Fear of the dark

[Schism]

I replied in here once before but since then I have noticed changes in my feelings towards the dark. When I was young I had an almost crippling fear of the dark, I couldn't even go in to my own garden! As I got older I learned to deal with it to an extent but still avoided solo camping, or being out alone at night. A few years ago I took a Job in a remote part of Cumbria with the cars snowed in I had no option to walk the mile to and from the farm in the pitch black, the first week or do I was absolutely bricking it but soon started to feel completely at ease out there an in tune with the surroundings, this feeling stayed with me when I returned to Bodmin moor but in the last year since returning to a relitively busy town I am back where I was 10 years ago. I feel very uneasy out on own again.

somebody said it was about conditioning and I somewhat agree but I feel it's is largely to do with the environment you are in day to day and your ability to adapt to new surroundings quickly. No doubt if I got out again I would improve but right now I'm stuck in a loop where I actively avoid that situation.

Has anybody else found this pattern to affect them?

 

[BillyBlade]

I replied in here once before but since then I have noticed changes in my feelings towards the dark. When I was young I had an almost crippling fear of the dark, I couldn't even go in to my own garden! As I got older I learned to deal with it to an extent but still avoided solo camping, or being out alone at night. A few years ago I took a Job in a remote part of Cumbria with the cars snowed in I had no option to walk the mile to and from the farm in the pitch black, the first week or do I was absolutely bricking it but soon started to feel completely at ease out there an in tune with the surroundings, this feeling stayed with me when I returned to Bodmin moor but in the last year since returning to a relitively busy town I am back where I was 10 years ago. I feel very uneasy out on own again.

somebody said it was about conditioning and I somewhat agree but I feel it's is largely to do with the environment you are in day to day and your ability to adapt to new surroundings quickly. No doubt if I got out again I would improve but right now I'm stuck in a loop where I actively avoid that situation.

Has anybody else found this pattern to affect them?

Break yourself in a little at a time, and get yourself a head torch with a red light or lense on it. Red light doesn't destroy your night vision like white light does.

As you walk, bin the light for a bit, and then back on as you start to lose your comfort with the dark, and repeat the process. Pretty soon you'll find you only need the headtorch to stop yoursel falling into holes and ditches. Bit like me on Friday night past when I went up the woods for a bimble at 11pm as I wasn't tired, and just missed going into a drainage ditch head first, daysack and all.

There is nothing there to be scared of. I promise

 

[MONKEY8MAV]

any new news on stachio man ?

 

[Brewers Whoop]

Must admit to feeling more comfortable in the dark if carrying a stick.

Like that is going to be any use if jumped by robbers/murderers/zombies/werewolves/aliens/the undead/escaped lions/jehovahs witnesses

 

[DeltaKilo]

I had one experience where it was pitch dark outside, and I was under my tarp. Saw a silohuette in the corner of my eye, and heard rustling so I put my head up to see what it was and this deer just jumped out of the bush about 10m from me and bolted. Made me jump haha

 

[Elen Sentier]

yep it's another case of practice makes perfect
unless you're a weirdo like me who prefers the dark...

I love the dark too ... not sure if weirdo applies ... Hmmm, it probably does

 

[Elen Sentier]

Have you noticed how much more acute your hearing becomes, whilst sleeping alone in the middle of the woods in total darkness? I feel sometimes that my ears almost twitch like a cat's.

Yes, I feel as if all my senses are able to stretch out and touch the rest of life around me when I'm out in the woods at night. Must say though that my dad and uncles used to take me out in the woods at night when I was a little kid, we'd sit still and everything would come up to us, quite magical. I love the night denizens of the woods and moors .

A recent experience back in 2011, in the Cairngorms, was very "Simon King". We were wild camping. About 11pm I woke up to hear purring, very loud. I carefully sat up in my bivi and tried to wake Fi (unsuccessfully!) as we were hoping for wild cats. I couldn't see anything except the heather although it was full moon and clear. The purring came on from my right, up from the river, it stopped opposite me and I felt I was being looked at and, all of a sudden, I was certain it was much bigger than a wild cat. The heather was about 2-3ft high. Then the purring started up again and headed off up the glen to my left. About 4am I woke again. The purring was heading down from my left, back towards the river. Again, it stopped opposite me and I felt observed, then it started up again and headed off downhill to the river.

