Hiking out at night.

[RadSav]

I swear I can never work up my nerves to go out too early or stay too late when alone. Even when I get somewhere super early I still get jumpy when sitting in my truck alone on some dead end log road. ... I get so freaked out too easily. I had no one at the time to tag along either. Most of the time I would only make it 200 yards till I hit the edge of the timber, then I would start hearing and/or seeing things. It is something I have tried working on over the years and have pushed myself to try and make it work but I always freak out too much. I am not afraid to admit it I turn into a gigantic chicken shi* in the dark alone in the woods. Even with a full moon and clear skies.

My first solo back country hunt pretty much cured me of being nervous and freaking out.  Eight miles in was far enough I wasn't going to run home because of being afraid of the dark.  This is before I had a flashlight or head lamp.  First night I could hear every demon creature hell bent to attack me in my little bivy tent.  Then about 3 AM Yogy poked his head in to take a look see.  I about crapped myself

Took about three days to settle in and feel comfortable.  Yogy made a few more late night rummages through my gear.  Hunted one day in my sock feet because he stole my left boot.  Found it a few days later a little chewed up but usable.  Finally killed him one morning at first light.  I slept really good that evening   Hard to beat your fears if you never pick a fight with them.

From then on the curse was broken.  I now sleep better in the woods than I do at home.  Even in grizzly country I sleep well and don't worry any more than I do in my bed here at the house. 

[skagitsteel]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

[3nails]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

[shanevg]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

Hey - I can go with him! 

[3nails]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

Hey - I can go with him! 

Then I stand by what I said.   

[skagitsteel]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

I do take some 'special people' up my trails, I just make sure there not old and washed up  

One of my trails:

[huntingbaldguy]

People that have issues should try doing some overnight backpacking solo.  Just sleeping out in the woods alone can prep you for walking back alone, or walking in alone.  Not much you can do besides force the issue.  Hike in during the day, spend the night.  If you're a little worried, you may spend your first night kind of sleepless listening to all the sounds, but it's not like you're going to get up and leave that night if you're scared, lol.  I always hear something at night when out backpacking, always.  Just doesn't worry me anymore.

[Okanagan]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

That's the weirdest comment I've seen so far on this forum noted for barbed replies!   

While working in a Seattle office some years ago, one Monday morning the receptionist asked sweetly what I'd done over the weekend and I told her I'd been hiking, not wanting to mention hunting.  "Did anybody go with you?" she asked and I told her "No."

"You shouldn't hike alone," she primly informed me. 

"Nobody wants to hike like I do," I replied. 

The bookkeeper asked, "What do you do that nobody wants to go with you?"

So I told them.   I'd left work on Friday and drove straight to a trail head during the early high buck season.  I hiked up a switchback trail till 11:00 PM and slept on a flat spot on the uphill side of a big fir till cold woke me at 5:00 AM still in the dark.  I hiked on and by daylight was overlooking a basin above timberline with a pair of deer nearby, a bear across the basin and mountain goats on the ridge.

She eyed me for a moment and said, "You're right.  Nobody wants to hike like that."

Some of us prefer solo to inadequate companions! 

[skagitsteel]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

That's the weirdest comment I've seen so far on this forum noted for barbed replies!   

While working in a Seattle office some years ago, one Monday morning the receptionist asked sweetly what I'd done over the weekend and I told her I'd been hiking, not wanting to mention hunting.  "Did anybody go with you?" she asked and I told her "No."

"You shouldn't hike alone," she primly informed me. 

"Nobody wants to hike like I do," I replied. 

The bookkeeper asked, "What do you do that nobody wants to go with you?"

So I told them.   I'd left work on Friday and drove straight to a trail head during the early high buck season.  I hiked up a switchback trail till 11:00 PM and slept on a flat spot on the uphill side of a big fir till cold woke me at 5:00 AM still in the dark.  I hiked on and by daylight was overlooking a basin above timberline with a pair of deer nearby, a bear across the basin and mountain goats on the ridge.

She eyed me for a moment and said, "You're right.  Nobody wants to hike like that."

Some of us prefer solo to inadequate companions! 

He knows me pretty well, just giving me a hard time all in good fun 

[Longbowz]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

That's the weirdest comment I've seen so far on this forum noted for barbed replies!   

While working in a Seattle office some years ago, one Monday morning the receptionist asked sweetly what I'd done over the weekend and I told her I'd been hiking, not wanting to mention hunting.  "Did anybody go with you?" she asked and I told her "No."

"You shouldn't hike alone," she primly informed me. 

"Nobody wants to hike like I do," I replied. 

The bookkeeper asked, "What do you do that nobody wants to go with you?"

So I told them.   I'd left work on Friday and drove straight to a trail head during the early high buck season.  I hiked up a switchback trail till 11:00 PM and slept on a flat spot on the uphill side of a big fir till cold woke me at 5:00 AM still in the dark.  I hiked on and by daylight was overlooking a basin above timberline with a pair of deer nearby, a bear across the basin and mountain goats on the ridge.

