The Stranger in the Woods thread got me thinking about how I handle solitude. I am pretty comfortable in my own head but because of commitments to family I have not had true solitude of any length for ages. I think I would have to go all the way back to the mid 70's when my folks would take off in the travel trailer and leave me to tend to the farm. Even then I do not think I went more than 36 hours without human interaction.

So, what is the longest you have gone without human interaction? Was it a good experience for you?

If you consider a solo trip being without human interaction, even though you might see, hear, or chat with someone, then it's a week for me. I've never gone a full week without seeing/hearing/talking to anyone, though some of my solo trips I go 3-4 days.


Other than that, if I get two hours, I'm good. :)

I have never done a solo canoe trip (though I am starting to get an itch to try). When I was in high school I did a 36 hour "solo" in the woods below my home. I pitched a tent and spent the time reading, sleeping, reflecting, journaling about how it felt to be alone during that time. I didn't speak to or hear any other people during that time.

The longest I have gone on trip where we only saw my own group members but no other people or signs of civilization was about 14 days.

I did a 27 day solo and spoke to very few people in that time. The longest period I went without talking to anyone was the second leg of the trip I saw no one except a few from a distance. So to answer your question 10/4-10/13 was my longest stretch.

It was a great experience. I really got to know myself again, which sounds weird but it's true. It's a really hard experience for me to put into words but I will try. I find that in "the real world" I'm a different person to different people. Like to my kids, my wife, co-workers. Even different friends based on our common interests. I'm different things to different people, different responsibilities. When alone and in the woods I found I shed all that and got to just be me.

I also liked that I didn't have to answer to, be responsible for anyone else having a good time. Hope they like the meal. Wondering if they want this or that. If they want to paddle or stay put. I could just do whatever I wanted. I could go on but you get the idea.

I won't lie though a few occasions I wished I had someone to talk to but they were fleeting moments. This happened most often when I saw or experienced something I wished I could have shared with my wife and/or kids. I do trip with them too so I know they would appreciate certain things. That may be the hardest thing about soloing for me.

But that being said, I loved it and I would and hopefully will do it again. Trying to work out a 3-4 week solo again this fall.

I'm not sure I stayed on subject but thats what came out.

Went 9 days in Quetico without any other human contact. It was glorious. Did some bushwacking in that trip too, and just knowing that I was completely on my own, with a very low chance of meeting anyone, was great.

About a month. Lots of solitary weeks over the years. I loved them all, but the older I grow, the more I embrace solitude.

As a parent with two young kids a bit of solitude sounds AMAZING right now. Its been several years since I've had more than a few hours of solitude. Prior to that I think the longest I went was a couple days of solo camping. Personally I really enjoy solitude and silence. Even if I'm just home alone I have always preferred silence. Most people will turn on the radio or have the TV on in the background as they work around the house. I prefer it quiet.

A longer solo trip is for sure in my plans once the kids are a bit older and its easier for me to be gone for longer periods of time.

Not for me I am a people person.

I don't need to talk to anybody but my tripping partner.

But I like sharing the outdoor experience with others even it is only one other.

minnmike: "
It was a great experience. I really got to know myself again, which sounds weird but it's true. It's a really hard experience for me to put into words but I will try. I find that in "the real world" I'm a different person to different people. Like to my kids, my wife, co-workers. Even different friends based on our common interests. I'm different things to different people, different responsibilities. When alone and in the woods I found I shed all that and got to just be me. "

minmike, your story reminds me of a poem I wrote shortly after I moved out of my school bus in the late 80's and built my first log cabin.

"we go through life matching the paces
meeting all different people in all different places
but we can't be ourselves unless we're alone
as we run to our safe spot and put on our faces"

The longest I have been alone without seeing another person is seven days, happened many a times in the deep dark winter of northern Mn.
Probably one of those times was when I worte this poem.

nofish: "As a parent with two young kids a bit of solitude sounds AMAZING right now. Its been several years since I've had more than a few hours of solitude. Prior to that I think the longest I went was a couple days of solo camping. Personally I really enjoy solitude and silence. Even if I'm just home alone I have always preferred silence. Most people will turn on the radio or have the TV on in the background as they work around the house. I prefer it quiet.

A longer solo trip is for sure in my plans once the kids are a bit older and its easier for me to be gone for longer periods of time. "

I think this is one reason why solitude may be difficult. It's like a muscle, you need to work it in order to have it function well. With you (and me) being a parent and having so many interactions around you, with that suddenly being going things may be difficult. Even if you are alone you have the neighborhood, cars going by, etc. Take all that away for a week and some can't handle it.

I did a four day solo and I certainly noticed it.

Minnesotian: "
Went 9 days in Quetico without any other human contact. It was glorious. Did some bushwacking in that trip too, and just knowing that I was completely on my own, with a very low chance of meeting anyone, was great.

"

Same for me. I did an 11 night solo and didn’t speak to anyone for 9 days in Quetico. I had my dog with and conversed with her plenty though. :)

Going solo is always a roller coaster of emotions. The first 3-4 days it always take time to get the rhythm. I think I enjoyed them more when I was younger.

Linden, I wish I could write like that. Thats exactly what I feel and meant.

Days for sure, probably a week or more if you count only seeing others. Yes, it was a good experience and one I continue to seek from time to time.

minnmike: " Linden, I wish I could write like that. Thats exactly what I feel and meant."

Glad you liked it, I'm guessing you are one of the few that could catch its meaning.

It's funny, I hadn't thought about that poem in 20 years, and couldn't remember all of it, but as soon as I read your thread I thought, "years ago I wrote a poem about that very thing" I went to my book of poems searchd for an hour before I found it.

Yes minmike, we often put on different faces when we are around different people, but our true face is the one we wear when we are alone. Our alone "true" thoughts, help make up that face.

I managed 11 days of a 12 day Quetico trip without seeing so much as a foot print of another human. Ran into my first folks on the portage at the bottom of the Horse River. One of the guys asked: "See anyone out there"? I told him not since Thursday: "Four days of solitude!" he said. "No. The other Thursday."

Solitude = Canada

Longest period of solitude was the summer of 1972 (age 21) when I manned the Stormy Peak Lookout in the Salmon National Forest of Idaho. I was up there for about 60 days straight and saw people in person exactly twice. One was a group of girl scouts who were backpacking through the area and the other was when they helicoptered a crew of 3 guys up to put out a lightning-caused fire in a snag right below the lookout. They stayed 2 days, slept out on the catwalk outside the lookout cabin and also brought up my mail that had been piling up down at the guard station. A nice touch!

By the end of that summer I was comfortable being on my own without feeling "lonely," but after raising a family and working for 40 years I had to rediscover it when I began doing solo BWCA trips.

At age 68 it has come back quite well, but it took a few trips to become a really positive part of the experience. Now I like it and look forward to it, and I realize it provides a contrast to regular life that helps me value being with friends and loved ones even more.

I went three days in Oct on the Stuart River to Stuart Lake - did not see anyone the entire time. I think I am ready for a little longer trip to see if I can reach the comfort zone by myself. The problem for me is trying to enjoy the experience without having someone to validate/share with. I think I might be close - but I really enjoy having a paddle partner - those have been my happiest trips - but the three day solo was amazing with incredible experiences and being alone is the best way to find yourself, imo.