Hard time relaxing/sleeping in the wild. Any suggestions? Tips?

[TheRollingRook]

Okay, so I went hammock camping Tuesday night this week in the local National Forest. It was a primitive campground and no one else was really around. I just needed to get away. I was ok and enjoying my solitude, watching little critters and birds, had a little fire going and was digging the breeze in the trees and the sway of my hammock...until the sun went down.

I was kind of tired and ready to sleep when the sun set and I could no longer enjoy the visuals in the fading light (or through my bug netting for that matter). The first hour after the sun set, I was out like a light. I was totally zonked out, but around midnight, 1am or so, I awoke to some rustling in the forest nearby. Somehow, I went from relaxed to high alert and I just couldn't shake it. I ended up whipping out my flashlight every time I heard something. I counted 3 raccoons that passed by within 15 feet of my hammock within an hour. (No, I didn't have any food out and even my trash (actually stuff I picked up from previous campers) was clean and untouched in the morning.)

I finally got creeped out and ended up sleeping in the back seat of my truck until the sun came up.

I think part of it is camping alone, but I do enjoy the solitude and sway of my hammock.

Has anyone else had similar experiences or have techniques for just chilling out. Like everyone else here, I've been watching Shug's videos for a couple years now and he seems SO relaxed and able to sleep 8-12 hours at a time. I'm just not feeling that unless I'm hanging in my house or backyard.

Any helpful hints or suggestions, greatly appreciated.
(And if this is the wrong place to post this question, I sincerely apologize as I am new to the forums.)
Sincerely,
Megan
aka The Rolling Rook

[dakotaross]

Yes, I imagine we've all experienced that to some degree. One of the things I love about being in a hammock is that I can look out and see what's out there. I have yet to see anything, which goes a long way towards me rarely waking up like that anymore. Hang your tarp high so you can see out clearly, keep a flashlight nearby to shine as needed. Will take you a few trips, but you'll shake that creepy feeling.

[XJ35S]

The only thing to fear is fear itself.

We are pretty much at the top of the food chain unless you have a kodiak or Grizzly to worry about. Not in IN though...

[leiavoia]

Just remember the most dangerous animal in the forest is ... YOU.

[Shug]

Your lizard brain is on high night alert. Try to re-train. Sit alone in the dark with no light and no fire. Get used to night sounds. Same as day but your brain is tuning in on them. It is our ingrained fear of the dark. A rabbit sounds bigger than a bear....!
Also try a hard day of backpacking. Put in some miles and get tired. Be away from the car. This will help in time.
If you can get through 3 nights or so alone in the dark you may get used to it and relax. If not then solo overnights may not be your thing. All good either way.
Keep at it.
Shug Van Winkle

[GeneH]

...Try to re-train. Sit alone in the dark with no light and no fire. Get used to night sounds. Same as day but your brain is tuning in on them. It is our ingrained fear of the dark. A rabbit sounds bigger than a bear...Shug Van Winkle

This. Now I enjoy sitting with a very small minimal fire or just hot coals for all kinds of warm fuzzy security until well into the early AM. Your eyes will get so adjusted to the low light you can see everything. Offtimes I get up and walk around a little, head lamp off, just to stretch out the kinks. I keep all my lights off as much as safely possible.

Shug is right, small critters like a squirrel easily sound like monster whitetail, even during broad daylight, and the whitetail deer will walk up behind you and snort. So doesn't do any good to think about it. Have you had a chance to have packs of coyotes pipe up yipping and howling yet? Now that's a treat.

[hang-anon]

Your lizard brain is on high night alert. Try to re-train. Sit alone in the dark with no light and no fire. Get used to night sounds. Same as day but your brain is tuning in on them. It is our ingrained fear of the dark. A rabbit sounds bigger than a bear....!
Also try a hard day of backpacking. Put in some miles and get tired. Be away from the car. This will help in time.
If you can get through 3 nights or so alone in the dark you may get used to it and relax. If not then solo overnights may not be your thing. All good either way.
Keep at it.
Shug Van Winkle

In days B.H. (Before Hammock) camping in a ground dwelling (tent) in a campsite where the camp host stopped us and said "THERE WILL BE BEARS!" we dutifully fell asleep -- even the dog -- inside our small snug abode.

Until the family of rocks surrounding the camp fire pit started moving and snorting and shuffling. You have this happen and you'll find yourself getting real quiet, and praying the dog is telepathic and getting your mental commands to not start growling. Cause if she does, two things can happen and one of them is very bad.

Smart dog as she was (now in the great beyond) she stayed quiet and eventually the adrenalin rush wore down to another peaceful slumber.

In the morning daylight we discovered clues to what moved the rocks. About 5 huge bear c**p piles and about 10 feet behind the tent was a bed-down area where I suspect the family of bears decided to cuddle up for a few minutes of their own relaxation.

We moved the tent down a steep hill. Promptly.

Aside from that, I'm not so comfortable in the hammock in summer in my back yard. Don't want to be nudged while sleeping by the black bear that stops by every few weeks for a sniff around. I'm not that used to them yet.

[TheRollingRook]

Thanks so much! This is advice is really, really helpful!

[TallPaul]

My first night in a hammock I slept less hours than I normally would in a tent but I woke up more refreshed and with less stiffness the next day. It was a good lesson for me to not get to focused on hours.
I tend to wake up and water the trees at night. I use that as an excuse to look at the stars and listen to the night sounds.
I also will wake up to real or perceived animal noises. I guess eventually I’ve gotten used to it. Part of it has been identifying some of the noises - I didn’t know deer would sneak into camp and snort. Now I know the sound and it helps to stay relaxed.
Finally I’ve had trouble with sore muscles or bug bites or upset stomach so I take the appropriate med in my kit to help if it’s bad enough. And I wish hiking more miles helped me but that doesn’t always work. Pretty frustrating at first but then I realized my stress about it was counterproductive. I reflect back to that first night and realize I can get by on less sleep and still feel rested.

[cougarmeat]

In other threads, many have posted that their first night anywhere is not so restful. Certainly true for me. And you are braver than I am. Once, on a long thru hike, I went to bed at dusk instead of waiting until it was pitch black and I was zonked out tired. So I heard all those sounds and could swear I'd see eyes looking at me from the forest. Once I could swear I felt something brush under the hammock. Weeks later, during the day, I felt the same thing but it was just caused by the hammock anchor point shifting slightly in the wind.

I often carry a battery powered, motion sensor activated, light - about $5.00 at hardware store. I put it near the picnic table or gear so if some critters do come around, I can see what they are. I endeavor to camp where I am at the top of the foodchain. I'm not worried about myself, but I don't want any gear chewed up or dragged away. If you are concerned, you can stretch a line between two trees and hang all you gear (shoes, backpack, etc.) from it - nothing on the ground.

Finally - before you go to sleep: “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”