Although I’ve camped alone plenty of times before, the first night alone in the quiet, dark wilderness is always a bit strange. Any new atmosphere takes some time to adjust to when you’re traveling solo, especially if you’re swapping the hustle and bustle of a city for the exact opposite in the outdoors, like me. Thankfully, my arrival had gone as smoothly as possible, so I was feeling confident in my ability to make myself at home in Acadia despite the occasional moment of uncertainty.
Table Of Contents
With everything in order after setting up and settling in on Day 1, I had all day to enjoy the wilderness and start exploring the park. Read on to discover everything I got up to on my first full day outdoors, from hiking the local trails to relaxing and recharging back at camp. Let’s get right into it!
Just joining us? Head back to Day 1 “The Call of the Wild – Preparing for Your Solo Camping Journey” to see how it all began.
Leaving Camp for a Crisp Morning Hike
I woke up bright and early as the sunrise began to peek through my cabin tent. One benefit of being a frequent camper is having a dialed-in sleep setup. While it’s relatively simple, I can almost always guarantee myself a good night’s sleep while camping. Thanks to that, I felt fully energized and ready to hit the ground running on my second day.
After a cup of coffee and a quick breakfast of overnight oats, I secured my campsite and made my way over to my first hiking trail of the trip. Whether you’re flying solo or your entire camping group is leaving for the day, it’s always important to make sure your shelter, tent accessories, and any other belongings you plan to leave at camp are as safe and secure as possible. Your main concern is typically wildlife, but you unfortunately can’t always trust other campers, either. I always make sure my valuables are locked in my car, while my other camping gear is either securely anchored in the ground or stuffed away in my shelter with proper precautions taken to tame the curiosity of any visitors – human or not – who may come across your setup.
As for the hike, my goal was to keep this first one on the shorter side to help ease back into solo adventuring. Anvil Trail was my pick, which offered a moderate 2-mile, out-and-back hike with scenic views of Acadia’s magnificent coastlines. I had heard from other campers that parts of the trail weren’t well-marked, so I made sure to bring all of my essential navigation gear. Truthfully, I was pretty thrilled about the opportunity to test out my skills without relying on markers or other hikers to show me the way!
Anvil Trail gave me exactly what I was looking for: breathtaking views, the chance to flex my outdoor skills, and the perfect amount of solitude.
Lunch With a Side of Campsite Relaxation
Back at camp, I threw together a healthy turkey sandwich and hummus snack to refuel. My legs were already feeling the intensity of the morning hike, so I wanted to create a comfy corner at camp to enjoy my sandwich, rest my feet, and relax until I was ready to start exploring again. I grabbed my travel pillow and a throw blanket from inside my tent and built a cozy setup on my hammock. There, I spent the early afternoon with my lunch and a great book, surrounded by the beauty of the campground. I may not have brought a luxury tent or an opulent glamping setup, but I was proud of the comfortable space I’d created for my solo journey. I was finally starting to feel at home in my little corner of Acadia.
An Afternoon Catching Dinner
One of my goals for this solo trip was to push the limits of my self-sufficiency, and what better way than catching my own dinner?! I’d brought my fishing gear and had all the needed permits in hand, so I headed to the coastline of the Schoodic Peninsula to try my hand at catching dinner. If you prefer freshwater fishing and plan to do a lot of it on your camping trip, I’d highly recommend staying on Mountain Desert Island, which has much more convenient access to freshwater fishing opportunities compared to the home base I’d chosen.
It didn’t take long for me to catch two decently sized striped bass, which was more than I could’ve hoped for. With dinner secured, I drove back to camp to get started on cooking. While I’d brought along a portable camping stove, I wanted the true smoky flavors you can only get from a wood-burning fire. So, I readied a proper campfire to cook over and got to work prepping the fish. Once they were in the foil and cooking away, I utilized my camp kitchen under the cozy protection of my sunshade tarp to prepare some fresh veggies for a healthy side dish.
It was all a labor of love, but I’ve grown to find the beauty and joy in long processes like this. I kept the campfire roaring and relished in its warmth as I ate my fresh-caught dinner. With two fair-sized bass, I had plenty of leftovers to enjoy the next day. These all went straight into a sturdy hard-sided cooler and got locked in my car, which I kept more than a few feet away from my canvas tent. Although encounters with large predators like bears aren’t very common in Acadia National Park, I still wanted to take every reasonable precaution since I was all alone at camp.
One thing I’ve learned while solo camping is that peace of mind is everything! Even if the risk of something is low, I know I’ll have a much more peaceful experience if I’m able to put my mind at ease. In this case, that meant keeping my food secure from wildlife at all times.
Reflecting on Day 2
As the sun set on my first full day outdoors, I took a moment to reflect on all my successes and lessons so far. Not only did I get to explore the beautiful landscapes of Acadia, but I also pushed myself to practice valuable outdoor skills and self-sufficiency. I let the silence of the night envelop me as I watched the stars, listened to the comforting sounds of the forest, and felt a tinge of pride for all I had accomplished on Day 2. Luckily, I still had a few more days outdoors to look forward to on my solo camping trip. Stay tuned for the 4th installment of this 6-part series to discover how I spent Day 3!
No Comment! Be the first one.