SilverFox wrote:
being totally alone in the wilderness could have it’s disadvantages, such as paranoia thinking you’re hearing some wierd animal type thing that you only find in Harry Potter, plus if you have a very bad experience there’s nobody there to help you. And if they never happen to you, then you might just end up turning into Tarzan 😛
a lot of this depends on your background and previous experiences. fear of the outdoors can be overcome, and provided you do not do anything particularly daft like wander into known “wild country” or places with obvious hazards like quarries/steep drops/deep water or with inadequate weather protecton (remember drugs make your body temperature higher) there is very little real danger.
in the early 1990s as a teenager just returned from London who had always lived in cities I was actually paranold of being lost in the “sticks” and not being able to find my way back.
by the end of the 1990s after a multitude of raves along the Ridgeway and other rural locations and exploring the outdoors in various states of mind I had not only cured any fear of the outdoors, but enjoyed it.
I’d learned to read maps and navigate in both city and rural areas, also developed an interest in wildlife and the environment which helped me get a job and also reduced my fears as most “spooky noises” heard out of doors are simply the calls of various perfectly normal creatures which pose no threat whatsoever to humans.
About 4 years ago some squatters built me a bicycle in return for some work I had done for them and that encouraged me to ride the length of my local area at all hours of day and night, and indeed some rural areas which are badly lit can be daunting and intimidating but a good front light (or torch if you are on foot) will soon dispel any fears you may have.
Now there is very little that will spook me in the outdoors whatever state of mind i may be in!
