The scary thing for me with camping alone is not the animals or weird noises. It's the fear of other humans. Im scared that a person or persons are gonna come across me while Im sleeping. And that they wanna screw with me or even hurt me .
I feel the same way, best way to deal with that is to build yourself up both mentally and physically, people tend to not want to mess with you if you make yourself unfuckwithable. :)
That is the most legitimate fear. Humans are always the main danger and problem. As their minds and intent can vary and they can do anything. Wild nature is more predictable. I am a homeless guy living out of a tent in the uk and i am only concerned about human troublemakers, snitches, haters and of course the police. They are the real challenge.
Sorry I don't drink alcoholyeah Fuck it. I know. Where there's an abandoned gold mine I'm gonna make that my Camp spot there's a ammo room. But it's dark need a Badass torch it's spooky dark. I'm interested in your opinions on this tell me what you d do
I feel and completely agree on your sentiments of how good it feels to get back to the outdoors in any capacity. The peace and enjoyment is so nice. We are designed to be in nature. There is that slight thought of fear, and I feel it's more an aspect of trusting yourself but with cautiousl confidence. Sleeping at night can be really strange, with all the nighttime animals scurrying around. I'm always trying to figure out what they might be. Great video as always. Fire up those pancakes.
Learn to build a perimeter around where you’re camping. Kinda like a defensive fence. Paracord or nails and a portable hatchet can help you achieve that. So while you’re sleeping there’s a barrier between you and animals. Making it less likely they will mess with you. It’s a new concept I took to camping rather than building backwoods sheds which takes much longer and more skill. Hope that helps
You are very pleasant to watch and listen to! As a woman who does hiking and wild camping on my own I find this vid helpful.Most of the time I love being in nature but there are moments when anxiety spikes up and you are left with your own fears and noone to soothe and protect you but each time I go back home, I feel stronger
Thank you! Sounds like you’re on the right track, growing is scary sometimes but just like you say, each time you come back you’re stronger and one experience richer! :)
Animal encounters are the main thing that I freak myself out about. Studying the animal types that I have where I plan to camp and learning how to handle the encounters with them is helping me. The other thing that bothers me when I am solo camping is being in a strange place that has even minor dangers that I cannot see through the dark or walls of my tent. So one thing that I did was sleep in a tent right in front of my vehicle with the key fob next to me so that the headlights will shine all around when I press the lock button. This was just training wheels for the next increment to acclimating myself to solo nights in the wild. Helped too because it allowed me to retreat to my vehicle if I must. Next for me is to pack bear spray in my tent the whole time. For any encounter.
Wow, that’s a really good tip! Great way to get started! Reading up on potential dangers in the area is of course great to. The animals are also afraid of us! Keep me posted on your progress, I’d love to hear more about the creative ideas you got for overnighters! :)
Great advice Ted, thanks for sharing. Exploring the surroundings of your camp is the best piece of advice for me, it helps the imagination to calm down...! I'm hoping to do more solo camping soon. Congratulations on the Fjällrväven ambassador role. Cheers, Adam
I’m a pretty small female and due to unfortunate circumstances I ended up living in my small Honda Civic to get out of the car in the summertime I would camp. One of my greatest fears was camping solo because I don’t have firearms, but I had lots of knives, pepper spray, and bear spray. The fear wasn’t so much of the animals, but of humans and other campers can see when there’s a solo female camping. I had no choice, but to face my fear, was either that or suffocate in the heat in my car I tackled that fear and now I have no issues with camping by myself at all anymore, but it’s a pretty daunting experience.
Hey Ted, been watching the video's of you on the Fjällräven channel and been enjoying them. Real nice to see you get the opportunity to hopefully reach even more people. With all the viral crazyness going round I have had al lot less time to get outdoors, especially to go camping, but you're video's are always inspiring me to find some time to get in nature. Keep up the good work!
Is that the Keb shirt? I always get the creeps in my hammock, kind of feel like a ready to go burrito!! Got used to it now though. Woke up one morning in the new forest, UK with a horses head staring right at me, not justva head, rest of the horse was attached. Ear plugs are a good shout.
Love this video... I'm going to make my first solo overnight kayaking video tomorrow. I'm pretty experienced in the bush, have camped solo many times alone near civilization but this will be a first for me. I like the firewood tip about gathering wood and and exploring your surroundings during the day... Good tip that I can relate too
Very thoughtful , mindful. video. Rings a lot of bells . My first solo camps were punctuated with moments of anxiety but now they are my go to places to find peace . I personally didn’t change or even reflect , just sort of transitioned on its own . Great video
It is a good thing you address a real, but unsexy topic like this. I'm not used to solo camping at all, so I had adjust quite a bit during last September's road trip - and that was sleeping in a camper, not even under a tarp. So definitely something still to learn. Thanks for your take on it!
Great advice Ted. My fear will never go away to be honest as the region where I hike and camp are full of predators like Tigers, sun bears, pythons, panthers, wild boars, poisonous snakes etc. I can’t carry gun too 😅 good to be well prepared with essential survival tools. Cheers
Wow! Sounds like you have the opposite version to what I have, I totally understand your fear and respect for those animals. I hope you do all the necessary things to stay safe!
thats interesting. you are most scared of the species that are more likely to stay away from you? what about human lunatics, haters, police, troublemakers and snitches???? you don't see them as a problem? as a homeless tent dweller in the UK they are the only problem and everywhere else the main problem. please remember that
Here in the Southern US we have to be aware of bears and people. My biggest fear when camping in Appalachia is that there are a lot of food conditioned bears due to tourists and/or less than diligent campers. For peace of mind I make sure to hang my clothes and food at the same time and change into my sleeping clothes. I also have a bush knife and bear spray with me at all times. This helps me get a good night sleep 'cause 'what else can I do?'
that sounds like a good plan brother! as you say not all who stay in nature knows how to take care of nature or themselves for that matter! thanks for watching! :)
We own a bit of land in the norther part of Värmland and Im been thinking about building like a more permenant camp site to make it easier to start solo camping. Last time I was solo out in the woods was during my time in the army and now days I find to many reasons not to do it so thought this might be a way to adress that. Dont want to make anything to permanent but maby a fire place, a fire wood storage and a good path back to the homestead if I need to get back "home".
I binge watch cold weather, winter camping. It helps my depression and anxiety Soo much. It's something I REALLY want to do after watching for Soo MANY years. We camped all the time as a family. Thenni camped with my two Best friends in my 20s on overnights at the river. But Ive never Solo camped. Humans is what I'm afraid of. Biggest predator here in Oklahoma would be a bobcats in my region. I don't even own camping gear, but maybe go to garage sales and find stuff. I really wanna go this fall when it's cold. I think it will be Soo good for my mental health. Maybe I'll do it this year. Thanks for the tips and advice.
Interesting topic. I have been doing a lot of solocamping and I think it is always one self that starts off any negative feelings like fear. Like you said learning about the habitat and the dangers within that combined with learning some bushcraft skills will make you enjoy the night more. But sometimes I can get an feeling for the spot I have choosen that tells me to move on to another place without knowing exactly why. I usually follow that feeling but in the cases I have stayed, my night turned out not so enjoyable and that is mostly because of my own thoughts.
