Originally Posted by
ldsailor
Having done a couple of long sections in the fall, I have found myself completely alone at a shelter numerous times whether in my tent or the shelter itself. It's spooky but also, kind of cool. The first night alone, ever, there were a couple of hyperactive chipmunks who scurried around for several hours in the dark. Then there was the night when I was in a shelter alone, and I definitely heard footsteps - heavy footsteps. Another night, this time in a crowded campsite, I went to the privy around 1:00 AM and saw red glowing eyes in the middle of the tents. Turned out to be a big deer. How he didn't wake up other hikers only a few feet away is a mystery.
I actually like being alone, and if I had my preferences, that is how I would spend the nights, but if things going "bump" in the night are not your thing, make sure you have people around and you probably will want to stick to hiking during times when a lot of hikers are present.