happen to meet a hoard of drunken ye-has in Donard Wood visualise how you will deal with it. A smile and a "hello" whilst walking briskly on will safely extract you from most situations.

Consider also that most people who would do you harm do not venture into the woods alone. They mostly posess the fear of the dark. Anyone in the wilderness alone at night is most probably a fellow outdoors person and the scene does usually attract quite reasonable people. Bear in mind also that where ignorance is mutual confidence is king: perhaps you are the meanest person in the woods. If you aren't pretend you are. Repeat to yourself internally "I am the meanest person in these woods". You'll be surprised how it works.

I won't bore people on the blog with self-defence advice beyond saying if you are in danger run away safely. In 99% of situations this will get you through. In the other 1% don't be squeamish and use anything to hand to defend yourself grabbing the hardest pointiest object to hand and plunging it into the softest part of the person attacking you. Then run away safely.

Wilderness solo camping is perhaps one of the safest environments to be in and opens up a world of new opportunity if the fear of the void can be overcome. I'd encourage people to try it in a safe way.

[Rich.H]

Some good valide points there. I would also add on the knife weilding maniac issue that for the uk region you can be 99% certain that is you. I don't go crazy with blades but for a multiday trip i would have a small folding knife, a fixed blade around 4", a folding saw, and a large golok machette. Now for me my biggest fear is getting busted by some over zelous neighbourhood watch type.

So generally you can be sure that anyone you meet will have far less things to do harm than yourself. Once you get that sorted pretty much all other fears fall away.

[Hunter]

I love being out in the wilds at nite even in the forest but why cant i bring myself to do an over niter, would doing 1 at the beech be the same thing ?

[Rich.H]

I love being out in the wilds at nite even in the forest but why cant i bring myself to do an over niter, would doing 1 at the beech be the same thing ?

If it's simple trepidation stopping you then go for the beach or wherever is comfortable then just build up from there.

[Hunter]

thanks Rich i know we're from the same city have u done solo's and if so were do u do them ?

[Mourneman]

Great post rusty & something I've been thinking about a lot recently,strange as it may seem but I've never solo camped,even thought I camp at least once a month for many years now.good points about fear rusty,once you rationale you're surroundings & any potential dangers it's only your imagination that plays with you're mind.

[Rich.H]

thanks Rich i know we're from the same city have u done solo's and if so were do u do them ?

I'd say about 80% of all my camping is solo, as for places I would head up towards Limavady/Coleraine, or head over the boarder. I've never really had any issues about what sort of folk I could meet at night, and as the most dangerous animal we have is an irate badger I don't stress too much about wildlife either. For me the only times I have had any real fears were down to problems with weather etc. Apart from a few very secluded spots most of the UK is within a few miles walk of civilization so it's a matter of taking the plunge and doing things over and over while your confidence grows and your fears drop.

[Hunter]

Thank u again Rich, all the camping i've done has being over the border lately my girlfriend and i have being going to the Isle of Dough and camping beside the beech and for sum reason i feel safe down there but then again i always have some one with me, so i think im going to take the plunge ad go it alone so i will keep yous posted.

[clairebear]

For me I love solo camping/bivving but always go high, would not go in the woods out of choice unless the weather forces me.  I have my pup with me which does give me a bit of confidence as he would bark.  But I try and tell myself all the little hoods are low down and would not walk this high. 

Woods in the dark with noises on my own wouldn't really appeal to me but for some reason high ground makes me feel safer. 

Rusty see the next time I'm up and I start to think about the fall (the programme) he is still on the loose and may have ran up annalong valley and be seeking refuge in the caves!! Ahhhh

[KyleL]

I love solo camps, like Claire I stay high. I don't remember being ever being scared but staying in a forest alone would be...interesting.

[RedLeader]

I did my first solo camp a few years back in Donard wood. Now that I re-read the writeup, I said I didn't find it that scary but that's not what I remember - my recollection is of it being super spooky all night. Everywhere I looked I could see shapes in the trees and since it was clear I could hear the sounds of Newcastle all night and it was hard to persuade my brain to settle.

That said, I'd totally agree with Rusty. It can be an emotionally uncomfortable experience but afterwards I was really pleased to have done it. It's definitely something everyone should check off their list of things to try at least once. Plus like Rusty says, you're much safer in some remote camp spot than any urban area, it's just a question of persuading your mind

I did a second solo that was supposed to be the summit of Bearnagh but fog set in and I decided it was a bit too dangerous on my own so I camped at Hares Gap instead. The weather wasn't great and all I could hear all night was the Mourne Wall gate creaking in the wind which kept me on edge as I was always convinced someone was coming even though in that weather there was no chance.

I'll definitely be doing more solo stuff, can't recommend it highly enough, just be safe and make sure someone knows exactly where you are and when you'll be home!

Great post Rusty!

[KyleL]

Agree 100%.

For anyone thinking of solo camping on Bernagh it is worth taking note of this phenomenon: The summit seems to be a crossover point for the mobile networks. When I was there last, my phone couldn't decide if it was O2 UK or Ireland. Reception was full but it would switch back and forth between the two networks and often leave me with zero reception for a few minutes. Noting a short 100metre walk couldn't fix but discomforting when you can't answer an "are you okay?" Text for a few minutes.

Brilliant spot Bernagh. Can't wait to get back.

[phil_b]

Agree 100%.

For anyone thinking of solo camping on Bernagh it is worth taking note of this phenomenon: The summit seems to be a crossover point for the mobile networks. When I was there last, my phone couldn't decide if it was O2 UK or Ireland. Reception was full but it would switch back and forth between the two networks and often leave me with zero reception for a few minutes. Noting a short 100metre walk couldn't fix but discomforting when you can't answer an "are you okay?" Text for a few minutes.

Brilliant spot Bernagh. Can't wait to get back.

Turn roaming off. Sorted.

[KyleL]

Genius!

[phil_b]

Genius!

I sense sarcasm. I thought it was a genuine common sense suggestion.

[Rugged Track]

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