Thank you for this good video last night i balled out on my overnight camping. I had everything going good and set up. I got my campfire going god and cook me some hot dogs over the fire. as it got darker i decided to drown out my camp fire and pack up at 7;30 and left. even though there other campers in the area i had my own spot but I still felt very alone. in the past I've never slept good at night in my tent cause of animals bears and weird noises that was very disturbing. Don't know if i can bring myself to try it again.
And that is totally fine brother, good that you packed it in, being outdoors should be a nice experience, challenging at times too of course but overall it’s should be nice! I think it’s great that you saved your overnighter for a better one! :)
Overcome your fear solo EASY carry a magnum revolver and a 8" blade survival knife. Also I always carry a proximity alarm(Ebay < $15) and solar garden light with motion sensor as well as a bright flashlight, first aid kit and mini cherry bomb firework. When I hear a noise I light one and throw it out of my tent if the bang does not scare whatever is outside then it is magnum time.
Great tips all around. Although I prefer to hear what’s happening around me. :) My favorite is to get acquainted with your surroundings. That makes a huge difference for me. Take care!
I tried solo camping twice last year but had to turn around at the trail head. I don’t understand it, I’m not scared of the dark, I want to solo camp, think about doing it all year but I keep getting hit with this huge anxiety when I’m about to head out. Anyone have the same problem?
I’m so glad you shared this! I think we can all relate to this! I’ve been there too. When it happens for me I focus on trying to make it as nice and as comfortable for me as possible, maybe bring a camera and record your thoughts?
I just thought of this idea whilst watching your video. Would taking a few photos of your tent surroundings during the day help with your fears? I mean...if you were to hear noises at night or you're just scared of being alone in your tent at night, would looking at the photos you took during the day of your surroundings bring a sense of calmness and security, believing that anything you may hear at night could only be animals wandering through your campsite? What do you think?
Sure, why not? I think every action towards your own sense of security is good. Personally I think it’s just down to time in the dirt. The more you do it the more relaxed you’d feel, just like with everything else. My soul focus when I’m out now is just to get the best sleep I can, I feel at home in the tent I’m not worried about anything except not getting enough sleep.
Checkout is at 10.am tomorrow night I'm camping out. Lost my family home dogs cars I job I'm homeless in colorado .i I don't have food gear or food water all I got is my backpack and my bike I don't even have pocket knife. It sounds like I'm not ready to do this ...your right twhen I'm slomehis sucks. Ingorgoy convention ..im scared of the dark to o. Especially
Just did my first solo overnight trip a week ago, could have used this video before lol, being alone, exposed, with only your thoughts to occupy yourself, in bear country with noises in the pitch black was terrifying ngl. Stayed in my shelter as soon as night came, woke up with a squirrel on me so that was cool but I’m definitely gonna take some more precautions next time to feel a little safer.
Plus I’m scared of even dark rooms in my house so that doesn’t help when being in the middle of nowhere, slowly but surly I’ll get over it, I’ve already taken the first step so that’s good
This is awesome! Really excited for you brother, like you say, it’s a big step and there’s a whole world out there waiting for you. As you get more experience you’ll see that fear and doubt will slowly fade away and eventually you’ll be feeling like you’re in your own living room! (With the lights on) ;)
@@thenorthwestpassage2880 Love to hear this, I'm scared of the dark but I really want to go camping alone without that stopping it. I just bought all the equipment I need and will go this weekend hopefully. Just hope I can keep those annoying scary thoughts away when I'm out there
Great video and great advice.I want to get over my fear of solo camping so I can thru hike.I love hiking during the day but being out there at night scares me because of bears and coywolves.I tried last summer to camp in my backyard but unfortunately that was the night a coyote decided to chase a prey animal right past my tent yippin and howlin.I ran inside in a blind panic 😂coyotes are so cool but not 5 feet away.Anyways going to try again this summer.If others like yourself can get over their fear for their love of nature I think I can too.
You are so brave! it's of course one thing talking about it and hearing about it, it's completely different being there knowing that you can't just turn it off. If I were you I'd take the necessary precautions for both bears and the other predators, I don't know if there's one spray the fend them all or if you need to take different measures depending on the animal. a slow burning self feeding fire could hopefully help you get a relaxed night sleep and let the animals know you're there, from my experience they're not super excited about us being around for obvious reasons! keep me posted on your progress, I'd love to hear more!
No brother, honestly never heard of anyone carrying around here! Sure we all do have a small knife as a tool but that’s as far as it goes. Very rare with big game encounters or altercations. Sure we do have a lot of weirdos but they tend to stay in the cities! :)
Ted, how do you in Sweden deal with Brown Bears? You can't carry bear spray like we do here in the USA right? In Grizz country here, we usually carry a weapon. Annika and I want to hike Abisko North... :) I know when I lived there, the hunters told me you never see them or ever have to worry about them.. Hhhmmmm Brown Bears are super dangerous here... :( Thoughts?
@@TedWeirum hahahah For some reason that doesn't seem reassuring. :) There have been a few Grizz attacks/deaths this year and the encounters are becoming more frequent. :( I wonder what the difference is...
Checked out the KEB Eco Shell Jacket and ended up on this video somehow. I spend a lot of time outdoors photographing wildlife alone and have spent nearly my entire life camping (with others) but camping alone is something I will push my self to do.. I live in grizzly country so that bothers me a bit but its really just sleeping alone where I feel completely helpless. Lol I do need to conquer this fear though because its something I really want to be able to do. Thanks for the thoughts on the subject and all the Fjallraven reviews. Very helpful, subscribed. BTW; should I purchase the Fjallraven KEB Eco Shell or the Skogso jacket? The only thing that I worry about is sparks from my fire. Will this easily burn the eco shell? I feel like Maybe i would be better off with the Skogso and a poncho if wet weather strikes. Would like your thoughts. Thanks again.
Hey brother! Thank you for your input! Hope you take all the necessary precautions when you’re out! It’s just like you say the skogsö might be better around the fire but for everything else I’d use the keb.. it’s a tough choice, for rain and wind protection I’d go with the keb.. when I’m around the fire maybe you can use a different layer? The situation is a bit more relaxed when your in camp and you might be able to put up a tarp or something to help against rain and maybe be good with just a sweater? Wouldn’t want you to be wet when moving! 💪🏼
@@TedWeirum yeah after a bit of thinking, I’m just going with the KEB. I would rather have the water protection without having to worry about carrying a poncho. If I get some burn holes oh well, maybe it will add ventilation. 😂😂 I think if I’m careful it will be alright. There is a “Deep Forrest” color here in the US that I think I will get. Haven’t saw a video on that color but it looks pretty nice. Thanks again Ted! Hope life is treating you right! 💪🏻
I’ve been thinking about camping alone so that I can clear my head and get away from being responsible for others for a few days. The idea sounds great but it’s recently occurred to me this very thing, Being alone. For me it would be some weirdo wandering along the trail or my campsite while I’m asleep and doing something to me before I even knew they were there. I know it’s a remote possibility but tell that to your imagination when it’s just you and the voice in your head sitting there for hours on end. I think car camping might help, as it gives you a hard shell between you and the outside.
i understand what you mean, I still think it very good that you're open to it! here's the thing, we always assume that the other person is the wierdo or even has the upper hand, if I would find someone sleeping in a campsite at night I would be very careful to wake that person up. the other person probably thinks im the weirdo! haha, bottom line is that I think people would be just as scared of you as you are of them, in most cases! I really hope you get to try it a couple of times so you can see the benefits of it! best of luck!
have you done it with somebody? that could be a start too! also finding a place where people don't go, in the next video ill be talking about winter camping a bit, no one is out now, at least not in Sweden in the south where I live! or.. well.. very few number of people! most of them are probably subbed to this channel! :)
@@TedWeirum I used to camp, before kids, with friends and then my wife and friends buts it’s been probably fifteen years since I’ve camped out at all. So the concepts aren’t foreign to me. Our favorite thing to do was camp over the weekend and do a canoeing “float trip” and then head back home on Sunday morning. Now I think I’m just looking for peace and quiet and be away from civilization for a while. Camping in isolated or solitary places would certainly be a different approach outside of my previous experiences. Speaking of winter camping….I’ve been watching tons of videos on hot tent camping which looks like fun. I prefer cold over summer insects (I think) lol
When I lived in Skåne I was never ever afraid of going into the wild. Unfortunately, in the US I'm terrified :-( everybody's got a gun here, even mentally unstable people :-( So many people disappear on the trail each year, it's crazy! Going solo is really a big deal here. Too bad I'm so scared now because North America has the most amazing National Parks to offer.
