Passing time in camp?

PropThePolecat

PropThePolecat

Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
3,292
Hey guys

Now that winter is upon us and the days are getting shorter, i was wondering what you all solo hikers do to kill time when youve set up camp.

I always try to gather firewood, set up tent, filter water, etc. while theres still light. And when the sun sets and it gets dark, all i have to do is make dinner and start the fire.

Take today for instance, the sun sets at 15:45 and rises again at 08:39. Thats roughly 16 hours of darkness. I dont go to bed as soon as its dark, and i cant pass all those hours staring at the campfire. Exploring the area is out of the question when its pitch black. Do any of you bring music, books, electronic gizmos, etc to pass time?

I usually take out my knife and start carving and whittling, but when the days are short and the weather crappy, after a couple of hours id rather bunker up in my tent. Ive never brought a book, but im considering it now. I dont like listening to music, as i prefer to listen for any unusual sounds. Remember, im a solo hiker.

Lets hear what all you guys do for wintertime/bad weather camp entertainment? Maybe ill get some inspiration for my upcoming winter hike. Dosent matter if you hike alone or in a group.

Regards,
 
I generally just sit by the fire and whittle, same as you. I usually collect material along the way and craft different projects while I'm sittin' there by the fire.

I also bring along a little "high octane" fuel, I tend to have a drink, eat some dinner, whittle, and do some night foraging. I have a headlamp that has different filters on it, and I get to see some interesting stuff, but I don't wander to far away from the fire.

I'm love to read, but I have never taken a book with me out and about. Interesting.

Moose
 
i usually bring a book, something wilderness related and i also practice making traps, simple stuff figure 4's ect, i also try my hand at carving. walking sticks (lol the only thing i am actually good at) spoons (which i suck at lol) and just hang out and enjoy the fire, quiet and time to myself.
 
I sit by the fire and drink beer (insert whatever) whittle sticks, bs with friends if you are alone bring cards play solitare etc
 
For solo trips during the dark season, I usually throw in a book and a hook knife so I can read and carve. The long nights still annoy the living daylights out of me though, still searching for a good solution.

In some situations I do some night photography. Watching the camera take a 5 or 10 minute exposure isn't all that exciting but it does pass the time.

Also often make hot beverages at night, usually hot chocolate later in the evening.

As much as I like going solo during long nights I find it much more pleasant to camp with good company. 1 or maybe 2 other people in camp is much nicer.
 
Yep, I am a fire stare-er I guess. I still have kids, so we are fiddling around the fire, or marshmellows or such.
 
dont do solo overniters anymore(except on family land), but then and now i always have a book with me. can spend hours staring at the fire. enjoy a little whittling too. but when the weather turns rough, a good book is my friend.
 
I always have something to read. I also have a small notebook where I sometimes keep a sort of log or journal of my outing. I do spend a lot of time just staring at the fire and enjoying my own thoughts though.
 
I may daydream, or go over plans for the next day, but usually just go to sleep. Especially if it's just an overnighter, because a lot of times that means I stayed up the day before, worked night shift, drove an hour or so, and then hiked all day.
I never get enough sleep, anyway, and play catch up when hiking. When I stop for the night, I get in my sleeping bag and it's all over with. Last overnighter I slept something like 13 hours. Glorious.
Sometimes people ask me if I have trouble sleeping out in the woods by myself:rolleyes:
 
Hi all,

PropThePolecat, I love your Pic next to your name, It that a ferret?

Are they very popular in Denmark? Just wondering Kathy and I have
had 4 of them little bundles of joy.

When the sun goes down I am COOKING lol. I love to cook over the fire.
I do stair into it a lot to just to see the flames dance,
I love to sit and listen to the sounds that are around me.
I am not really a carver so to speak. I have carved a few
spoons now that I have a curved knife to do that. I have
made 4 with it so far.
I really like to have smaller branches next to my camp and
cut them up with my saw then batton my knife through
them sawed off logs and feed them to the fire too.
Sitting by my fire and spliting wood and just making shavings
is fun, drinking a warm drink and just plain enjoy what I am doing
and all that is around me.
Around 10 pm I will head to bed. When it is cooler like now that is.
Warmer weather I am up later doing some fishing in the river.

Chat with you later,

Bryan
 
Read mostly. Usually something mindless:D I've also started taking paracord with me and working on various knots and small projects (bracelets, lanyards, fobs etc.) Works well to pass the time.
 
What I am going to be doing often revolves around my being solo or with others. I enjoy solo camping, and find it very relaxing.
With others, there are a lot of things to share, and that keeps folks pretty busy.
 
sicily02 said:
Hi all,

PropThePolecat, I love your Pic next to your name, It that a ferret?

Are they very popular in Denmark? Just wondering Kathy and I have
had 4 of them little bundles of joy.
Click to expand...

Yep, thats a ferret, an albino male named (you guessed it!) Prop. There arent that many of them here in Denmark, we had 2 free-running ferrets, but one of them passed away not so long ago.

Theyre great little pets!

WILLIAM.M said:
Post some photos

I'm sure we would all like to see your Homeland:)
Click to expand...

You got it,next time i go on a hike ill lug my DSLR along and snap some pics. I just got a new axe, which im testing tomorrow, ill take some pics there.


Back on topic...I think ill take a small book along next time im out, maybe a good crime book.
And i im gonna leave the freezedried food at home, and put some time into making dinner the traditional way. Ive always wanted to make bread when im out, i even got some recipes on my comp, but ive never done it while on solo hikes. Might as well use the dark hours constructively.
 
moosez45 said:
I generally just sit by the fire and whittle, same as you. I usually collect material along the way and craft different projects while I'm sittin' there by the fire.

I also bring along a little "high octane" fuel, I tend to have a drink, eat some dinner, whittle, and do some night foraging. I have a headlamp that has different filters on it, and I get to see some interesting stuff, but I don't wander to far away from the fire.

I'm love to read, but I have never taken a book with me out and about. Interesting.

Moose
Click to expand...

knives+alcohol= entertainment:D
 
I carry a low output headlamp and carry a book. I buy the minature books to reduce bulk and weight. Recently I have carried Walden. I have also carried a deck of cards, minature chess set, Sangean AM/FM/TV/NOAA radio, and beer. I have been looking for dehydrated beer, but no luck so far.
 
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