I recently took a solo trip to Afton State Park in Minnesota. I chose this destination because I was most familiar with this location. I took my camera with me to capture my experience. Check out this video of my trip:
Were you scared to go alone?
When I first moved to Minnesota 4 years ago, the first month was terrible.
I had NEVER lived alone. I cried almost every night. I never experienced having No connections to go to for help or to only rely on myself.
I was scared when I moved here at first, but once I over came this fear I blossomed and grew as a person. I had to adapt. The benefits of making that decision out weighed the emotional consequences.
When I went camping by myself, I really didn't have a strong emotion of fear.
There was a moment when I heard wild coyotes howling, but realized they wouldn't bother me.
I proved to myself that everything alright, that nothing bad happened and I came out alive. I didn't need someone there to help me. In our minds we can create illusions or stories of what could happen. That's the "fear". More often than not its a stretch from the true.
I wasn't going to get murdered in the woods. It was more likely that if I walked in a populated city to have things happen to me. More people, more chance of problems. Less people, less problems.
Why not bring some one with you?
I've brought people along before. It is nice to have company. In fact, I prefer it. But I don't have a dependable crew of backpacking friends to hike through 30 degree weather.
This is not car camping, it's hard work and you go deep into the wilderness. You have to hike a mile or more to your campsite and carrying everything you need on your back. It's hard to ask someone to do that with you.
It's nice to go at your own pace and stick to your own plans. Make decisions that don't rely on other's opinion. This was MY trip and I was on my own schedule. I was able to capture a lot of awesome shots by taking it easy.
Overall, I wanted to take a backpacking trip this fall season, despite others saying they couldn't make it. It's something I don't like to pass up, because the backpacking experience is relaxing and rewarding.
What was your goal for all this?
The main reason is because I spend 40+ hours a week within an office building looking out the window. I'm not the kind of person who likes to be inside.
I also need alone time. Since I live with someone, and work around people all day, it's hard to do that completely.
I needed time to reflect on my life and it's progress in a open and natural environment. To get back into reality and out of my busy mind.
Instead of worrying about the "emergency" of getting to work on time, I worried if id make it to my campsite before it got dark. I worried if I brought enough food. I worried if I got injured how would I react in a real emergency. It's empowering to overcome your mind.
The daily tasks we do seem so important, but remove yourself from those and you will realize the true importance of survival and living.
I took a moment to realize that I wasn't alone. All around me in the seemly empty wilderness, life was thriving. Just as trillions of cells composed my body, it did with all living things around me. The trees, grass, sleeping bugs, and wildlife lurking. Even the wind and water and dirt are composed of elements with constant chemical reactions. We are far from alone.
Humans are a small fragment of life.
And if you put yourself in the wild away from man's inventions, you will feel this. It all seems trivial and beautiful.
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