Whats your take on fire at night. Is it a beacon to guide unpleasant people to your campsite, or is it good protection that keep wild boars and other predators away?
That’s a good one! I find that there are more wild boars than unpleasant people in the woods.. maybe I’m the unpleasant one? I haven’t met any unpleasant wild boars or people yet. If I’m at a shelter I leave the fire on, if I’m wild camping I put it out. How about you?
@@ellie_borden Obviously making no fire is the most convenient and environmentally sound way. But my question assumed that you actually do need fire, for warmth or cooking.
I’ve found anxiety starts to build when darkness sets in when camping alone but when I start a fire it immediately calms my nerves. It’s almost like a prehistoric instinct that the fire gives you peace.
That was an amazing video, Ted!! Very genuine. If I may; I had to get to the mountains bad. It was a calling if U will! I had to go hiking & camping in Colorado. That was the determined destination, just my wife & I. It was April too. It was still pretty chilly @ nite...there was 1 nite it got real damn cold!! This was my/our 1st experience really hiking & camping like this. We didn’t know what we were doing. Guys, I had on jeans, & my 1st little pack, a Teton hydration pack. We over packed it w/ Tupperware & all kinds of BS we thought we needed 🤣 super uncomfortable to carry. There’s snow all over the ground, don’t forget, mind U we’re from Dallas, TX too, it’s the middle of April, & we set out to hike up Pikes Peak, 🤣 we didn’t get but 100 yards up the trail & my wife was slipping off the side of the mountain! We turned around & started back to the car. The jeans...U can imagine the combo of snow & jeans, & how well they pair together 🤣 never again! I currently rock the Abisko Lite Trekking trousers!! Thx to Ted.
That makes sense, and things like that have happened. It’s like shark attacks, it seems like the entire ocean is dangerous after an attack. That said, it’s still extremely rare, the chance of you having the time of your life, enjoying nature and learning new things about yourself and your surroundings is almost guaranteed. :) Crazy people exist everywhere so I hope that doesn’t discourage you!
It's all beautiful and great till the woods fall silent and you get charged by a cougar from behind it's a terrifying experience also scary when you get between a sow and cub foraging along a trail .
i am afraid of monsters of course. i am planning a trip alone. just walking to the coast and then back again if i feel like it. sleeping outside. Honestly i am just going to bring a sturdy walking stick and it will work as a weapon. soothes the fear a bit.
@@TedWeirum all the monsters from all the medias i have ever consumed xD. i have watched too much about bigfoot, dogman, ghosts etc. my imagination is pretty damn spooky because i imagine monsters running at me from out of the dark and stuff like that. every time i shine my flashlight into dark woods my mind already anticipates the 2 eyes glowing back or some ugly mug of a beast. Also my hearing is really good so a slight sound in the brush and i am on edge.
My perspective is that I have a worry, not something I'm scared of. For me, rats are always a problem but how I stow my gear is up to me so if I get inundated it's pretty much my fault. I'm in New Zealand so maybe rats are more of a problem here than other places. As for people problems, I haven't had to bury anyone yet so, mehh.
I tend to leave dead bodies unburied, the animals help with the disposal. We do have mice and stuff that like to eat on the backpacks here, that can be a problem if you don’t like holes in your pack! :)
Good video. On a solo trip, one thing I have learned is to move slowly and with caution. For example, stepping over rather than jumping over that fallen tree on your path. Jumping over that fallen tree might mean a twisted ankle which is not a lot of fun if your 20 kilometers from the start of the trail. Getting lost is always a big worry of mine. Besides knowing how to use a map and a compass do you recommend any handheld GPS devices? Also guidebooks for Sweden, Norway, and Finland. I am hoping to get back to Scandinavia once this COVID-19 is under control I usually find a good trail guide goes a long way in helping to find your way along the trail
Agreed! There’s really no point in rushing through! I usually go by map and compass, I haven’t gotten much experience with gps devices other than my phone, I’m sure there’s plenty of good options out there!
The tick does not forget about his predator he is silent and very dangerous if you forget not to constantly check for them. Are you north in Sweden? I'm south in Germany I envy you, so much more you can do in the woods without getting in trouble.
Have a staff...just a stick, 2.5cm diameter, almost as tall as you are, and learn to use it as a Bo, a peasant weapon. You can use it as a walking staff on the trail, it doesn't concern people/police as having a gun would, and it's to hand within moments if you feel threatened by anyone. It's also a lot more difficult to approach someone wielding a staff, particularly if they know how to use it as a weapon. It takes half a day to learn four key attack moves, and some blocking moves...just take it out and practice every once in a while...learn how to hit things and defend yourself with it, essentially, especially handy if you're a woman on your own.
Living in Germoney you don't have to think about things like that. Camping is illegal, except in campsites. Not to mention having a campfire, not even on campsites.
Bears and wild animals I just try and prepare for, but yeah humans are always the wild card because they are so unpredictable. If it’s an insane person wanting to do some stuff at your site you’re gonna have to be ready to fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s ark and it’s starting to rain.
Good analogy right there! But yeah, unfortunately I totally agree. So far in my experience it’s always been good vibes with everyone I’ve met. Some better vibes than others of course but I haven’t really felt an extremely bad feeling. Then again I look like a cave man so people might not want to mess with that… 🙃
I did like i alway have ...snake in the beer cooler /snake in the tent samejob done .it wad a diamond backi cant believe at 66 yrs old i do such stupid shit@!!!oh well bye bye buddy i went back to sleeping under window at city haall no shit the lady was at her desk when i sat on bag and jumped off it. She came outside an told me i could sstay under her window...i didnt know john baker was reall chp the yold me go back to city hall gav me a ridetoo ....
I gave you a thumbs up because I appreciate the effort. You had me until you said leave the guns at home. I have to say, you are completely incorrect about that part. Not only do they relieve your fears and give you confidence. They also make you brave enough to stand toe to toe with that predator and not run...if you run, you are food. As an experienced hunter and outdoorsman I can promise you if you run from a bear or wolf you will lose that race and then you become a snack. That's how mother nature works. That does not mean you have to shoot the predator, but, a well placed volly across the bow as they say often times will send that predator running and if they choose to disregard and go after you anyway, you do have an extremely effective form of protection. Bear spray only works if you are up wind. Try it when your down wind and it is just seasoning. I think it is reckless to advise your viewers not to take the best form of protection with them in the woods. A gun is just a tool, one you use to protect yourself. Something you should remember.
