Camping has always been one of those things that families do, and they do well!
So is it weird to camp by yourself?
In recent years, a focus has been on going camping for other reasons, made popular by places that offer different ways to camp.Â
Glamping, for instance, are sites that offer the luxury camping experience, but with no responsibility on you as the camper to put up any poles or cook any food on the fire!
So whatever your circumstances are that make you pack your bags, and when the only solution to the problem is to camp, would you do it alone?
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Is it weird to camp alone?
Well, the answer to this depends on a lot of things! But on a personal level, if you think it’s ok to go camping alone, you do exactly that!
Some people camp alone as a way of grounding themselves in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and to obtain some self-silence and maybe soul searching. So, going camping alone for these reasons is almost essential, and definitely not weird!
If you decide to go camping solo, make sure you are prepared and have everything you need (and some things you think you might not need!) to make sure that every eventuality is covered.
Make sure you:
- Can carry everything you need safely
- Can erect your tent by yourself
- Have an emergency box that is well stocked
- Can charge your phone
- Have safety measures in place (Emergency numbers, warning devices, and extra batteries)
- You are in a safe location
- Know the layout of the area you are in
All of these seem like simple things to execute, and they certainly are! But when you are camping alone, these things are doubly crucial to make sure you are safe while camping by yourself.
Is camping alone scary?
In certain circumstances, camping alone can be scary. The imagination can play some strange tricks on your brain when you know it’s just you in the dark, with only a canvas to protect you.
But in most cases, it needn’t be scary. In fact, it can be the complete opposite!
Being wholly self-sufficient can be one of the most freeing feelings in the world. To be independent and do things independently can make the pride of camping alone overtake the potential scary elements of the situation.
If you feel scared while camping alone, regardless of where you decide to camp, make sure you have a number you can text or call as an alert, or even just a simple interaction with someone can make any scary thought go away.
Remember, there’s a huge difference between being scared and being in danger.
Is it dangerous to camp alone?
The answer to this question is often sought from your surroundings rather than yourself as a lone camper.
We have all heard stories of people being attacked while camping alone, but people can also be attacked when walking by themselves or working alone when putting this in perspective. The risk is no greater with the act of camping, but in the “being alone” element that heightens the risk of it being dangerous.
To lessen the risk of danger, make sure you know how to solve the problem before it arises. For example, a simple risk assessment in the form of a checklist made before you leave can reduce the danger.
Ask yourself things like:
- Can I get out, and do I know the way out?
- Can I call for help?
- Where is the nearest public point that could help me?
- Do I have the proper footwear to run?
- Is my tent safe?
- Can I make myself safer?
Making yourself the most prepared you can be for every eventuality will lessen the outcome of danger when you are camping alone.Â
It will provoke a feeling of confidence, knowing that you have prepared yourself for every potential eventuality.
Be aware of everything, and exercise caution in everything you do.
However, there will always be something that could happen that put you in danger, whether you are camping alone or in a big group. Your secret weapon is thinking and preparing for everything before you make that choice to go solo.
How can I have fun camping alone?
So here’s the deal, the notion of having fun is a personal thing!
Some people find a great deal of fun in reading a whole book from cover to cover while camping alone, and some people will find it fun to go out and walk for miles alone.
Whatever you think is fun is totally personal, and some things you find fun others may find boring! So you do whatever “Fun” means to you!
It could be that you want to go camping alone, away from your regular surroundings and people to make new friends and meet new people, and this can be a great deal of fun! Meeting new people and doing new things is great for enhancing those real-life experiences.
Camping alone in these modern times could be to attend a festival or music weekend. More often than not, you may find doing this kind of camping really fun….listening to the music you like and not having to worry about travelling daily to get there and back!
Some people find the most enormous amounts of fun in solitude and peace, and camping alone somewhere remote and quiet would satisfy their version of fun, but may appear boring to someone who always needs something to do!
Whatever your version of fun is, you can achieve it by camping alone. There are so many opportunities out there and so many different variations of camping that you can find your fun somewhere under the stars; you just have to know what fun means to you and then find something that matches your camping criteria.
In summary, camping alone is fine!
So in conclusion, no, camping is not weird if you decide to camp alone. If you want to camp alone, you go ahead and do it and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks about it!
Is camping alone dangerous? On rare occasions, it can be. Still, you can certainly lessen the risk of danger by being prepared for every eventuality and making sure you have thought about what can possibly happen, and doing everything you can to avoid it.
And finally, is having fun while camping alone possible?? ABSOLUTELY! It depends on what you class as fun as to the amounts of fun you can have in your own way while camping alone! Ensure you have everything you need to cover all eventualities, and you will have a great time alone!
