Solo - fears and boredom

[Glenn MacGrady]

I've been dealing with fear of the dark with my grade school son. I was surprised to learn that overstimulation is part of the problem. The mind doesn't know what to do with itself when it is time to shut down. Meditating really helps him. It might help in the woods, especially a noting exercise where you listen to the night sounds. It takes some practice for it to work. I found the more I listen and understand the less scary it is.

I normally take a book and harmonica when I go by myself. I take more time for pictures. I tend to travel more and stay busier too.

Of course part of the fear is rational. I felt my safest when traveling with a dog. My experience is the dog wakes up when human companions don't.

Practically my biggest problems have always been with other people. If I'm by myself I keep a low profile and avoid places where there will be large groups of people.

And I encourage you if you're taking a trip and don't want to go solo post it. I imagine most of us don't get out as much as we'd like to.

Ryan

Ryan, welcome to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.

As to the topic, a lot of members here paddle alone according to our latest poll on the subject:

Poll: How often do you paddle alone (one boat) vs. with a group?

How often do you go out alone in a solo canoe or just the two of you in a tandem canoe vs. paddling with at least a two boat group? Let's say in the past 10 years of your paddling career, because these things change over time. In my serious whitewater days I was always with a group, often as...

www.canoetripping.net

I've done many things in life mostly alone, especially as an only child living summers on a Maine lake with my grandparents, so paddling alone was always natural. I've never been as bored paddling as I've often been at home or at work many times in life. The things that bore me at home and work—such as kitchen chores, phone calls and meetings—I affirmatively and gladly avoid when on a paddling trip.

 

[SouthernKevlar]

It's hard for me to imagine being lonely or bored for very long in the woods. On a rainy night stuck inside a tent time can get a bit long, but a good book or a notebook to record your thoughts and observations made during the day can go a long way to alleviating any boredom.

In our present "connected" society many people have become used to a steady stream of available entertainment always at their beckon. One of the great things about going to the wild, especially solo, is that you can shut it all off and use your own mind to imagine and create. This is a skill that was readily used prior to the electronic invasion of our present time. People looked around and developed folk tales to explain an unusual ditch, rock formation or light in the sky. It is still easy to do when you are by yourself on a lake shoreline with the waves lapping on the bank. It is harder to do when you are used to the story being force fed to you by our media.

So sit on a rock, look around, start looking at smaller details of what is around you, look at the details in those details, and you won't have time to be lonely or bored.

 

[jdeerfoot]

Your biggest friend for night time anxiety is a good set of ear plugs. Ear plugs magically repel all wild critters and night time googly boos.

Since I am significantly hearing impaired (deaf in R ear and failing hearing in my L ear) I wear a cochlear implant in the R ear and have an aid on the L.) Once the devices come out at night I sleep very well, no night sounds to bother me.

Now I mostly basecamp and enjoy my time alone in the woods.

 

[Rubbaboo]

Never had an issue with being bored or scared using an aggressive schedule and the right variety of electric lettuce.

 

[Alasgun]

I completely agree @SouthernKevlar, many folks don’t seem to have much of a “mind’s eye” which is too bad. I believe it can be developed thru use.
back in high school they told us “fear of the unknown” was one of mans biggest fears; well if you spend some time learning more about your environment it will become more familiar and less stressful.
A lot of folks see the big picture, the natural beauty etc. Possibly some prominent feature will stand out but if you really look you begin to notice how many other “big pictures” are right there in front of you.
A simple way to become more familiar with your surroundings is to track an animal, even a mink on a shore line. This takes time and patience (in the summer) but as you follow a track notice where the critter traveled and ask yourself, why’d he go there? Something like a mink might be challenging for most but any small animal, maybe a shore bird or an ungulate would be an easier first attempt.
All the critters are just like us, they go where they do for a reason and once you are familiar with they’re patterns you’ll be able to appreciate them in a fuller way. Tracking is one of many mind occupying things that will give you a fresh perspective and help alleviate anxiety in the woods. Learn what you can eat out there, learn how to identify the trees in your area; “o look, theres some Sassafras's” i’ll dig a root and we’ll have some good tea this evening. With enough of these skills under your belt your longing to be in the woods will greatly overshadow your fears.

 

[ppine]

If I was afraid I would stop going out there.
Boredom? Impossible. Nature is God and I get to be in church.

 

[Alan Gage]

One thing I'll say about boredom is that it's more possible at some times and places than others.