I get what you mean John, I do state in the video that if you’re in areas with grizzlies for example I advice to take the right precautions, it’s around 5:50 minutes in to the video, the right precautions might mean a gun. I’m all about safety and doing the right things. Where I live it’s not necessary to carry a gun, common sense would take you just as far. I understand that you’re food if you start to run, it’s really important to read up on the animals that are in your area. What kind of gun do you carry?
@@TedWeirum not a handgun. I feel handguns are extremely difficult to aim if you are frightened and your adrenalin is surging. When camping I carry a lever action .45-70 gov rifle. It has a VERY loud report which can frighten off perspective predators. Although I am a hunter as well, I have no desire to kill any animal that I do not have a legal tag to kill. Have never had to kill a predator yet. But, did scare off a black bear mother and her cubs one time (could have been a very dangerous situation). When I am hunting I carry an 8mm mauser rifle.
Glad to hear that, that makes sense to me. My view is that a lot of people carry handguns, that’s pretty much where I don’t see the point. I think it’s ok to carry a gun in areas where black bears and similar animals live.
I get your point brother, maybe it would be better to lower the volume on the music a bit. How are you watching the video, from a phone? iPad? Tv? Good to know for future reference! Thanks for your input!
I don’t know mate. Having a gun and leaving it at home seems like a horrible advice. Why would you leave your main protection behind? Bears don’t leave claws at home. If you can, get a good handgun. It’s what gave me confidence to backpack, lol
@@TedWeirum spray will most likely work. However, if you are unlucky and find that starving, crazy bear with enough drive to keep going, the only thing that will save you is a decent enough gun. Bear spray is a bluff, don’t forget that. It’s a deterrent. A gun is to wound and kill. Yes, the best protection is always a gun
i lve in Cyprus,we have probably one of the lowest crime rates anywhere,no wild animals(only a few species of snakes)but coming from South Africa where when camping out there are leopards,baboons to name a few,we would always build a huge fire which kept us safe and we could sleep in peace,the thing is what do you do if you encounter a human with bad intentions,so i'de say it's the situation that bothers me.. @@TedWeirum
@outandabout5815 I get what you mean, and sure things do happen, as they do everywhere, I’ve been out more times than I can count and in places that’s not secluded. I’ve never had a problem with humans, I tend to solve your issue by simply trying to get as far away from other people :)
I understand what you mean brother, however, it's not very common around Scandinavia that people bring firearms when in the outdoors. hunters yes but the rest of us no, then again we don't have any predators in that manner here either! it all boils down to where you are! :)
Fear and anxiety of overnight solo camping? Don't go then, it's not for you. The whole point of solo camping is quite the opposite really. A longing for solitude and release of anxiety. Yes, safety is of utmost importance, but doing your home work about your gear, park guidelines (if necessary), local people, plants and wildlife, weather, navigation, protection and emergency response..etc is quite basic. Do your due diligence and the willingness for seclusion and self reliance should outweigh the rest. That is if you're genuinely up for it.
@@TedWeirum this is 100% what it’s about. The OP here sounds incredibly ignorant lol, maybe trying to puff out their chest or something. But it’s 100% about overcoming the fear. If your mindset is “I’m scared of something, so therefore I shouldn’t do it” - you will have a very stale and sheltered life. Life begins on the edge of our comfort zones. Thanks for making this video, Ted.
The scary thing for me with camping alone is not the animals or weird noises. It's the fear of other humans. Im scared that a person or persons are gonna come across me while Im sleeping. And that they wanna screw with me or even hurt me .
I feel the same way, best way to deal with that is to build yourself up both mentally and physically, people tend to not want to mess with you if you make yourself unfuckwithable. :)
That is the most legitimate fear. Humans are always the main danger and problem. As their minds and intent can vary and they can do anything. Wild nature is more predictable. I am a homeless guy living out of a tent in the uk and i am only concerned about human troublemakers, snitches, haters and of course the police. They are the real challenge.
@adamfreeman2348 I agree brother! I hope it works out for you!
Ahh yes, the elusive beer. I once killed 12 of them by myself. After that, I was no longer afraid of overnight camping!
Happens to everyone ;)
Sorry I don't drink alcoholyeah Fuck it. I know. Where there's an abandoned gold mine I'm gonna make that my
Camp spot there's a ammo room. But it's dark need a Badass torch it's spooky dark. I'm interested in your opinions on this tell me what you d do
Priority no 1 would be to find a place to live and then get a job. Sounds like you have nothing to loose and all to win! Get to it!
@@TedWeirum thank you . I'm on it
& it leads to sleeping in the buff.
'coming home to the wild' . . I Like that, thankyou
Thank you, as you know, this is where we all started once! :)
I feel and completely agree on your sentiments of how good it feels to get back to the outdoors in any capacity. The peace and enjoyment is so nice. We are designed to be in nature.
There is that slight thought of fear, and I feel it's more an aspect of trusting yourself but with cautiousl confidence. Sleeping at night can be really strange, with all the nighttime animals scurrying around. I'm always trying to figure out what they might be. Great video as always. Fire up those pancakes.
Thanks brother! Glad to get your input! The pancakes was a complete disaster 🤣
Learn to build a perimeter around where you’re camping. Kinda like a defensive fence. Paracord or nails and a portable hatchet can help you achieve that. So while you’re sleeping there’s a barrier between you and animals. Making it less likely they will mess with you. It’s a new concept I took to camping rather than building backwoods sheds which takes much longer and more skill. Hope that helps
Good input brother!
Your voice is so calm and confident that my fear goes from 100 to 0 real quick
Hahaha, it’s usually the other way around! Glad I can help! :)
you sound so peaceful. thank you for your tips
I feel pretty peaceful, thank you brother! :)
You are very pleasant to watch and listen to! As a woman who does hiking and wild camping on my own I find this vid helpful.Most of the time I love being in nature but there are moments when anxiety spikes up and you are left with your own fears and noone to soothe and protect you but each time I go back home, I feel stronger
Thank you! Sounds like you’re on the right track, growing is scary sometimes but just like you say, each time you come back you’re stronger and one experience richer! :)
Animal encounters are the main thing that I freak myself out about. Studying the animal types that I have where I plan to camp and learning how to handle the encounters with them is helping me. The other thing that bothers me when I am solo camping is being in a strange place that has even minor dangers that I cannot see through the dark or walls of my tent. So one thing that I did was sleep in a tent right in front of my vehicle with the key fob next to me so that the headlights will shine all around when I press the lock button. This was just training wheels for the next increment to acclimating myself to solo nights in the wild. Helped too because it allowed me to retreat to my vehicle if I must. Next for me is to pack bear spray in my tent the whole time. For any encounter.
Wow, that’s a really good tip! Great way to get started! Reading up on potential dangers in the area is of course great to. The animals are also afraid of us! Keep me posted on your progress, I’d love to hear more about the creative ideas you got for overnighters! :)
Great idea regarding the placement of your vehicle in relation to your tent. I will absolutely be doing this in the future.
Thank you very much for this calming and thoughtful video.
My pleasure brother! :)
Your amazing, you helped me get over the fear of sleeping nights when there is a school trip
Hey, that’s nice to hear! :) best of luck!
