hey Halcyon -

i like camping solo too. and i believe one should never say should.

where do you live? (for suggestions of where to and not to) are you car camping or back country? how many days/nights are you thinking?

check in at the trailhead and leave your info with a ranger of course, telling them how many days you're out and getting a sense of how many people are out there. Connect with someone there. Do you feel better and safer knowing you're camping near people or away from people?

when it comes to other people, i just use the same spidey sense street smarts that work in cities and foreign countries. if people are creeping you out, you can either vibe them out (make yourself invisible and they'll lose interest), or if they appear sane/sober/reasonable, you can just express that you prefer the solitude.

bring warm things - it's a lot colder sleeping alone...

enjoy the silence...

e

This is probably going to sound strange, but whenever I've camped alone I've put a small lock on my tent zipper at night (like a luggage lock, on the inside of course, with the key nearby). This prevents anyone from being able to enter my tent while I sleep. As a woman I find I can sleep much easier without having to worry about some jackass stumbling into the wrong tent (mine) on the way back from the "bathroom", or some creep trying to take advantage of the lone female situation. I'd also say avoid camping during holidays (4th of july, memorial day, etc) as even remote campgrounds during those times tend to attract the "woo-hoo" college drinking crowd... not only lousy to be around, but more likely to create a situation that would make a lone female nervous.

Bringing a pee funnel is a good way to prevent some kind of rash or irritation from foliage, since you don't have to squat. Also keeps your goodies up high away from critters and such when you're peeing in the dark. Bring meds for things such as UTIs (the environment can cause problems for some) and bring supplies in case you get your period unexpectedly (some people report the changes in travel and environment can throw off the cycle). Those one-use heating pads (like emergency ice packs, but with heat) can be really helpful when you're trying to travel/hike with bad cramps.

if you're doing a wilderness trip (not using camp grounds), of course follow typical precautions such as radios, medical training, etc.

I use different strategies for different situations. Are you going to be camping in public campgrounds? Backpacking? Are you looking for complete solitude?

I'm very much looking forward to camping alone...

I've camped solo all over the desert southwest; even on the ill advised Mexican border. Sometimes I stay at campgrounds, but usually the point of the trip is to find a sweet spot I can have to myself. I think remote spots are safer than campgrounds. Anyone looking for trouble is less likely to be wandering the wilderness and may even be casing a popular campground. Campgrounds often attract bears, lions, coyotes, etc. I always carry a large, sturdy knife in the wilderness. It's the single most important tool you can have in the backcountry. I actually carry two: a folding lockblade with a pocketclip; and a large fixed blade survival knife in a sheath. If I know I'm going to be in a dicey area, I'll pack a shotgun. Sometimes if it's spooky, I'll leave gear (folding chair, propane cans, anything non-food) scattered around the campsite in such a way that anyone approaching in the dark is likely to kick something over and make a lot of noise. Once, down on the border, I even ran a rope through all the gear to act as a trip wire. I also always have my dog with me. He's not much on the bite, but he's great at the bark!
Only once has anyone ever unexpectedly entered my campsite at night ...I was in a state park campground next to a ranger station.

I agree with everyone elses suggestions here. All good advice.

When I camp alone (well, all the time actually) I have my dog with me. Asher sounds off before anyone or anything can get close enough to be a problem. He's the best security ever, and he works pretty cheap too. Just some good food and lots of love.

Car camping or back country?

I travel, camp, and hike solo all the time. Love it. I sometimes go with a friend or two, but eschew the large group thing and usually avoid it. I know, everyone says don't hike alone, don't camp alone. Don't listen to them. If you like it, do it!

