To Go or Not to Go Camping Alone?

While doing anything alone is not all that weird, you might have questions about wanting to go camping, hiking or trekking alone. Traveling alone isn’t a problem or an issue at all. There are plenty of solo travelers who keep taking solo trips to different places across the globe. Traveling alone has been known to be very liberating, challenging and confidence building at the same time. There are many people who prefer traveling alone so that they are not bound by someone else’s routine or restrictions. However, there are also those who do not prefer traveling alone due to security and safety reasons. Then there are those who get bored alone and require someone to accompany them on their trip.

While debating whether to go on a camping trip alone or not, there are many things to take into consideration. There are pros and cons to both and there are also some things you need to keep in mind if you make the decision to travel alone.

Pros of Going Camping Alone

1. Enjoy the nature. There’s nothing like enjoying nature all by yourself. The quiet and peaceful surroundings are going to give you plenty to enjoy and admire. Camping with friends and family is also fun but if you’re looking for some time to be by yourself, think about stuff and enjoy some self-discovery, then it’s better to keep a camping trip with family or friends for another day.

2. Face and overcome challenges. Solo camping is the best way to test your limits, overcome the challenges that it throws at you and become a more confident person. From small challenges like learning how to use knives for camping to big challenges like pitching a tent, you’ll have to do everything on your own and that’s going to give you a lot of confidence to achieve other things in life.

3. Make mistakes and enjoy yourself. There’s no one to tell you whether you’re making a mistake or doing something wrong because you’re all by yourself there. Even if you make a mistake you’ll know it and learn from it. Camping solo is a great learning experience to learn from your own mistakes and enjoy doing things at your own pace. You can do what you want when you want. You don’t have to adhere to anyone’s way of doing things.

Cons of Going Camping Alone

1. Safety. It’s a no brainer that safety is the first concern that crops up when thinking of the cons of going camping all alone. Going far away, into the wild, all alone makes you an easier target for wild animals as well as any potential criminals around. Safety is a major concern when it comes to doing or going anywhere alone, especially an adventurous activity like camping.
2. You’re on your own. Be it any challenge, you are on your own in the wild. From pitching your tent to cooking food, starting a fire, you have to do everything on your own. This means more work for you. Going with family or friends means a division of responsibility.
3. Fun quotient. If you’re a person that likes to socialise and have a good time with people, then solo camping might not be your thing. On a solo camping trip, you’re all alone, by yourself and with your thoughts. This could mean less fun and enjoyment for you if that’s what you want and are looking for.

Finally, If You Go for Solo Camping

After weighing your options and the pros and cons of solo camping, if you’ve made up your mind and want to give it a shot, then here are some things you should keep in mind.

1. If this is your first solo camping trip, then the first thing that you need to do is choose a site that’s not too far from the city, known for its safety and attracts a lot of campers. It’s much better for you to have other campers around you on your first solo trip. You will feel more comfortable with people around and in case of any problem, you can always ask for help.
2. The second thing that you should keep in mind is to keep at least two people, among close friends or family members informed of your camping details like destination, expected time of return etc. This is to ensure that in case of an emergency, there is someone who is aware of your whereabouts and can get in touch or reach you if the need arises.
3. While packing for your camping trip, be wise. Don’t overpack and overload your backpack with stuff that will not be very useful in case of an emergency. Always carry camping tips and guide book to help you through the many challenges of camping. While you may want to be away from the hustle bustle of the city life and connect with nature, keep at least an emergency phone with you. This is so that you can get in touch with someone in case you need to and are not completely cut off with no means of communication. Also, make sure you pack all the camping essentials. You should follow a camping checklist if you don’t want to forget any of the necessary camping items.
4. Pack enough water and food for more than your camping days. It’s always a good idea to pack extra food and water than the number of days you’re going camping for. This is so that you do not starve yourself in case you need to camp out for more days due to some sort of emergency or unforeseeable circumstances.

Conclusion

Always remember that in the wilderness anything can happen. So while you’re going to enjoy and have a good time with nature, always be prepared for extraordinary circumstances as well.