Great advice Ted, thanks for sharing. Exploring the surroundings of your camp is the best piece of advice for me, it helps the imagination to calm down...! I'm hoping to do more solo camping soon. Congratulations on the Fjällrväven ambassador role. Cheers, Adam
Hey Adam! Thank you so much brother! :)
That's good advice to ease into it and go with people at first. I went twice backpacking by myself and scared both times even though nothing happens.
Yeah, it really shouldn’t be something we should be afraid of, we came from nature! :)
I’m a pretty small female and due to unfortunate circumstances I ended up living in my small Honda Civic to get out of the car in the summertime I would camp. One of my greatest fears was camping solo because I don’t have firearms, but I had lots of knives, pepper spray, and bear spray. The fear wasn’t so much of the animals, but of humans and other campers can see when there’s a solo female camping. I had no choice, but to face my fear, was either that or suffocate in the heat in my car I tackled that fear and now I have no issues with camping by myself at all anymore, but it’s a pretty daunting experience.
Sounds like you live in the US, I hope the the table has turned for you! Glad you overcame it!
Thank you so much for making this video. Ive been struggling for years with falling asleep at night due to my hyper-focus on sounds.
Thank you watching! How is it now?
Same
Hey Ted, been watching the video's of you on the Fjällräven channel and been enjoying them. Real nice to see you get the opportunity to hopefully reach even more people.
With all the viral crazyness going round I have had al lot less time to get outdoors, especially to go camping, but you're video's are always inspiring me to find some time to get in nature. Keep up the good work!
Hey brother, thank you so much! We will see what the future holds, I hope to be able to bring you more adventures, reviews and good times! Stay safe!
Is that the Keb shirt? I always get the creeps in my hammock, kind of feel like a ready to go burrito!! Got used to it now though. Woke up one morning in the new forest, UK with a horses head staring right at me, not justva head, rest of the horse was attached. Ear plugs are a good shout.
hahaha, what a blast.. that never happened to me! yet..
That would be quite startling. :) I have a bivy sack and never used it. It totally feels like a ready to go burrito. Lol
I get what you mean brother!
Love this video... I'm going to make my first solo overnight kayaking video tomorrow. I'm pretty experienced in the bush, have camped solo many times alone near civilization but this will be a first for me. I like the firewood tip about gathering wood and and exploring your surroundings during the day... Good tip that I can relate too
Awesome brother! Let me know how it went! Will you be showing your video somewhere?
Amazing advice, I feel like you make a lot of sense when you mention how to remain calm considering you are going back home. Very interesting stuff.
Not sure I follow you here, i think you can see on the channel that I have a few nights alone in the woods, please elaborate :)
Very thoughtful , mindful. video. Rings a lot of bells . My first solo camps were punctuated with moments of anxiety but now they are my go to places to find peace .
I personally didn’t change or even reflect , just sort of transitioned on its own .
Great video
Thanks brother!
It is a good thing you address a real, but unsexy topic like this. I'm not used to solo camping at all, so I had adjust quite a bit during last September's road trip - and that was sleeping in a camper, not even under a tarp. So definitely something still to learn. Thanks for your take on it!
Thanks brother, I hope there's more people out there that dare to take the step and try it out! : )
@@TedWeirum this convinced me to just go out and do it. What real difference from the day? Other than not seeing
So happy to hear that brother! How did it go?
Great advice Ted. My fear will never go away to be honest as the region where I hike and camp are full of predators like Tigers, sun bears, pythons, panthers, wild boars, poisonous snakes etc. I can’t carry gun too 😅 good to be well prepared with essential survival tools. Cheers
Wow! Sounds like you have the opposite version to what I have, I totally understand your fear and respect for those animals. I hope you do all the necessary things to stay safe!
thats interesting. you are most scared of the species that are more likely to stay away from you? what about human lunatics, haters, police, troublemakers and snitches???? you don't see them as a problem? as a homeless tent dweller in the UK they are the only problem and everywhere else the main problem. please remember that
Nice surroundings looks a bit like the local walks I go walking in and thanks for sharing your experiences with us
My pleasure Peter! :)
Here in the Southern US we have to be aware of bears and people. My biggest fear when camping in Appalachia is that there are a lot of food conditioned bears due to tourists and/or less than diligent campers. For peace of mind I make sure to hang my clothes and food at the same time and change into my sleeping clothes. I also have a bush knife and bear spray with me at all times. This helps me get a good night sleep 'cause 'what else can I do?'
that sounds like a good plan brother! as you say not all who stay in nature knows how to take care of nature or themselves for that matter! thanks for watching! :)
We own a bit of land in the norther part of Värmland and Im been thinking about building like a more permenant camp site to make it easier to start solo camping.
Last time I was solo out in the woods was during my time in the army and now days I find to many reasons not to do it so thought this might be a way to adress that.
Dont want to make anything to permanent but maby a fire place, a fire wood storage and a good path back to the homestead if I need to get back "home".
That sounds like a fun project, let me know how it goes and if you want some company sometime! :)
@@TedWeirum Will do mate!
hi Ted ,i can see how much it means to you to be able to do these trips ,and talk about and share some of your tips with use many thanks .
My pleasure brother!
I binge watch cold weather, winter camping. It helps my depression and anxiety Soo much. It's something I REALLY want to do after watching for Soo MANY years.
We camped all the time as a family. Thenni camped with my two Best friends in my 20s on overnights at the river.
But Ive never Solo camped.
Humans is what I'm afraid of.
Biggest predator here in Oklahoma would be a bobcats in my region. I don't even own camping gear, but maybe go to garage sales and find stuff. I really wanna go this fall when it's cold. I think it will be Soo good for my mental health. Maybe I'll do it this year. Thanks for the tips and advice.
I think it would help a lot, do you do day hikes? Otherwise that could be a great start!
Thanks for the tips
hope it helps! let me know if you do decide to do it one day! : )
Thank you I still need to do my first solo.
I've been there too, one thing at a time. it's always going to be you vs you.
Thanks 🙏 for the great insight!
Anytime brother!
Interesting topic. I have been doing a lot of solocamping and I think it is always one self that starts off any negative feelings like fear. Like you said learning about the habitat and the dangers within that combined with learning some bushcraft skills will make you enjoy the night more. But sometimes I can get an feeling for the spot I have choosen that tells me to move on to another place without knowing exactly why. I usually follow that feeling but in the cases I have stayed, my night turned out not so enjoyable and that is mostly because of my own thoughts.
Yeah, same here. That’s some interesting thing we have in our heads. I also trust that feeling!
Thank you for this good video
last night i balled out on my overnight camping. I had everything going good and set up. I got my campfire going god and cook me some hot dogs over the fire. as it got darker i decided to drown out my camp fire and pack up at 7;30 and left.
even though there other campers in the area i had my own spot but I still felt very alone. in the past I've never slept good at night in my tent cause of animals bears and weird noises that was very disturbing. Don't know if i can bring myself to try it again.
And that is totally fine brother, good that you packed it in, being outdoors should be a nice experience, challenging at times too of course but overall it’s should be nice! I think it’s great that you saved your overnighter for a better one! :)
TY for this.
My pleasure brother! :)
Falling trees and branches while sleeping, that's what I'm most worried about. Love the content too
Agreed, really unpredictable. Thanks!
Plenty of solid advice here Ted. Keep em rollin' ! 😊
Thanks buddy! :)
Overcome your fear solo EASY carry a magnum revolver and a 8" blade survival knife. Also I always carry a proximity alarm(Ebay < $15) and solar garden light with motion sensor as well as a bright flashlight, first aid kit and mini cherry bomb firework. When I hear a noise I light one and throw it out of my tent if the bang does not scare whatever is outside then it is magnum time.
