The Aspens on all of the trails near Santa Fe Ski Basin are beautiful right now. Visiting Ravens entertained while sitting in the warm sun on chilly mornings.
This was back in late August- I’ve been lurking but I get way too much good feelings, support and inspo from this community not to share back. You ladies are my siren song and you really, really rock.
So… I didn’t pack a tent, I hiked in 8k to a ranger cabin in Algonquin Park. It was my first time there and first time going solo.
I absolutely loved it and now I’m hooked.
There have always been two big fears- the dark and stranger danger. The trip was informative- both fears are firmly there but I’ve decided one is just plain healthy and the other I can beat. I’ll expose myself to the dark more and get braver. But I think my stranger danger instincts are there to keep me safe, so rather than push them down I’ll find better circumstances to solo camp. I didn’t have a lightweight tent and I thought I’d be too scared not to have solid walls, hence the cabin. While the cabin was awesome, the hike down was on logging roads and I never felt comfortable knowing how many men may have clocked a solo lady making her way down. They also drive real fast, but keeping vigilant and out of their way is a solution. I would go to the cabin again but only with someone else.
I am getting a tent and I’ll start looking at places in campgrounds to feel safer being within screaming distance if help, but work my way up to more remote, but not logging road access places.
Love, Protection and Power to all of us!!
So.....
I went solo camping for my birthday about 2.5 weeks ago and returned home September 23. Went about my life, happy, prancing through the local forests mushroom foraging and just chilling, then about 4-5 days ago I had an itch on my back.
We still have mosquitoes hanging around so I figured a mosquito bite, no big deal. Every once in awhile it gets a bit itchy. I feel back there and don't feel anything abnormal- "no tick," I figured, "just a bug bite."
2 days ago I start getting a mild headache. I've had worse and I chalk it up to not enough water, maybe period on its way, maybe my return to work after vacation is just stressing me out.
Yesterday I feel stiffness in my neck and along with the mild headache. I figure they're connected.. slept wrong. I try to massage it out which usually works but it just won't go away. I'm driving home from work and looking back over my left shoulder is painful. All the while my back is still itching and now I'm just kind of annoyed and a bit concerned. I haven't felt any lumps or bumps or a tick.. just an itch.
I get home from work at 8pm last night and I ask my husband to check my back and so he lifts my shirt and goes, "whoa... you have a big rash on your back." He snaps a pic and shows it to me and i knew right away what the bullseye like rash meant. The rash takes up nearly half my upper left of my back- like it's massive.
So I call 811 which is a provincial health line where you can talk to a nurse. She's like, "rash. Uh-huh. Tick bite? OK." I send her the pic and she goes, "Oh my.. um. You need to go to a doctor, like as soon as you can and within 24 hours."
I got in to a doc early this morning and they prescribed precautionary meds for lyme disease, so I've started that, but my question is how do you, if you're solo camping and find a tick on your back or the back of your neck, what do you do? How do you get it off? How do you even get a good look at your full back?
I was definitely running my hands over my back to feel for anything abnormal as I was camping but I guess I could have missed a small one.
TL;DR: tick bite rash on back. No tick now, but likely was one. How do you find and remove ticks from your back or back of neck if you find one while solo camping?
Hey there girls,
I am looking for solo-camping women in Scandinavia who’d be willing to share their experiences with a beginner.
What do I need to know about this? Safety measures when being a solo woman, go’s and no-go’s, guidance on gear (need to have and nice to have), places to stay, favorit method of camping, and anything else you would’ve wished to know before trying this for the first time, yourself?
I would also very much like to hear from girls with experience in solo camping on a motorcycle, which is what I plan to do (DK/SE/NO).
I’m looking forward to your suggestions/stories 🙏
Have a nice weekend!
This park is quickly becoming a favorite. Earlier in the spring I was at site 3 and it was very nice but I tried out site 6 on a rainy evening in October. The walk is about a mile on easy trails and I wouldn’t even call it a hike. Finding a flat spot for anything bigger than a 2 person tent would be difficult. There is a proper bear box, table and fire ring, along with a walled in pit toilet a short hop back up the trail. The beavers were a bit noisy in the small lake which is right there. There is a steep little trail down to the water if needed. This park is close enough to the twin cities for a quick excursion but faint traffic can be heard at night.
Overall, 10/10, would recommend.
I’m slowly discovering all the beauty the Midwest has to offer. We may not have the impressive mountains, but our lakes are pretty cool!
I stayed at a site on a little livestock farm and cooked their farm fresh eggs in the mornings.
Amazing just how clear the water was, both while kayaking the Crystal River and looking at Lake Michigan from above.
I do a lot of solo traveling, so to me this camping trip felt like a natural extension of that. I just adore being in my own company, and I feel like I came back from this weekend feeling so well rested and inspired to do some more Midwest exploring!
Impromptu trip over the Mighty Mac Sept 26-27 with my pooch. Had the best weather and campsite!
Instagram: @audrey.sullivannn
Dispersed sites/rented a few campgrounds (mainly in MOAB). Was my first time solo camping and I slept with my 9mm but nothing happened :) Did have to sleep in my car one night in Moab because the wind speeds got 40mph and I was blowing away. Used my durston pole tent and will probably get something heavier for future non backpacking use.
Hit Great Sand Dunes NP, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, Arches NP, Grand Mesa, and Canyonlands.
After 30 years, I can finally say I’m a part of both the solo backpacking and solo camping community! I backpacked the Potawatomi trail and camped at Blind Lake at Pinckney Recreation Area in Michigan. I was pleasantly surprised at the varied terrain since I’m so used to the unfortunately flat trails of Metro Detroit. It was a beautiful, well maintained trail and absolutely perfect weather both days. Looking forward to more trips, would love some 10-15 mile loop recommendations that are worth it, willing to travel, thank you!
idk what to say, 10/10, klagenfurt through predilpass to most na soci and stopping at lake bohinj before going back 🤓 i camped at the campground and once at someones lawn bc i was too tired to go on 🤷♀️
I LOVE sleeping bear dunes but I don't want to drive 8 hours by myself. Maximum I want to drive is 4 hours or less. I'm in the Chicago area. Would love somewhere in Wisconsin maybe? Any sites that y'all would recommend solo camping at you've been to before and loved? My cat will be with me. This will be my first time solo camping.
I've been to Starved Rock and the park near it and to Rockford (not solo camped there).
Has anyone here ever gone camping by themselves? 👀 I’m thinking about doing a solo camping trip in South Carolina for my birthday and would love to hear about your experience! For those who have camped solo, do you prefer a tent or a cabin?