I think the key thing I try to remember is that if something goes wrong, I don't have anyone else to rely on. So to that end I recommend:
- planning and preparing for all trips appropriately -- you aren't going to be able to borrow someone else's dry clothing if you get wet, or share their water if you run out.
- taking a wilderness first aid class -- a good one also teaches you something about avoiding some problems, too, and the one I took also answered some questions about what to do when solo and injured.
- carrying a good first aid kit that you put together yourself & know how to use it. I rarely need it, but the when I do, I am glad it's there.
- knowing in advance what you'll do if your car breaks down on the way there or back -- if you have road-side assistance, are they going to come get you in the middle of the Mojave? Some will, some won't.
- carrying a cell phone is great! But it's only useful if you actually have reception, so you can't rely on it.
- knowing how to read a topo map. But that's not enough -- know how to read the land & to find where you are on a map (if you get off trail -- or off your intended trail and end up on a trail that's not on your map -- knowing where you are supposed to be isn't going to help; you need to be able to figure out where you *are*). Know how to use a compass.

And, generally, I recommend being street smart, so to speak:
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Carry a whistle. Hell, if I'm in a campground, I'll sleep with a whistle, car keys, and flashlight at my side. And sometimes a nice knife (more for animals than people).
- Learn what is good safety in the various animal encounters you could have.
- I try to talk to the rangers where I am hiking, so that they know I am alone and also remember me. I also get their advice. But, I've also found some campground hosts to be stupid -- commenting very loudly on the fact that I am traveling solo, how they rarely see that.
- I don't like the campsite tags where you are supposed to write how many campers -- if I am solo, I won't do that.
- If you are day hiking in a park that has you leave a hiking log/tag on your car dashboard, do it, and write where you went and when you expect to return -- but again, I don't write that I am solo. (same for the log books at trail heads)

I also follow my gutt instincts. My golden rule is, if something feels wrong, turn around and leave. It's rare, but I've done it. Doesn't mean there is logic involved or any clear problem. I've left beautiful hikes because of a nagging paranoia, I've even packed up out of campgrounds after dark. I've only done it a few times, but I'd rather do it than ignore it and run into a problem and later say, gee, if only I'd listened to my instincts ...

Occasionally when I've been intimidated by a new spot for some reason, I've gone with a group but done day hikes by myself -- that way if I don't show up in the evening, someone will notice. It's also a way to check out an area to see if you'd be comfortable coming back on your own.

And in all my solo escapades, I feel the least safe on the way there or back -- in towns, crappy hotels, restaurants, rest stops, especially in places where being visibly queer is not such a good thing. I also avoid private campground and holiday weekends, where you seem to get more of the heavy drinking dumb party crowds. When I am out in nature, I think my biggest threat is myself -- anyone can fall or trip. Or choke on their gorp ;-) Statistically speaking, you are probably more likely to run into dangerous/psycho people walking in your own neighborhood than out on the trail, just by virtue of numbers.

So get out there and have fun!

And pick up a copy of "solo - on her own adventure" for some inspiration and good stories.

On my long trip (in 1991), I was surprised to find there were more women solo-hiking then men solo-hiking.

None complained of solo issues other than lack of ability to share weight.

Ok, so one young lady shared a story about one of her solo backpacking trips in Canada, where a moose pissed on her tent while she was in it. That seems like it might happen to anyone, solo or not.

My major problems were not outback, they were when I had brushes with civilization; there were too many idiots at trailheads.

Towards the end of that trip, I had my worst-ever bear encounter. What saved my bacon on that day was the two girls that showed up with their dogs. They were across the river and down-canyon when the bear and I first heard the dogs barking. I don't think the girls really believed me when I thanked them for chasing the bear away - I don't think they ever saw it.

I have to vote for dogs being good security in the back country {nodding}

I've been camping solo for 2 decades in California & I love the solitude, although there is rarely cell phone reception anywhere I camp, nor do I own a gun, I seem to do alright with no bad experiences - yet. I stay out of campground & drive mostly on dirt roads to find primitive spots, near creeks.

Matter of fact, I love my SUV & back roads camping so much, I started a business outta it - a camping web site. Now 3000 pages, 500 trips & 11 years later, I am finally living my dream life, working from home in the mountains.

If you wanna get away from the crowds & find the best FREE camping spots, then you should check out Total Escape.

DanaMite
Total Escape - California, Off the Beaten Path
10 years Online! ~ www.totalescape.com
Defining your Direction ~ www.totalescape.net