It does sound a bit stressful. Do you live in a area with a lot of predators?
Great tips all around. Although I prefer to hear what’s happening around me. :) My favorite is to get acquainted with your surroundings. That makes a huge difference for me. Take care!
Hey René! That’s a great tip, I’m sure a lot of people prefer it that way! :)
I tried solo camping twice last year but had to turn around at the trail head. I don’t understand it, I’m not scared of the dark, I want to solo camp, think about doing it all year but I keep getting hit with this huge anxiety when I’m about to head out. Anyone have the same problem?
I’m so glad you shared this! I think we can all relate to this! I’ve been there too. When it happens for me I focus on trying to make it as nice and as comfortable for me as possible, maybe bring a camera and record your thoughts?
"that's a fantastic noise" 🙌🙌🙌
Thanks! :)
I just thought of this idea whilst watching your video. Would taking a few photos of your tent surroundings during the day help with your fears? I mean...if you were to hear noises at night or you're just scared of being alone in your tent at night, would looking at the photos you took during the day of your surroundings bring a sense of calmness and security, believing that anything you may hear at night could only be animals wandering through your campsite? What do you think?
Sure, why not? I think every action towards your own sense of security is good. Personally I think it’s just down to time in the dirt. The more you do it the more relaxed you’d feel, just like with everything else. My soul focus when I’m out now is just to get the best sleep I can, I feel at home in the tent I’m not worried about anything except not getting enough sleep.
Im scared coz here in our country there are a lot of urban legends about ghosts and fairies who protect their forests😭
Aah! we'll maybe you can be the person who finally finds one and interview it? I'm sure Netflix would be all over it! :)
Checkout is at 10.am tomorrow night I'm camping out. Lost my family home dogs cars I job I'm homeless in colorado .i I don't have food gear or food water all I got is my backpack and my bike I don't even have pocket knife. It sounds like I'm not ready to do this ...your right twhen I'm slomehis sucks. Ingorgoy convention ..im scared of the dark to o. Especially
What happened John?
I love solo hiking and camping.
Me too!
Looks like you're still rocking those trekking tights. I love mine.
Oh yes! :) 💪🏼✌🏼🤙🏼
Awesome video as always brother 👍🏻
Thanks brother! I know you got some tips on this subject ;)
Idk how can I thank you, thank you
You already did brother! Just enjoy and be happy!
Just did my first solo overnight trip a week ago, could have used this video before lol, being alone, exposed, with only your thoughts to occupy yourself, in bear country with noises in the pitch black was terrifying ngl. Stayed in my shelter as soon as night came, woke up with a squirrel on me so that was cool but I’m definitely gonna take some more precautions next time to feel a little safer.
Plus I’m scared of even dark rooms in my house so that doesn’t help when being in the middle of nowhere, slowly but surly I’ll get over it, I’ve already taken the first step so that’s good
This is awesome! Really excited for you brother, like you say, it’s a big step and there’s a whole world out there waiting for you. As you get more experience you’ll see that fear and doubt will slowly fade away and eventually you’ll be feeling like you’re in your own living room! (With the lights on) ;)
@@thenorthwestpassage2880 Love to hear this, I'm scared of the dark but I really want to go camping alone without that stopping it. I just bought all the equipment I need and will go this weekend hopefully. Just hope I can keep those annoying scary thoughts away when I'm out there
One small step at a time! Think about the next thing you need to do, and forget about the big goal! Let me know how it went! :)
Great video and great advice.I want to get over my fear of solo camping so I can thru hike.I love hiking during the day but being out there at night scares me because of bears and coywolves.I tried last summer to camp in my backyard but unfortunately that was the night a coyote decided to chase a prey animal right past my tent yippin and howlin.I ran inside in a blind panic 😂coyotes are so cool but not 5 feet away.Anyways going to try again this summer.If others like yourself can get over their fear for their love of nature I think I can too.
You are so brave!
it's of course one thing talking about it and hearing about it, it's completely different being there knowing that you can't just turn it off.
If I were you I'd take the necessary precautions for both bears and the other predators, I don't know if there's one spray the fend them all or if you need to take different measures depending on the animal.
a slow burning self feeding fire could hopefully help you get a relaxed night sleep and let the animals know you're there, from my experience they're not super excited about us being around for obvious reasons!
keep me posted on your progress, I'd love to hear more!
Do y'all Carry ? I do on overnight stay in the mountains by myself
No brother, honestly never heard of anyone carrying around here! Sure we all do have a small knife as a tool but that’s as far as it goes.
Very rare with big game encounters or altercations. Sure we do have a lot of weirdos but they tend to stay in the cities! :)
I'm an army helicopter pilot. I've flown many hours without doors unafraid off heights. Tall buildings or bridges make me shiver.
Interesting to see how different we all are! :) thanks for sharing brother
Great Video !!! Thank you
Thank you! :)
9:33 a mouse shows up behind Ted's left shoulder. Runs around for a bit.
Good eye! :)
@@TedWeirum That's one predator you forgot to mention 😅 Luckily it didn't wanna eat you.
He ate my bag however! :)
Ted, how do you in Sweden deal with Brown Bears? You can't carry bear spray like we do here in the USA right? In Grizz country here, we usually carry a weapon. Annika and I want to hike Abisko North... :) I know when I lived there, the hunters told me you never see them or ever have to worry about them.. Hhhmmmm Brown Bears are super dangerous here... :( Thoughts?
Same as the hunters, if you’re lucky enough to see one you should be happy!
@@TedWeirum hahahah For some reason that doesn't seem reassuring. :)
There have been a few Grizz attacks/deaths this year and the encounters are becoming more frequent. :( I wonder what the difference is...
We seldom see that around here, thankfully!
Checked out the KEB Eco Shell Jacket and ended up on this video somehow. I spend a lot of time outdoors photographing wildlife alone and have spent nearly my entire life camping (with others) but camping alone is something I will push my self to do.. I live in grizzly country so that bothers me a bit but its really just sleeping alone where I feel completely helpless. Lol I do need to conquer this fear though because its something I really want to be able to do. Thanks for the thoughts on the subject and all the Fjallraven reviews. Very helpful, subscribed. BTW; should I purchase the Fjallraven KEB Eco Shell or the Skogso jacket? The only thing that I worry about is sparks from my fire. Will this easily burn the eco shell? I feel like Maybe i would be better off with the Skogso and a poncho if wet weather strikes. Would like your thoughts. Thanks again.
Hey brother! Thank you for your input! Hope you take all the necessary precautions when you’re out!
It’s just like you say the skogsö might be better around the fire but for everything else I’d use the keb.. it’s a tough choice, for rain and wind protection I’d go with the keb.. when I’m around the fire maybe you can use a different layer? The situation is a bit more relaxed when your in camp and you might be able to put up a tarp or something to help against rain and maybe be good with just a sweater? Wouldn’t want you to be wet when moving! 💪🏼
@@TedWeirum yeah after a bit of thinking, I’m just going with the KEB. I would rather have the water protection without having to worry about carrying a poncho. If I get some burn holes oh well, maybe it will add ventilation. 😂😂 I think if I’m careful it will be alright. There is a “Deep Forrest” color here in the US that I think I will get. Haven’t saw a video on that color but it looks pretty nice. Thanks again Ted! Hope life is treating you right! 💪🏻
I think that’s the right choice! I love that color! :) let me know how it goes!
