Going into the bush alone.

9/10 of the time, I'm out in the woods by myself. It seems like when I'm with most people, out in the woods, they expect me to entertain them, or at least cater to them, in some way. They can be real pain in the ass.
 
Troop said:
9/10 of the time, I'm out in the woods by myself. It seems like when I'm with most people, out in the woods, they expect me to entertain them, or at least cater to them, in some way. They can be real pain in the ass.
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exactly. so you're the mountain man huh? do this do that aren't you supposed to do this yadda yadda yadda... you said you wanted to come hiking with me, not make me your guide, outfitter and mule...
 
Hiwa- if you are looking for "solitude" around here without travel all you have to do is go to the river valley near the University, hit a trail and then veer off and make your own. I used to do that when I was going to University there (too bad Grant Mac south has no woods near it). Even though you are not really secluded, most of the people using the paths cannot give a damn to look around them. I have spent a good amount of time in one spot and nobody even knew I was there- especially on overcast or chance of rain days.

In my earlier years on the farm I would often escape to the woods with nothing more than a gun (pellet or .22), shells and a couple of knives and disappear for the day. Never thought about all of the survival stuff that we need now, or even food for that matter- I would just forage as I went along.

Now with an outdoors wife and my daughter loving the woods I get just as much enjoyment as being alone. Walking along the man made lake nearby yesterday she forgot all about the Tim Hortons doughnut that she got, instead remembering the rose hips that she found and had me clean for her to eat (not bad for a 3 year old)!!!

I must admit some days I want to leave class and just drive out to the woods for a couple of hours before going home.
 
RocketBomb is my hero, he goes to school and the nights before days he doesn't have classes in the morning, he does a one night campout. I do that kind of stuff all the time, as long as you have a maintained camping pack all you have to do is grab some food, grab your bag, grab some beer and hit the woods. Low maintenance, you don't need a day to plan and pack or a day to recover or any of that crap, just go out and come back the next morning. People make such a big deal about getting out when it really isn't.
 
I'll relate a funny story about solitude. Some years ago I worked as a Wilderness Ranger in the Great Bear/Bob Marshall Wilderness. I worked ten day hitches and then off four (most of that four days was prepping for the next ten days :))

Anyway I had several duties, but one of them was stopping in at camps and educating folks about keeping clean camps (grizzly country) and reducing impacts at campsites. A couple of days go by and I don't run into a soul, a little unusual. A couple of more days and still not a soul- hmm this is unusual. Now I'm starting to hit the more popular spots, still nothing! I check in with the ranger station every third night, someone still is answering the radio- so I cross nuclear holocaust off of my list of possibilities :). I go an entire ten days (the last four or five actively looking for for people) and never bump into a single soul!

I hike out to the trail head and my ride is on time. He asks me how it went and related my story of not bumping into a single soul for ten days straight. He gives me a funny look and says "didn't anyone tell you the woods were completely shut down due to extreme fire danger?" hmmmm- well no they didn't, I was supposed to be back there insuring no one was in there, but someone forgot to tell me that little bit of information :)

anywho these days most of my time in the back country is shared with my wife, I do get some trips in solo and they are enjoyable, but more enjoyable are the trips with my wife
 
Wow ! What great posts ! This is very encouraging ! I bought a few new blades this spring that I am eager to try out. With nicer weather coming , I'll be able to hit some of my old stomping grounds , and find new ones.
After writing this post , I did some thinking. As much as I like to have some alone time , I have a great, eager 8 year old son whol loves knives and guns ,and all the cool stuff "dad has." Maybe I am being a little selfish in my thinking, and should be spending more time teaching him stuff. My wife's great in the bush too , ( take that how you want to :D) , but a lot of the time she she wants to stay behind and do gardening, or whatever crap. Maybe I should bring the lad along more often ; but yet, a few solo trips can't hurt to let me clear my head and be at total peace with myself. :thumbup:
 
Like several others I almost never go out with other people. My dog is all the company I really want. Reading Payette's post gave me some insight -- the fact that we like to go out alone, is probably one reason we don't do the ultralight thing, since a gear failure when you're alone can be far more catastrophic than if you're in a group.

I haven't beat on my Zulu too much, but I can't imaging some of the gear I see taking anything like the pounding my Duluth Packs have. I may come out of the woods with holes in me, but my packs don't.
 
Corp! you oughta see my swiss Ruck! Heavy nylon coated with rubber with a bottom that is 3/16" thick harness leather.

Ultralighters look at it and just about faint.

But it holds up without getting ripped apart on brush and rocks, to me it is well worth the extra weight.
 
It's great to know so many go out alone and have great experiences - so many of the "experts" say it's dangerous, etc. Some of my best snowshoeing trips were solo and absolutely amazing. There is something special about the stillness when you are out solo.
 
I have a 13 mile loop I try to hike every week with just the dog. For overnights I usually take some combination of my 3 late teen sons. I like big fires and its kinda nice to have help processing wood. I believe nature heals, I like to get them out there as often as possible.
 
Troop--9/10 of the time, I'm out in the woods by myself. It seems like when I'm with most people, out in the woods, they expect me to entertain them, or at least cater to them, in some way. They can be real pain in the ass.


I agree--for me I fine family members and friends talk nonstop
 
I go alone 90 percent of the time. I crave solitude. Dont want to see other people when Im out.
 
I almost always hike alone. Ive had a couple of overnight trips with my best friend when i was 15-16 years old, and last year i went on a canoe trip with my stepson, and thats about it.

I'd really like a dog though to keep me company! But my lifestyle right now, dosent allow me to have one.

Ive always been a loner, and my hiking gear and plans reflect that. Every single piece of gear i buy is made for solo hiking and weight/durability/field mainetenance etc. is taken into consideration before i shell out.
I always study the area and terrain where i'll be hiking, so i know what to expect and in case plans change, i know which way to head out for the nearest town. In the last couple of years ive started giving my girlfriend info about my trip, just in case. But i guess its more for her sake than mine. Gives her some piece of mind, i guess.

My knives, are just regular knives. I dont buy knives based on the fact that im a lone hiker. Ive got Fallkniven, Becker's, Ontario, Chris Reeve and RAT to choose from, and i have faith in every single one of them. I choose my blade based on the terrain ill be hiking, season, and duration of trip.

Even if i were going on a trip with somebody, i dont think my gear choice would change. I'd still take everything that i need to get me through in a safe and comfy way. I wont rely on others gear/knowledge.
 
I prefer to go solo. Mostly, I just get tired of all the noise I have to contend with for 24 hrs/day. I am in college and find that most college students are loud and annoy me. I have found a small contingent of students who enjoy the woods, much to my dismay. They now want to go out every time they see me start loading the truck. We have fun, alright, but I miss being able to just go out and get lost and relax with a nice cigar and a book.
 
Being out in the wilderness alone is a completely different experience than when in being out with others. by 'wilderness' i mean an area so big that you can go for days without encountering any roads or other signs of human alteration of the environment. my home property backs on to the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy which is the largest tract of completely undisturbed land in southern B.C. the trails are those made by migrating herds of elk.
except during hunting season, i do not bring a gun because that changes the experience. like hiking with others, a gun gives a measure of confidence.
it took me a long time (about 20 years) to truly feel relaxed and experience myself as a part of nature rather than a 'visitor' separate from it.
this is 'old knowledge', as it was the common experience of our species for millions of years until perhaps the last 1000 or so years. once experienced it feels like you already knew it, a memory buried in our genes.
with nearly all people today living in cities and other communities, and rarely being out alone, this 'knowledge' is close to being lost forever.
roland
 
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