Jumpiness on trail

[grayfox]

Yeah Disney-- "I guess if I'm sleeping in a shelter with other folks, there's a part of my mind that just says "well if something bad happens those guys will wake me up."

I always laugh at myself when I think that because I'm looking at them and knowing they are thinking the same thing about me.

[Nevermind]

I used to get that feeling at night (terrified, wide awake listening to every noise), but after so many nights where you hear noises and nothing happens, it just becomes part of the background.

THAT BEING SAID... Last fall, in Stone Mountain State Park, NC, I was out for a one nighter with my friend. Our campsite was at the very end of a side trail. It had been dark for awhile and we were laying in our hammocks talking, getting ready to sleep. After a couple minutes of silence, a SNEEZE. We both heard it. It came from the woods side of the campsite (not the trail) and sounded human or large. No (good) reason for a human to be that way, so we were hoping it was just a bear (hah). We were both spooked for a good hour, but nothing happened and we eventually drifted off. Sounds at night can certainly be more alarming when alone though.

But hey, isn't that why we hike all day? So we pass out faster in the woods at night?

[Mountain Wildman]

I bet it phases out. It is all about your comfort zone, which develops over time. Turkeys and grouse, though, always seem to wait until you are almost stepping on them, then they explode in front of you in their own version of a panic. They will startle me until the day I die, which will probably be due to a heart attack caused by a damn turkey.

LOL. That's Funny!!!

[Mountain Wildman]

I agree, It will pass with experience. I used to worry about every little sound and sometimes couldn't get to sleep until the sun came up. After a few trips I resigned myself to the fact that there will be noises that I can't make out.
I basically figure if it isn't coming into my tent to get me, I could care less if there is a grizzly snooping around my camp, Go ahead, take that bag of cheetos I forgot to put away, just leave me alone!!

[Saint Alfonzo]

Hello,Young Person, I have to adjust on my first 2-3 days out. Not so much to the daytime, but at night. Ear plugs help alot and ,IN-A-GODA-DA-VEDA, also helps me fall off to sleep..You may be to young to know that song..
YOU take care,and good hiking...

[David@whiteblaze]

Well, here we have some great responses. Now two things: 1. When did I ever say fear? I said jumpiness, just walking, hearing something and being poised to strike back... The qoute was just saying that at least someone else has experienced this. 2. Does anyone know if there are any snakes that climb trees in Alabama? the way that the branch-shoulder-ditch-leaf movement makes me think it was either a startled snake or an attack leaf that got bored and decided to freak out an unsuspecting hiker... whatever happened started behind me and ended to the side and slightly in front of me. Sitting here, it occurs to me that I could've had a mini shooting pain reminisce in a place that was deeply infected wen my adrenalinkicked in when a squirrel jumped to an altenate branch... that happens when I am really stessed...

[David@whiteblaze]

Hello,Young Person, I have to adjust on my first 2-3 days out. Not so much to the daytime, but at night. Ear plugs help alot and ,IN-A-GODA-DA-VEDA, also helps me fall off to sleep..You may be to young to know that song..
YOU take care,and good hiking...

In the garden of eden?

[Blissful]

Take some Xanax.

You're advocated prescription drug use to a 15 yr old - ??


lovely

[Saint Alfonzo]

Hello Again,YOUNG PERSON, In Accordance with, my IRON BUTTERFLY album, of 1968, may I correct YOU.."IN-A-GODDA-DA-VIDA" and the song is 17:05 min.long..If only I could be YOUNG again ,and know it ALL..
YOU TAKE CARE YOUNG PERSON,, MIKE..

[Blissful]

2. Does anyone know if there are any snakes that climb trees in Alabama? the way that the branch-shoulder-ditch-leaf movement makes me think it was either a startled snake or an attack leaf that got bored and decided to freak out an unsuspecting hiker... whatever happened started behind me and ended to the side and slightly in front of me. Sitting here, it occurs to me that I could've had a mini shooting pain reminisce in a place that was deeply infected wen my adrenalinkicked in when a squirrel jumped to an altenate branch... that happens when I am really stessed...

I know snakes hang out in trees on the AT. Saw one in PA near Kirkridge shelter way up in a tree. Nice thing is, snakes near shelters mean no mice.

[Nevermind]

Hello Again,YOUNG PERSON, In Accordance with, my IRON BUTTERFLY album, of 1968, may I correct YOU.."IN-A-GODDA-DA-VIDA" and the song is 17:05 min.long..If only I could be YOUNG again ,and know it ALL..
YOU TAKE CARE YOUNG PERSON,, MIKE..