Many of us camp in places where a campsite is just a small spot big enough for a tent surrounded by dense forest. There is no beach and "Going for a walk" to explore just isn't an option because of the density of forest and blowdowns. In these situations I find it quite easy to get bored if I'm in camp for extended periods of time. Being pinned down by weather for a couple days can certainly lead to boredom too, especially if you're in one of those camps that doesn't allow you to get out for a stroll when the rain breaks momentarily.

This is why I tend to paddle late into the day and minimize camp time. If I come to a nice section of open forest during the day I'll often stop paddling for a couple hours to get some exploration done or I might loiter around a portage trail to poke around at the flora and relax. If I'm fortunate enough to find a campsite that allows exploration of the surrounding area I'll sometimes delay my start the next day so I can go for a walk and explore.

So, for me personally, I find it best to take what I'm given when I'm given it. Oftentimes camp is far from the most interesting place I've seen in a given day.

Alan

 

[Nomad]

I solo tripped once. Definitely prefer not to but looks like next season I wont have much choice.

Anyway, how have some of you overcome the boredom and loneliness? What do you do to stay occupied?

Theres already a thread on fears. For me things get real creepy and lonely once it gets dark. That cheerful, peaceful forest becomes the opposite. Let your imagination loose and pretty soon you’ll see Sasquatch stalking you from every clump of grass. Anxiety is in falling sound asleep and being completely obvious to impending danger.

I’m sure with experience you eventually find your peace. But in order to get to that point any tips, tools, etc to help?

After more than a year since you shared this question, I wondered what happened? Did you complete a solo? If so, what was the experience like? Thanks.

 

[Blukanu]

I didn’t solo last year, did once the year before that prompted me to ask the question.

Planning a trip in May that I’m thinking will be solo.

 

[carpenter]

Solo tripping usually keeps one a lot busier with camp chores on site. Some prefer instant meals, metal gadgets for fastening tarps, hammocks etc. I sometimes like the slow methodical process of meal prep and site set up, getting the knots just right etc.

Noises can be disconcerting but the more familiar you are with surroundings and sources of noise the better.

I once camped solo inside the walls of a ruined castle in France, woke up in the middle of the night to critters crawling up and down the wall of my tent. Spent a lot of energy and time swatting at the tent and yelling at the creatures. Woke up the next morning to find that I had pitched the tent too close to a small bush and the wind had picked up in the night....

 

[JohnSand]

99% of my paddling is alone, but it's also day trips. I have cruised small sailboats alone, anchoring at night and sometimes not speaking to anyone for a couple of days. I'm comfortable with it. I have found that fatigue can make me nervous. My father suffered anxiety cruising alone when he was over 70. He also liked to sort of charge into things without thorough practice or preparation. I think that increased his mental discomfort.
Everyone is different. I love solo sailing and paddling, but when I have company I'm reminded how pleasant that is too.

 

[yknpdlr]

I do not understand the boredom or lonlinesss issues or aspects of going solo. The majority of my tripping is solo in the Adirondacks, as far away from the main routes where others are seen as posssible. I like to bushwhack between remote trailless ponds. My mind is occupied with land navigation, being as precise as I can be as my real goal. I have naver felt lonly, only isolated of course, which is a major part of my goal. I have heard noises at night, one time I remember hearing loud steps in the woods in leaves and brush of something that must have been circling me while I was sleeping in my hammock, staying probably around 20-30 yards away. It kept me interested for a while, until I fell back to sleep.

 

[Paddlinhal]

My wife has a rule against my paddling solo, but once in a while I get an exception. I love it! So much more time for my journaling and photography (lame as it is). I also know that "can't find anyone to go" syndrome and that's tough. If that's the problem, join some groups. Canadian Canoe Routes has a section on paddlers-wanted. Also Wilderness Canoe Association, Wilderness Paddler's Gathering, Maine Canoe Symposium etc. are great places to shoot the breeze with like-minded folks who just might be in the same boat (so to speak).

 

[recped]

An average day.........

8 - 10 hours "sleeping"
2 - 4 hours breakfast, review maps for the day, breaking camp and loading up
6 - 8 hours "paddling"
1 hour setting up camp
1 hour relaxing, reviewing the days activities, getting high
1 hour dinner etc
1 hour journal writing
1 hour reviewing the next days route
1 - 2 hours staring at the sky, listening to the sounds, getting high
1 hour getting ready for sleepy time

That adds up to 23 - 30 hours.........no time to get bored!

