[Jordan]

[cdestroyer]

It has been quite some time since I hiked and camped solo, but also spent more than one day. Back then I seldom met anyone on the trail. I dont know the area you are going to be in but I doubt you will not meet someone you could camp with for the nite.

[JPH]

Bring something to entertain yourself at camp. When I'm solo and moving it's great, but when I'm just sitting at camp it can get a little boring if I don't have a book or something. It's not like you haven't had all day hiking solo to collect your thoughts.

[Randito]

[Ski]

If you have not been out solo on an overnight before, you should consider Randy's suggestion and eschew any mind-altering substances. Allow yourself to tune into the sounds of the night in the dark - some of them can be quite interesting. Sometimes the lack of any sound is the reward. But that's up to you. No reason to get all worked up about spending the night alone out in the woods. As mentioned above, people have been doing it for thousands of years. Being with other humans out in the wilderness is a pain in the ass; you have to compromise on go-to-bed times, wake-up times, hiking times, meal times, and after a couple days they start to smell bad. You're much better off on your own. Leave the cell phone, PLB, GPS, headphones, and all that jazz in the car. Take your map and compass, and food. Lots of food. Eat well, sleep well. Way mo' betta solo.

[xrp]

There is this website, nwhikers.net, maybe you could find an alternate hiking partner there. I can't provide advice on what you do while out hiking, I don't smoke marijuana or eat pot edibles or whatever. I backpack solo all the time and love it. I can move at my pace and do what I want. It also makes it easier to find a camping spot as there's only 1 tent footprint to work to accommodate, not more than one.

[Ski]

[DIYSteve]

[Opus]

Solo backpacking is fantastic. You can go where you want at whatever pace you choose, you control the whole experience (well, all that parts that are under human control anyway). For getting a good nights sleep while solo try to setup camp near running water. The white-noise it provides is really calming and prevents you from focusing on random twig snaps or other noises you might dwell on when camped somewhere totally silent.

[Chief Joseph]

Yes...what Opus said, although the running water sound can make you want to urinate more frequently, especially if you imbibe in spirits before retiring to your tent.

[kiliki]

Leave someone a detailed itinerary, don't deviate from it, and let them know that if they haven't heard from you by X day/time, they should call law enforcement. Coincidentally this morning I was just reading about 2 different searches for different lost hikers. There is such a huge effort in terms of search and rescue, and of course those people are potentially risking their own safety as well as donating their time, money, etc. Their families have an awful lot of blame for the various land management agencies and law enforcement branches for not starting sooner, coordinating better, using the right kind of dog, all kinds of stuff. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/more-than-100-search-for-hiker-missing-in-olympic-national-park-since-april/ and http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/searching-for-closure-families-of-missing-hikers-looking-for-answers/article_da3d0ca4-32e4-11e7-9405-c38c07e56681.html For years I poo-pooed the idea of a PLB but I now think differently and in fact before my husband's more recent solo trip I asked that we get one and he use it. It can potentially not only help out the hiker but prevent or at least aid the huge searches that result from a lost person. (I know they are not foolproof). I think about all these searchers, the angry families, the lobbying of their elected officials and the likely lawsuits against land management agencies. I know many don't believe this technology is in the spirit of their endeavor, and hopefully they do leave detailed itineraries and have discussed with their loves ones how they'd want them to respond in case they go missing. Besides having a PLB or leaving a detailed, accurate itinerary--know what you are doing, stay on trail, don't take extra risks. You are your own A team. Search and rescue is the B team.

[williswall]

There is no better way to get over being spooked solo than just going solo. Decades ago I was feeling uncomfortable on a night hike but then broke out into an old burn area, turned off my light, and marveled at the star show above. That was my turning point; I sat and explored what I was afraid of, then put those things aside. Since then I have enjoyed 30 years of hiking solo, including off trail and night. Experience will lessen your anxieties and some day you will wonder why you were ever uncomfortable.

[Walkin' Fool]

Solo backpacking is great, for all the reasons mentioned above. I always leave an itinerary, and before I got an InReach, I NEVER deviated from it. Now I might deviate, always keeping the husband updated via InReach on deviations. I always stay on trail when I'm solo (except for #2, as mentioned - and yes, turn around frequently and look back where you've come from when heading off for a poop break). I bring headphones for at night when I'm alone, and often listen to a podcast while falling asleep. Those cracking twigs can seem menacing! The first night's the hardest. Get through that and the sunrise in the morning will make everything oh so much better.

[HermitThrush]

BTW - 1. You're unlikely to see a ghost unless you converse regularly with the spirit world, so to speak. And if you do, my guess is you wouldn't be as scared of ghosts. 2. No such thing as aliens. 3. No such thing as zombies. 4. 99.9% of animals are scared of you, by instinct. So relax!

[Slide Alder Slayer]

I've been solo for almost 12 years, it's really about perception. One thing I did that helped was to use a green snap light that protected my night vision that if I woke up in the middle of the night I could see around my immediate vincinity yet the snap light did not disturb my sleep.