She eyed me for a moment and said, "You're right.  Nobody wants to hike like that."

Some of us prefer solo to inadequate companions! 

Sounds like we went to the same school of hiking/hunting.  After my hunting partner passed away a few years back I'm normally alone.

[Okanagan]

I am alone 90% of the time I venture out into the backcountry, I am hiking in our out of the backcountry in the dark almost every time I go out.   The only time I have been nervous was when I got trailed by a cat in the dark, other than that I just got used to it

You are alone because nobody is stupid enough to go that far with you and you are used to it because you don't have a choice!!!   

That's the weirdest comment I've seen so far on this forum noted for barbed replies!   

While working in a Seattle office some years ago, one Monday morning the receptionist asked sweetly what I'd done over the weekend and I told her I'd been hiking, not wanting to mention hunting.  "Did anybody go with you?" she asked and I told her "No."

"You shouldn't hike alone," she primly informed me. 

"Nobody wants to hike like I do," I replied. 

The bookkeeper asked, "What do you do that nobody wants to go with you?"

So I told them.   I'd left work on Friday and drove straight to a trail head during the early high buck season.  I hiked up a switchback trail till 11:00 PM and slept on a flat spot on the uphill side of a big fir till cold woke me at 5:00 AM still in the dark.  I hiked on and by daylight was overlooking a basin above timberline with a pair of deer nearby, a bear across the basin and mountain goats on the ridge.

She eyed me for a moment and said, "You're right.  Nobody wants to hike like that."

Some of us prefer solo to inadequate companions! 

He knows me pretty well, just giving me a hard time all in good fun 

Thanks for straightening me out.  My bad.  I was too dense to catch the satire and it is a fun and funny comment when seen in that light. 

[WAnoob]

I swear I can never work up my nerves to go out too early or stay too late when alone. Even when I get somewhere super early I still get jumpy when sitting in my truck alone on some dead end log road. ... I get so freaked out too easily. I had no one at the time to tag along either. Most of the time I would only make it 200 yards till I hit the edge of the timber, then I would start hearing and/or seeing things. It is something I have tried working on over the years and have pushed myself to try and make it work but I always freak out too much. I am not afraid to admit it I turn into a gigantic chicken shi* in the dark alone in the woods. Even with a full moon and clear skies.

My first solo back country hunt pretty much cured me of being nervous and freaking out.  Eight miles in was far enough I wasn't going to run home because of being afraid of the dark.  This is before I had a flashlight or head lamp.  First night I could hear every demon creature hell bent to attack me in my little bivy tent.  Then about 3 AM Yogy poked his head in to take a look see.  I about crapped myself

Took about three days to settle in and feel comfortable.  Yogy made a few more late night rummages through my gear.  Hunted one day in my sock feet because he stole my left boot.  Found it a few days later a little chewed up but usable.  Finally killed him one morning at first light.  I slept really good that evening   Hard to beat your fears if you never pick a fight with them.

From then on the curse was broken.  I now sleep better in the woods than I do at home.  Even in grizzly country I sleep well and don't worry any more than I do in my bed here at the house.

I almost spit out my coffee with that line "First night I could hear every demon creature hell bent to attack me in my little bivy tent." 

I felt the same way my first few hunts on Kodiak when I used to walk back at night with just a headlamp, you weren't sure if those eyes you lit up were just a blacktail or a brown bear cub off in the distance away from it's mommy.  We did have the benefit of hunting during a full moon and with clear skies and a little snow you could actually almost see better without a headlamp.  After the first couple times you shake off the nerves and stop worrying about every little twig breaking.

To be honest, growing up in Alaska has me kind of numb to being afraid of wolves, grizzly, brown or black bears.  I have had plenty of encounters and have only been scared once, walking back from sheep hunting in the dark on a trail my partner and I kept hearing noises so I shined my headlamp that way and surely enough I saw 2 sets of eyes low to the ground and decent size, it took me a minute to realize they were too short to be moose and too low to be a mature bear.  Literally one minute later we heard a distinctive roar from mama off behind the cubs.  Needless to say I grabbed my 06 off my pack and chambered a round, I knew I was almost in the worst situation possible since I was near 2 cubs and mom wasn't far off.  We slowly backed up the trail for about 1/4 of a mile and thankfully the sow realized the "threat" was backing away.  There was definitely some pucker factor and that was the luckiest I've felt being out in the woods it was a very humbling experience. 

I have only seen a couple wolves in the wild though, the one I did see moose hunting had broke away from the pack and it was way too timid to scare you at all, they are very cool to watch in the wild.  They were far more concerned with eating the cow moose they just brought down close to us.

After moving to Washington I am more afraid of cougars after hearing the stories from people, I hope some exposure will put my mind at ease?

[JackOfAllTrades]

Coyote Eyes

[JackOfAllTrades]

Bear Eyes

[JackOfAllTrades]

Deer eyes