 

[Robin]

I have done mostly solo trips in the last 10-15 years, before that It was about 50-50. As I have gotten into my 70’s, I find going on a canoe trip with others problematic in that I’m committed to certain dates no matter the weather, especially with the wind here in Maine.
I’m always looking for that “you should have been here last week” weather. My days of waiting out the weather under a tarp are behind me, now I’ll wait it out at home and head out solo when I feel comfortable.
Being alone is fine by me, I’m never lonely or bored.
I have been on group trips where meals where a big thing, and a couple of those trips there was a designated cook, my job was to try and collect endless firewood from huge picked over group sites and then wash dishes afterwards. I grew to really dislike reflector ovens, more firewood Robin.
Going solo I use a twig stove, cook easy meals and usually only have a small pot, a spoon, spatula or cold handle to wash up.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I grew to dislike group trips as there was always a shirker that didn't want to contribute.. one memorable Allagash trip he claimed to be an expert paddler

Sat in the bottom of the Raven through Chase Rapids and claimed the boat was tippy.. He was riding it like a inner tube.. And never did dishes and did not contribute a dam thing to his time to cook..

He could not keep up.. Blamed my boat that I had lent to him for the trip on his miserable experience... We almost left him at Allagash village.

Another trip with an AMC group one of the participants had not met us.. He bailed before the trip started.. said we were old geezers. But he did not have the chutzpah to tell us he was leaving.. Coward..

We had the sheriff look him up out of Concern For His Welfare. later.. He fessed up at home in Southwest Harbor.

I have had some nice trips with Gerald. Shearwater and Robin.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I grew to dislike group trips as there was always a shirker that didn't want to contribute

I grew to dislike group trips as I was always a shirker that didn't want to contribute.

 

[scoutergriz]

It's hard for me to imagine being lonely or bored for very long in the woods. On a rainy night stuck inside a tent time can get a bit long, but a good book or a notebook to record your thoughts and observations made during the day can go a long way to alleviating any boredom.

In our present "connected" society many people have become used to a steady stream of available entertainment always at their beckon. One of the great things about going to the wild, especially solo, is that you can shut it all off and use your own mind to imagine and create. This is a skill that was readily used prior to the electronic invasion of our present time. People looked around and developed folk tales to explain an unusual ditch, rock formation or light in the sky. It is still easy to do when you are by yourself on a lake shoreline with the waves lapping on the bank. It is harder to do when you are used to the story being force fed to you by our media.

So sit on a rock, look around, start looking at smaller details of what is around you, look at the details in those details, and you won't have time to be lonely or bored.

those rainy nights are when I put up the tarp, light a nice fire and watch "caveman TV"...

 

[scoutergriz]

Solo tripping usually keeps one a lot busier with camp chores on site. Some prefer instant meals, metal gadgets for fastening tarps, hammocks etc. I sometimes like the slow methodical process of meal prep and site set up, getting the knots just right etc.

Noises can be disconcerting but the more familiar you are with surroundings and sources of noise the better.

I once camped solo inside the walls of a ruined castle in France, woke up in the middle of the night to critters crawling up and down the wall of my tent. Spent a lot of energy and time swatting at the tent and yelling at the creatures. Woke up the next morning to find that I had pitched the tent too close to a small bush and the wind had picked up in the night....

when I solo trip I slow right down, my meals get more elaborate and take longer, I can spend an hour getting my tarp just right, and waste time finding the ideal firewood for a perfect evening fire. I'm on my schedule and can do things at my pace without worrying about usetting or frustrating anyone because dinner isn't ready until 9pm....
Now if I could just figure out how mice gain 400lbs by midnight....

 

[scoutergriz]

I do not understand the boredom or lonlinesss issues or aspects of going solo. The majority of my tripping is solo in the Adirondacks, as far away from the main routes where others are seen as posssible. I like to bushwhack between remote trailless ponds. My mind is occupied with land navigation, being as precise as I can be as my real goal. I have naver felt lonly, only isolated of course, which is a major part of my goal. I have heard noises at night, one time I remember hearing loud steps in the woods in leaves and brush of something that must have been circling me while I was sleeping in my hammock, staying probably around 20-30 yards away. It kept me interested for a while, until I fell back to sleep.

I've seen cow moose do that, I think they figure we're in their backyard and they want to check out the new neighbors...