@@TedWeirum I certainly will my friend!
My experience is different. Have no fear of camping alone. Just get very overwhelmed and lonely. So i just leave campsite.
I’ve felt that at times to, doesn’t necessarily need to be outdoors.. well said
I’ve been thinking about camping alone so that I can clear my head and get away from being responsible for others for a few days. The idea sounds great but it’s recently occurred to me this very thing, Being alone. For me it would be some weirdo wandering along the trail or my campsite while I’m asleep and doing something to me before I even knew they were there. I know it’s a remote possibility but tell that to your imagination when it’s just you and the voice in your head sitting there for hours on end. I think car camping might help, as it gives you a hard shell between you and the outside.
i understand what you mean, I still think it very good that you're open to it! here's the thing, we always assume that the other person is the wierdo or even has the upper hand, if I would find someone sleeping in a campsite at night I would be very careful to wake that person up. the other person probably thinks im the weirdo! haha, bottom line is that I think people would be just as scared of you as you are of them, in most cases! I really hope you get to try it a couple of times so you can see the benefits of it! best of luck!
@@TedWeirum yes you are right. That’s just one of those default settings in our brains
have you done it with somebody? that could be a start too! also finding a place where people don't go, in the next video ill be talking about winter camping a bit, no one is out now, at least not in Sweden in the south where I live! or.. well.. very few number of people! most of them are probably subbed to this channel! :)
@@TedWeirum I used to camp, before kids, with friends and then my wife and friends buts it’s been probably fifteen years since I’ve camped out at all. So the concepts aren’t foreign to me. Our favorite thing to do was camp over the weekend and do a canoeing “float trip” and then head back home on Sunday morning. Now I think I’m just looking for peace and quiet and be away from civilization for a while. Camping in isolated or solitary places would certainly be a different approach outside of my previous experiences. Speaking of winter camping….I’ve been watching tons of videos on hot tent camping which looks like fun. I prefer cold over summer insects (I think) lol
Same here! :)
When I lived in Skåne I was never ever afraid of going into the wild. Unfortunately, in the US I'm terrified :-( everybody's got a gun here, even mentally unstable people :-( So many people disappear on the trail each year, it's crazy! Going solo is really a big deal here. Too bad I'm so scared now because North America has the most amazing National Parks to offer.
I know, nature should be a place of peace and tranquility, not fear! the door is open in Sweden for you when you come back!
I’m in Texas and carry a gun just in case. It gives me peace of mind for sure. Bear spray in bear country.
That’s the most important, piece of mind and focus on nature! :)
Whats your take on fire at night. Is it a beacon to guide unpleasant people to your campsite,
or is it good protection that keep wild boars and other predators away?
That’s a good one! I find that there are more wild boars than unpleasant people in the woods.. maybe I’m the unpleasant one?
I haven’t met any unpleasant wild boars or people yet. If I’m at a shelter I leave the fire on, if I’m wild camping I put it out. How about you?
Wise words!
@@ellie_borden Obviously making no fire is the most convenient and environmentally sound way. But my question assumed that you actually do need fire, for warmth or cooking.
I’ve found anxiety starts to build when darkness sets in when camping alone but when I start a fire it immediately calms my nerves. It’s almost like a prehistoric instinct that the fire gives you peace.
Agree!
That was an amazing video, Ted!! Very genuine. If I may; I had to get to the mountains bad. It was a calling if U will! I had to go hiking & camping in Colorado. That was the determined destination, just my wife & I. It was April too. It was still pretty chilly @ nite...there was 1 nite it got real damn cold!! This was my/our 1st experience really hiking & camping like this. We didn’t know what we were doing. Guys, I had on jeans, & my 1st little pack, a Teton hydration pack. We over packed it w/ Tupperware & all kinds of BS we thought we needed 🤣 super uncomfortable to carry. There’s snow all over the ground, don’t forget, mind U we’re from Dallas, TX too, it’s the middle of April, & we set out to hike up Pikes Peak, 🤣 we didn’t get but 100 yards up the trail & my wife was slipping off the side of the mountain! We turned around & started back to the car. The jeans...U can imagine the combo of snow & jeans, & how well they pair together 🤣 never again! I currently rock the Abisko Lite Trekking trousers!! Thx to Ted.
Wow, what a story brother. Really cool that you guys didn’t gave up on hiking but instead you learned and got back out! :)
I worry about crazy people wanting to hurt you since your alone and vulnerable
That makes sense, and things like that have happened. It’s like shark attacks, it seems like the entire ocean is dangerous after an attack. That said, it’s still extremely rare, the chance of you having the time of your life, enjoying nature and learning new things about yourself and your surroundings is almost guaranteed. :)
Crazy people exist everywhere so I hope that doesn’t discourage you!
It's all beautiful and great till the woods fall silent and you get charged by a cougar from behind it's a terrifying experience also scary when you get between a sow and cub foraging along a trail .
I'm prepared to agree with you on this one Casey! did this happen to you?
For a second I thought you said 'hawks' and not 'hogs', so I was picturing birds running after you with their little feet 😂
This happens to me more often than one would think! :P
i am afraid of monsters of course. i am planning a trip alone. just walking to the coast and then back again if i feel like it. sleeping outside. Honestly i am just going to bring a sturdy walking stick and it will work as a weapon. soothes the fear a bit.
Who isn’t!? What monsters are you afraid of then?
@@TedWeirum all the monsters from all the medias i have ever consumed xD. i have watched too much about bigfoot, dogman, ghosts etc. my imagination is pretty damn spooky because i imagine monsters running at me from out of the dark and stuff like that. every time i shine my flashlight into dark woods my mind already anticipates the 2 eyes glowing back or some ugly mug of a beast.
Also my hearing is really good so a slight sound in the brush and i am on edge.
But don’t forget that monsters are afraid too! :) hope get out and give it a go! One step at a time!
@@TedWeirum yeah that is what i realized after years of never going. i just gotta pack my stuff and head out. and take it on the chin
Yeah! But you don’t have to do it all at once, small steps!
My perspective is that I have a worry, not something I'm scared of. For me, rats are always a problem but how I stow my gear is up to me so if I get inundated it's pretty much my fault. I'm in New Zealand so maybe rats are more of a problem here than other places. As for people problems, I haven't had to bury anyone yet so, mehh.
I tend to leave dead bodies unburied, the animals help with the disposal.
We do have mice and stuff that like to eat on the backpacks here, that can be a problem if you don’t like holes in your pack! :)
Good video. On a solo trip, one thing I have learned is to move slowly and with caution. For example, stepping over rather than jumping over that fallen tree on your path. Jumping over that fallen tree might mean a twisted ankle which is not a lot of fun if your 20 kilometers from the start of the trail. Getting lost is always a big worry of mine. Besides knowing how to use a map and a compass do you recommend any handheld GPS devices? Also guidebooks for Sweden, Norway, and Finland. I am hoping to get back to Scandinavia once this COVID-19 is under control I usually find a good trail guide goes a long way in helping to find your way along the trail
Agreed! There’s really no point in rushing through! I usually go by map and compass, I haven’t gotten much experience with gps devices other than my phone, I’m sure there’s plenty of good options out there!
