You all have a bunch of great stories! It's funny that we have so much to share with others about trying to be alone.
I did another solo trip last month to the BLM area just south of Fallon, NV. I planned a very long route just to see how far I could get but after a very long day of driving (150mi of highway to get there then 60mi of trails) I was pretty beat. I had decided to follow a powerline road for much of the route which turned out to be a bit of a mistake. Those always seem to be the least maintained trails in the area and usually the most treacherous. Many miles of shelf roads and more than a couple of places where turning around to go back might not have been an option. Everything turned out OK but like all mistakes you survive, it's a learning experience. I did catch some truly amazing views though. Sadly, after a long, hot day I was looking for a decent camp site but there wasn't a single tree within 20 miles and no rock formations that weren't in the middle of a wash. I wasn't thrilled with camping out in the open, it was getting windy and some clouds over the mountains looked questionable. I decided to air back up a bit to go down a nearby paved highway and get some gas before continuing my route to find a decent site before dark. As I fought my tire carrier to open my back hatch and get out my compressor, it came back and the hi-lift mounted to the top of it cracked me right between the eyes. So with blood pouring down my face I decided that was it for this trip, things just didn't seem to be going my way so I headed home. As soon as I hit the highway home I started second guessing myself thinking I just ruined a great trip by packing it in... then the rain started. It started pouring about the time I hit Fallon. I don't know for sure what it looked like back on those powdery trails but my guess is it wasn't pretty. So sometimes, those instincts work I guess. Sure was a long drive home though.
Yes, instinct. I get it. A family member decided a couple of years ago to dump a pile of money into a vehicle and a crap ton of gear so that he could join my wife & I on our trips. We have been going solo for decades. Good habits & Instinct has kept us safe and intact over those years. First time out with another? Millions of questions, why? what for? are you sure? To the point that I started second guessing myself. To the point that I threw in the proverbial towel only to find ourselves at an organized campsite with a crap load of people all around us, not to mention, way too much trash. ( my wife and I can be out for a week and not even come close to filling up our trash bag or our recycle bag ) I was right on the edge of blowing up. My wife and I went for a very long walk in the woods. She calmed me down. I agreed that I must take the time to explain to a newbie, why cases of small bottled water suck, why I am anal retentive about keeping a very clean & orderly campsite, why we prepare simple, basic foods, why we pull the dry food box down, remove what we need, close the dry box up and put it back, ( multiple times a day ) etc etc. that evening I commented about my anal retentiveness. He wondered aloud, ya, why? I replied, well, think about it. If we are setting up, tearing down, getting ready for bed, during any kind of adverse weather conditions, would you be leaving stuff lying around, your food box open, etc etc, or would you be tidying up as you go along? The answer was obvious. So! Why not be in the habit of doing so, then if adverse weather is happening, it won’t be bothersome at all, you’ll already be in the habit of keeping your camp in order. In short? I prefer just being out with my better half. We can set up & break down camp without saying a word. Instinct? Instinct has gotten us to some of the best campsites ever.
