Nighttime on the AT

imported
#1

I am starting a GA-ME AT Thru-Hike in March of 08, and I have one problem. I am PETRIFIED of the night-time woods. I know it sounds funny to be scared of the woods at night and starting a thru-hike, but I want this hike to be a success, not a failure and me dropout after a week because im scared of the dark. Does anybody have any helpful ideas about this. I am going from GA-ME starting in early March and hoping to finish in early August before school starts. any ideas are GREATLY appreciated, and other tips or tidbits that I should know about an AT Thru-Hike. thanks.

Tortuga

#2

Everyone hikes their own hike. Some are social and enjoy grouping up after a long day of hiking. Most of the time this happens at shelters. Stay at shelters and you’ll rarely be alone. I thru hiked in 177 days and was only alone four times. When I started I thought I would be alone much more, but after a couple days in I met wonderful people and enjoyed the company at night. Don’t worry about it … before long you’ll be very used to the woods at night and the fear will disappear.

tinker

#3

As Tinker said, “You’ll rarely be alone.” By the time the crowd thins out you’ll be well into Virginia and have about 500 miles behind you. You’ll know by then if you’re cut out for staying alone or need people around you by then. My philosophy has been keep food and smellable item out of your tent and the animals will leave you alone. You’ll find the camaraderie between hikers is fantastic. Keep a positive outlook and you’ll enjoy yourself.

Old Goat 2006

#4

What I have found though is that after a good hiking day, I’m tired out enough to just drop right to sleep, and it’s not usually an issue. I also pack benadryl or tylenol pm for those nights when the night frights (or noisy boyscouts tromping into camp at 10pm because they can’t leave for the trailhead until after school gets out) keep me up.

Beyond that - generally, the longer I’m out, the easier it gets. Familiarity breeds contempt, etc etc.

AnnaEA

#5

Best to face the fear head on…and conquer it…so…

Night hike!!

or

If you find you cant sleep at night, get out of your tent and sit outside in the dark scary woods…You will realize that the woods at night are no less scary than during the day…

Catch Up

#6

Like catch up said, sitting out in the woods is a great way to get used to it. Try an area that you know well and just sit and listen. I found that once I got used to the sounds that it was comforting to hear them at night. After sitting out for a while you find that the creepy shadows turn out to be sticks and the wild noises are bugs the size of a penny.

Thru-hiking tips, I cant help you with I’m only a section hiker.

Good luck and God speed

Super Scout

AnnaEA:
“noisy boyscouts tromping into camp at 10pm because they can’t leave for the trailhead until after school gets out”
We try our best to get in before your early bed time. :wink:

Super Scout

#7

My biggest concern to pass on would be potential trouble from two-legged creatures that may be staying over night at a shelter. Shelters especially near roads can invite unwelcome guests. This can apply to male or female hikers.

Other than that, try to get into the habit of bear-hanging all your foods, toothpaste and other smellies away from your tent. Occaisonally you get the opportunity to hear what sounds like an enormous animal in the woods - that usually turns out to be a deer or smaller.

If you hang your food I’d bet you will never meet a bear during the night. During the daytime I have only seen a bear once - in the SMNP. It ran away before I even had time to get my camera out.

Been there done that

#8

While in general I’m not afraid of the dark, there were a few times on the AT when I was camped alone I would hear noises and sit up and listen in my tent. I distinctly remember camping in VA @ Marble Spring when this happened, so I sat there and analzyed it. What kind of animal could this be? A squirrel (they can sound amazingly large amongst leaves), no biggie. A deer? You should hear footfalls…deer aren’t scary, so that’s ok. And then the “big one” - a bear. But even then…what is a black bear going to do to me? nothing, if anything just wants my food. Did I hang it? (to be honest, I can’t remember if I had that night), but most bears will run away from you. Once I broke it down to the possibilities and realized none of these options were going to get me, I got over that and slept.

I guess you need to think about what is it really you’re afraid of? There’s no doubt that darkness makes things feel creepier, but I bet that after being on the trail for a while (it might take you longer than others) you’ll be fine. Many people group up around the shelters in the beginning for this reason in a way, there are more out there afraid of camping along at night than you might think or may admit. That will get your comfort level up, I hope you can conquer this as you will find spending the night alone camped somewhere along the trail is about as sweet as it gets.

Ahhhhh…

Bluebearee

#9

Like Tinker said, everyone hikes their own hike. Until you get used to the trail, plan your mileage in the beginning so that you will be at a shelter long before nightfall. The beginning of the hike is the easiest part to get frustrated, so don’t add to it by biting off more than you can chew. After a few weeks in the woods, you will be in a better state to confront the night and make it your own. You are gonna meet some great people out there
in the woods, and by the time you get to Damascus, I bet you’ll be night hiking with the best of them. Good luck.
I only hiked about 1500 miles of the AT during one season, but prior to starting it, I had never spent a night in the woods before. It sounds like you have the one thing needed to play in the woods, night or day…the desire to be there. Have fun, and bring a good headlamp just in case.

Kingfish

#10

LOL funny you write about this I am also scared of the dark and they are right by the time you hike all day you are so pooped you fall out most of the time and keep the food no where near your tent I dont even cook near my tent so the smell dont soak up…Have a awsome hike get some ear plugs they work well also…God speed Tambourine

Tambourine

#11

I met a lady who was afraid of the dark back on a section hike in '97. Her brother gave her a little toy bug, less than half an oz, that glowed in the dark. They are made of soft plastic and are usually white during the day. They soak up the sun during the day and glow most of the night, or at least long enough for you to go to sleep. You find them in those tiny toy stores in the mall. She loved that thing.

Bear Bag Hanger

#12

Funny you should ask. My longest AT hike was a measly 100 miles through Virginia in 2000 but it was the time of my life. My first night out just outside Atkins VA. involved a full moon…steady winds… and a shelter too close to a road. The wind took the disembodied voices of some road party people back a mile to my shelter. Then the full moon cast some moonbeams that looked like beams from the death star. Then these weird things pelted the area in front of the shelter and scared the crap outta me…I think you call them leaves.

Doc Holiday

#13

Tortuga-

You have plenty of time to get used to the dark before you hike next year. Just like all phobias, you simply need to face your fear & the simplest way is to start incrementally. Maybe just sit out in the dark next to your house/apartment at night until your comfortable with that. Then maybe find a nearby place with woods & hang out there with a friend in the dark. And then hang out in the woods at night by yourself, until its not scary anymore.

Many people are scared of the dark, even without being in the woods - this is a very common fear. Fears are limitations & just think how much freer you’ll be without this fear! I’ve had many incredible things happen when I was alone in the woods at night on the A.T., like having owls visit very close while i was eating dinner. Finding people to camp with is very easy on the A.T., but many wonderful things happen only when your alone.

Happy Trails!

freebird

#14

I’ve spent the night on the street in Amsterdam and several nights on the street in London. Got to say being in the woods is much nicer. Can be a little unsettling at times. I’ve been charged by a bear in Yosemite, come between a moose cow and calf in Maine and had porcupines running back and forth underneath my hammock in Vermont. As you can see from this thread, most folks live to tell the tale.

Cheers

Cheers

#15

Actually had a raccoon unzip my tent flap a bit one early morning. That was pretty funny.

Just use common sense and you’ll be fine.

Tim