The thought of camping alone in the dark woods can be frightening, but for Stevensville resident Meagan Francis, a mother of five, her solo camping trip in 2019 was a time to enjoy the outdoors alone and map out her experiences without having to accommodate others.
鈥淚 love my family, I love traveling with them, but I was like, 鈥業 just want to be alone. I want to do all of this by myself, in the quiet, and choose where I want to go and not wait for anybody else,鈥欌 Francis says.
She鈥檚 not alone. , a popular app and online platform for camping information and booking, noted a 28% increase in solo campers across the country from 2021 to 2022 in its, adding that many of them were women.
鈥淚t showed me something that I was capable of,鈥 says Francis, who camped in the Upper Peninsula in the Munising and areas. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much value in getting out into nature. 鈥 I think I learned a lot about what my limits were and how to get right up against them and challenge myself, but not challenge myself too much.鈥
Nick Nerbonne, the media, digital, and industry relations director at , agrees that solo camping can be an excellent experience for those who are comfortable with the idea. 鈥淪ome of the things that we鈥檝e seen are that people are really into exploring themselves,鈥 Nerbonne says. 鈥淭hey want to connect with their emotions and connect with nature on their own so they can form their own perspectives and relationship with the surroundings.鈥
Here, Nerbonne offers some solo-camping advice, including which campgrounds to visit and how to stay safe.
Where should people solo camp?
I think anyone should feel safe camping at a Michigan state park. [They] are staffed with park rangers; they have infrastructure with well- lit bathrooms and showers and other facilities.
There are about 103 . In southwest Michigan, is a large-scale dunescape with forested trails, so you can enjoy the Lake Michigan beach but also go hiking. And, it鈥檚 got a great campground there. Further up the coast is , which is fantastic, and then around Muskegon are and . Those four are absolutely gorgeous.
In what ways should a solo camper be cautious?
Make sure you鈥檙e always aware of your surroundings. Take a look at the weather forecast before you go, no matter where you鈥檙e going, no matter what time of year. There can be storm systems that pop up.
Also, make sure that your food is stored in a secure area that鈥檚 not going to attract animals. Michigan does have black bears and other animals that can come in and look for that food. If you have a car nearby, keep your food inside the car at night.
What types of equipment should solo campers bring with them?
The best part about camping is to get that rest that you get in the outdoors. That starts with a good tent that has a rain fly, which is an extra layer of protective material that deflects the moisture as it falls so your tent doesn鈥檛 get wet. And then also a good sleeping bag and a sleeping pad, which can be made of foam and many other different materials.
You also need a method of preparing food. If you鈥檙e backpacking, it鈥檚 not always possible to have a cooler. So having food that can be prepared with a small camp stove is great. And there鈥檚 always the option of cooking over an open fire; in Michigan state parks, there鈥檚 a firepit in every campsite.
How can solo campers be on the lookout for exciting outdoor opportunities?
We always recommend taking a look at what鈥檚 around the area where you鈥檙e planning to travel. For example, if you went to [in Port Austin], there are a couple different outfitters that do trips where you can paddle out to . It鈥檚 a very scenic and photogenic location.
There are books and guidebooks and online websites where you can find more information [so you can] get out and explore.
This story originally appeared in the May 2024 issue of 糖心vlog安卓版. To read more, pick up a copy of 糖心vlog安卓版 Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our听digital edition听will be available on May 6.听
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