I always think of this when I hear in a gadda da vida:

http://www.ugoto.com/video_the_simps...a_da_vida.html

Also, I've had snakes in trees in my backyard when living in both North and South Carolina. So I'd say yes to Alabama. They're everywhere.

[LimpsAlong]

Hello Again,YOUNG PERSON, In Accordance with, my IRON BUTTERFLY album, of 1968, may I correct YOU.."IN-A-GODDA-DA-VIDA" and the song is 17:05 min.long..If only I could be YOUNG again ,and know it ALL..
YOU TAKE CARE YOUNG PERSON,, MIKE..

Saint, the kid may know something you don't. The song was originally "In the Garden of Eden". Check it out.
BTW, if you are listening to Iron Butterfly my guess is the herbal meds help you sleep? LOL
As Archie Bunker sang........Those were the days.

[Gray Blazer]

You're advocated prescription drug use to a 15 yr old - ??


lovely

Whoops, I forgot, young kids don't do drugs. Forgive me. (I'll try to notice the posted age from now on.)

[Saint Alfonzo]

Hello,LimpsAlong, how are YOU?? I have to agree with YOU on the songs original title. And as far as Herbal meds.. I have, NO COMMENT, Job security and all that stuff. At least thats what I use to say, before I retired..
YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF...AND GOOD HIKING....MIKE...

[JustaTouron]

Anything new causes jumpiness.

Spend 6 months on the trail and then spend a night in an apt in NYC and you get jumping everytime a drunk walks past your bedroom window.

Being alone certainly compounds the jumpiness. Being with a group of people you trust will certainly lessen it.

Give it time, you will get use to the woods.

[David@whiteblaze]

Hello Again,YOUNG PERSON, In Accordance with, my IRON BUTTERFLY album, of 1968, may I correct YOU.."IN-A-GODDA-DA-VIDA" and the song is 17:05 min.long..If only I could be YOUNG again ,and know it ALL..
YOU TAKE CARE YOUNG PERSON,, MIKE..

Um, I realized that the song that you were reffering to was IN-A-GODDA-DA-VIDA, but I was asking if that meant in the garden of eden... Also, in reference to the rest, I wouldn't go out to get a prescription to keep me from looking around as a tree falls...

[bus]

I get more scared when all the noises stop.

[bus]

Um, I realized that the song that you were reffering to was IN-A-GODDA-DA-VIDA, but I was asking if that meant in the garden of eden... Also, in reference to the rest, I wouldn't go out to get a prescription to keep me from looking around as a tree falls...

There was a Simpsons episode where Bart switched the music and it was sung as 'In the Garden of Eden' to the tune of the aforementioned song.

[David@whiteblaze]

There was a Simpsons episode where Bart switched the music and it was sung as 'In the Garden of Eden' to the tune of the aforementioned song.

you mean this one?

I always think of this when I hear in a gadda da vida:

http://www.ugoto.com/video_the_simps...a_da_vida.html

Also, I've had snakes in trees in my backyard when living in both North and South Carolina. So I'd say yes to Alabama. They're everywhere.

[GGS2]

... When you camp put a fish line trip wire in a 20' radius around your camp. Tie it to a tree 18" or so off the ground and string it in a circle back around to the tree where it is tied. Tie the loose end to a cook pot or other noisy object and wedge it in somewhere off the ground just enough that the line can pull it out and not the wind. At least with this you only have to be concerned with the noise of the pot falling and not every noise in the woods. ...

Nah, use flash-bangs. That way, when something trips, you only have to get up to clean your clothes and bag. And to reset the trip again, of course. Never know when something super stupid might stumble by.

For real, though, it's coyotes that get to me. They're such an eerie sound, and a small pack of them sounds like a big pack. And they don't let up: every fifteen minutes or so, they're at it again. One of them over there, a couple more down the other direction, and pretty soon they're all at it. Then when they've talked it out, they quiet down until the next time, only this time they're closer. Get the feeling they're talking about me, planning the attack.

But of course they're really out after dinner, which is critters much smaller than me. If they find me camped out, they'll scout me, of course, but I don't believe they'll do more than that unless they're really hard up. These new coyote crosses are a bit more concerning, but I've not heard of any attacks on camped hikers at night: just on dog walkers and the like in daytime or dusk.

The sounds of carnivores out hunting are certainly chilling, but hardly ever a real concern. They're just part of the sound track, it seems.