The tick does not forget about his predator he is silent and very dangerous if you forget not to constantly check for them. Are you north in Sweden? I'm south in Germany I envy you, so much more you can do in the woods without getting in trouble.
yeah ticks can be dangerous, luckily for me I spend my evening's scouting the tent and my person for them! :)
Have a staff...just a stick, 2.5cm diameter, almost as tall as you are, and learn to use it as a Bo, a peasant weapon. You can use it as a walking staff on the trail, it doesn't concern people/police as having a gun would, and it's to hand within moments if you feel threatened by anyone. It's also a lot more difficult to approach someone wielding a staff, particularly if they know how to use it as a weapon. It takes half a day to learn four key attack moves, and some blocking moves...just take it out and practice every once in a while...learn how to hit things and defend yourself with it, essentially, especially handy if you're a woman on your own.
Great idea!
0:37 "Let's talk about fear", and you flashed but voice continued and somehow sync with your motion, my friend, that's fear.
I had to practice for that one!
@@TedWeirum That little accident is quite good though.
@grexrr1434 wouldn’t be a video of mine if there wasn’t any technical accidents happening!
I see mouse, 7:30 upper right side of the video :D
Tons of mice in that place! :)
Living in Germoney you don't have to think about things like that. Camping is illegal, except in campsites. Not to mention having a campfire, not even on campsites.
Pros and cons with that too, just like there’s pros and cons with how we have it here. Lots of people who don’t respect the rules..
Bears and wild animals I just try and prepare for, but yeah humans are always the wild card because they are so unpredictable. If it’s an insane person wanting to do some stuff at your site you’re gonna have to be ready to fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s ark and it’s starting to rain.
Good analogy right there! But yeah, unfortunately I totally agree. So far in my experience it’s always been good vibes with everyone I’ve met. Some better vibes than others of course but I haven’t really felt an extremely bad feeling. Then again I look like a cave man so people might not want to mess with that… 🙃
I found a huge snake in my tent
Hate when that happens, is the snake ok?
Yeah but my buddy shit him self
@JohnMarkBrinkley id probably do that to!
I did like i alway have ...snake in the beer cooler /snake in the tent samejob done .it wad a diamond backi cant believe at 66 yrs old i do such stupid shit@!!!oh well bye bye buddy i went back to sleeping under window at city haall no shit the lady was at her desk when i sat on bag and jumped off it. She came outside an told me i could sstay under her window...i didnt know john baker was reall chp the yold me go back to city hall gav me a ridetoo ....
I bring my dog with me to keep me company. Lol
Best way to do it! :)
I gave you a thumbs up because I appreciate the effort. You had me until you said leave the guns at home. I have to say, you are completely incorrect about that part. Not only do they relieve your fears and give you confidence. They also make you brave enough to stand toe to toe with that predator and not run...if you run, you are food. As an experienced hunter and outdoorsman I can promise you if you run from a bear or wolf you will lose that race and then you become a snack. That's how mother nature works. That does not mean you have to shoot the predator, but, a well placed volly across the bow as they say often times will send that predator running and if they choose to disregard and go after you anyway, you do have an extremely effective form of protection. Bear spray only works if you are up wind. Try it when your down wind and it is just seasoning. I think it is reckless to advise your viewers not to take the best form of protection with them in the woods. A gun is just a tool, one you use to protect yourself. Something you should remember.
I get what you mean John, I do state in the video that if you’re in areas with grizzlies for example I advice to take the right precautions, it’s around 5:50 minutes in to the video, the right precautions might mean a gun. I’m all about safety and doing the right things. Where I live it’s not necessary to carry a gun, common sense would take you just as far. I understand that you’re food if you start to run, it’s really important to read up on the animals that are in your area. What kind of gun do you carry?
@@TedWeirum not a handgun. I feel handguns are extremely difficult to aim if you are frightened and your adrenalin is surging. When camping I carry a lever action .45-70 gov rifle. It has a VERY loud report which can frighten off perspective predators. Although I am a hunter as well, I have no desire to kill any animal that I do not have a legal tag to kill. Have never had to kill a predator yet. But, did scare off a black bear mother and her cubs one time (could have been a very dangerous situation). When I am hunting I carry an 8mm mauser rifle.
Glad to hear that, that makes sense to me. My view is that a lot of people carry handguns, that’s pretty much where I don’t see the point. I think it’s ok to carry a gun in areas where black bears and similar animals live.
Was the eerie music necessary? It ruined the video for me .
I get your point brother, maybe it would be better to lower the volume on the music a bit. How are you watching the video, from a phone? iPad? Tv? Good to know for future reference!
Thanks for your input!
I’m not scared of animals or a serial killer, but scared of the skinwalker who will eat my soul.
There’s always that guy.. wonder when he last ate..
I don’t know mate. Having a gun and leaving it at home seems like a horrible advice. Why would you leave your main protection behind? Bears don’t leave claws at home. If you can, get a good handgun. It’s what gave me confidence to backpack, lol
Would that stop a bear then? Don’t know if that’s the best way to go about it, bear spray perhaps?
@@TedWeirum spray will most likely work. However, if you are unlucky and find that starving, crazy bear with enough drive to keep going, the only thing that will save you is a decent enough gun. Bear spray is a bluff, don’t forget that. It’s a deterrent. A gun is to wound and kill. Yes, the best protection is always a gun
Might be all in the mind but I'm scared of making some eldritch forgotten God of the forest mad and yeah 😂
That’s why it’s important to take extra care of nature! ;)
What ever you do....do not watch Deliverance before you go.
Hahaha, got it!
My fear,not animals but humans..
Understandable! How do we handle that then?
i lve in Cyprus,we have probably one of the lowest crime rates anywhere,no wild animals(only a few species of snakes)but coming from South Africa where when camping out there are leopards,baboons to name a few,we would always build a huge fire which kept us safe and we could sleep in peace,the thing is what do you do if you encounter a human with bad intentions,so i'de say it's the situation that bothers me..
@@TedWeirum
@outandabout5815 I get what you mean, and sure things do happen, as they do everywhere, I’ve been out more times than I can count and in places that’s not secluded. I’ve never had a problem with humans, I tend to solve your issue by simply trying to get as far away from other people :)
Stay at motel 6el 6el 6
ALWAYS CARRY A FIREARM! That’s the only thing that puts you on top of the food chain. Especially if you are a woman.
I understand what you mean brother, however, it's not very common around Scandinavia that people bring firearms when in the outdoors. hunters yes but the rest of us no, then again we don't have any predators in that manner here either! it all boils down to where you are! :)
Fear and anxiety of overnight solo camping? Don't go then, it's not for you. The whole point of solo camping is quite the opposite really. A longing for solitude and release of anxiety. Yes, safety is of utmost importance, but doing your home work about your gear, park guidelines (if necessary), local people, plants and wildlife, weather, navigation, protection and emergency response..etc is quite basic. Do your due diligence and the willingness for seclusion and self reliance should outweigh the rest. That is if you're genuinely up for it.
True, I think for most people it's just about overcoming the fear of the unknown :)
@@TedWeirum this is 100% what it’s about. The OP here sounds incredibly ignorant lol, maybe trying to puff out their chest or something. But it’s 100% about overcoming the fear. If your mindset is “I’m scared of something, so therefore I shouldn’t do it” - you will have a very stale and sheltered life. Life begins on the edge of our comfort zones. Thanks for making this video, Ted.
Great video, but "middleaged 30 years old"...Dude...
I didn’t knew what I know now at the time! :)