When we woke up about 6.30 I told Fi about it. Later we went down to the river, it was on our way, and spent some time mooching about. Within minutes I found this very clear cat print in the soft mud ... about the size of my palm! Then Fi found a smaller print, about ordinary cat size near a smudged larger print. I had been right, it was a lot bigger than a wild cat !!! and she had brought her kitten with her ...

We were both thrilled and honoured that a wild creature had come so close, and wished we'd been able to see her but she had obviously stayed in the tall heather.

But at no time had I been scared, delighted and wanting to wake Fi without startling the beast (unsuccessful!) but not in he least frightened. I so hope I get another chance like this when I go up again.

Friends and I have seen "the black beast" around here in herefordshire several times, quite clearly, crossing the road in front of us, sometimes the cat stops to look at us before going over the hedge. My sheep-farming friend has one near her place but has never had any rouble with the sheep or lambs and is as thrilled as me when we get to see the cat(s).

 

[midge_fodder]

I'm not bothered by the dark really, as long as I'm not in a Town or a City. There is a few good reasons not to like Urban night time, generally a dislike of alcohol related crime.

 

[Cesca]

I'm going wild camping with a friend in March, its just the two of us and I'm petrified.
He's very outdoor savvy, he grew up in south africa, so I'm sure if you've had baboons trying to break into your kitchen at night then the Galloway Forest isn't going to be much of an issue but being a girl (and a downright wimp) I must admit I'm nervous.

Anyone could be out there in the woods and I'm so scared we'll encounter someone unpleasant, especially if we're just a pair and he wants to stay in bothies which I learned aren't locked?

I suppose I'm just looking for someone to put my mind at ease...or scare the hell out of me enough that I'll flat out refuse to go. I love camping but I've never done it outside of a designated area so the idea of being alone in the middle of nowhere is quite intimidating. Any advice to overcome the giant moths in my stomach would be gratefully recieved.

Cess
x

 

[Gaudette]

My wife is the same she never has and never will camp in the woods with me or anyone. The fact that you want to camp out is the best start. The next thing to remember is that there is nothing here in nature that will harm you. You wont be attacked by a savage hedgehog for instance. Lastly i have never heard of anyone being hurt by somebody else whilst wild camping. I'm pretty certain your friend can handle themselves from what you said. If none of this helps get blind drunk and you wont give a damn anyway. ( this is a personal view and in no way reflects the view of the forum which will be far more practical)!!!

 

[Hammock Hamster]

I'm going wild camping with a friend in March, its just the two of us and I'm petrified.
He's very outdoor savvy, he grew up in south africa, so I'm sure if you've had baboons trying to break into your kitchen at night then the Galloway Forest isn't going to be much of an issue but being a girl (and a downright wimp) I must admit I'm nervous.

Anyone could be out there in the woods and I'm so scared we'll encounter someone unpleasant, especially if we're just a pair and he wants to stay in bothies which I learned aren't locked?

I suppose I'm just looking for someone to put my mind at ease...or scare the hell out of me enough that I'll flat out refuse to go. I love camping but I've never done it outside of a designated area so the idea of being alone in the middle of nowhere is quite intimidating. Any advice to overcome the giant moths in my stomach would be gratefully recieved.

Cess
x

Best advice i can give would be get there during the daytime and take time to explore your immediate surroundings, that why by the time it gets dark you will have a good idea of whats around you and in theory should be a lot more at ease.
Me and my usual camping buddies convinced our respective wives and girlfriends to come on an overnighter with us last year and, being us, sat round the campfire and explained in complete seriousness the legend of "Zeke" the local axe murderer who had been abducting campers in the dead of night for years - needless to say this did not go down well.
We were staying in a shelter we had constructed on our previous trip which had an open entrance and all agreed later that describing how we would wake up in the night and see one of them being dragged out by their feet was probably going a little too far!
Suffice to say we slept like lambs, the ladies not so well.

 

[mousey]

There could well be all sorts out in the wilds, the only sorts I've ever met while out n about are other nutters who want to walk all day with a heavy pack get a fire going have something to eat [a drink maybe] go to bed then do the same thing the next day.

The last time I had a long walk [along the pennine] it was quite rare to actually meet anyone, I might see people from a way off but not near enough to attract attention/ talk to, mind you I was in October/November so probably a little chilly for sensible people.

I suppose it helps that I'm a bloke and have quite an optimistic view of other people - atleast other people I meet in the woods, It's the ones in the cities that I look out for

 

[santaman2000]

....The next thing to remember is that there is nothing here in nature that will harm you.....

Well, at least not in the UK.

 

[Barn Owl]

I'm going wild camping with a friend in March, its just the two of us and I'm petrified.
He's very outdoor savvy, he grew up in south africa, so I'm sure if you've had baboons trying to break into your kitchen at night then the Galloway Forest isn't going to be much of an issue but being a girl (and a downright wimp) I must admit I'm nervous.

Anyone could be out there in the woods and I'm so scared we'll encounter someone unpleasant, especially if we're just a pair and he wants to stay in bothies which I learned aren't locked?

I suppose I'm just looking for someone to put my mind at ease...or scare the hell out of me enough that I'll flat out refuse to go. I love camping but I've never done it outside of a designated area so the idea of being alone in the middle of nowhere is quite intimidating. Any advice to overcome the giant moths in my stomach would be gratefully recieved.

Cess
x

Nothing to worry about Cess, any animals will be giving you a wide berth.
There's only goats and deer that are of any size really.
If i meet others in a bothy it usually is at least good conversation or there's a bottle of alcohol gets passed around until finished.
It's only like minded folks you'll come across,esp' at this time of the year.

Enjoy it, look for the wildlife, enjoy the views during the day and if it's clear at night enjoy the stars.
Any strange noises are just wildlife going about their business.
It's a beautiful area just down the road from me and i love it.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Wow! :Wow::yikes: That's made me look up Beinn MacDuibu and the Gray Man ... right up my street, or is that mountain? Am even chasing up Affleck Grey's book . I'd have loved to have been there - scared or not

 

[BillyBlade]

Nothing to fear......although, there is a certain bothy down there maybe best to give a wide berth to.

Say no more

 

[kiltedpict]

Nothing to fear......although, there is a certain bothy down there maybe best to give a wide berth to.

Say no more

I hope your not having a go at my second home??? Hahahaha

 

[BillyBlade]

The one with the flying wine bottles is it Pict? Guaranteed a fun night in that one I hear!

 

[kiltedpict]

A mate of mine thought it would be clever to set off a smoke flare in the bothy once- it was apparently heaving and wanted to clear the place a bit!

What's more surprising than the fact he did it, is the fact he thought the punch in the face he received was "a bit uncalled for"

 

[marcelxl]

I had a trauma last year but for nothing other than my alcohol warped imagination.......

Last year I emigrated and now live in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada so all of a sudden all those comforts of being the most scary thing out there no longer fit and I'm constantly adjusting to that and I am finding that "throwing myself out of my comfort zones" (within reason!) has been the best thing.

So, I came out ahead of my wife last year to start my job and maxed out my luggage allowance by booking on my fishing bag as well as a camping bag containing the "Bushcraft" standard Hammock and tarp. A few weeks in, one of the guys I got mates with was off camping to a lake right in the middle of nowhere, like an hour on a logging road middle of nowhere but very beautiful and being a long weekend we were not the only ones there.

The day passed by with me on the pontoon boat casting flies and then whittling by the fire, drinking cold beer with the Family, then dinner, then more drinking and laughing. all the while getting later but its a gorgeous night, clear with a huge moon so its just like blue daylight but just a stunning night to be out.
Conversation went towards Bears, big cats even Sasquatch on the lead up to bedtime and then when the last guy hit his camper, he threw some Bearspray at me and said "here, you might need this!" blinding!

So I was now out there alone but I was rational, there was six of us, three dogs, four trucks, a fire so I knew no self respecting bigfoot, bear, cougar or whatever is coming anywhere near and I'm lying in the hammock (second time around, I drunkenly fell out the first time!) and i can see all around clear as day.
I can hear nothing to give me concern, not a peep, I can see all around me thru the bush and up to the road and I see nothing to give me concern, absolutely nothing but for some reason I could not settle, I was terrified cuddling the Bearspray, and I knew I was OK. I could not even give one decent excuse why I could not settle ALL night!
Never had I been more pleased to see the dawn........then I got some sleep!

In hindsight a great experience and I suppose I learned alot that I/we have taken for granted and whilst I will never take the Wilderness out here or the beasties that live within lightly I do look to the day I can be at ease amongst them, even if that means getting a defender (shotgun) for peace of mind as some of my friends here do.

A couple of pics of the weekend.

Bed

Complete with Bearspray!

Not a bad place to wake up

Really though, its awesome out here!