When I woke up on Day 3 of my solo camping journey, it felt like a quintessential autumn morning. The air was crisp, the colorful leaves were rustling in the breeze, and a thin layer of dew covered the campsite. I was thankful I’d prepped my setup accordingly, with a poly tarp under my canvas cabin tent and plenty of other waterproof camping gear to protect against the excess moisture I’d found myself amongst. Waking up to this, I knew I’d want to spend a cozy morning at camp to soak in all the fall vibes.
Table Of Contents
Read on to discover how I made the most of my autumn morning, then find out what I got up to the rest of the day, from exploring more of the park to testing out my campsite survival skills. Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Coffee and Carving
As I’m sure many readers can relate to, coffee is a morning ritual for me. Plus, what’s better than a warm cup of joe on a chilly autumn day? I got right to work brewing a cup of coffee with my AeroPress. I love this brew method while solo camping because it only makes a single cup. On top of that, my AeroPress kit is nice and compact, making it convenient to travel with.
Being alone for extended periods of time can easily bore me if I don’t keep myself busy, so once I’d enjoyed the cozy fall morning over my coffee, I pulled out my whittling tools. My good friend gifted me a beginner’s whittling book last Christmas, which I remembered to slide into one of my canvas bags minutes before leaving for this trip. It’s the perfect hobby craft for camping, since all you really need is a carving knife, a strop to keep it sharp, and a small piece of wood. While the beginner book suggested a soft wood to start with, I decided to take my shot at the natural wood lying around camp. I was able to find a small stump from some kind of tree branch, which I figured would do the trick!
I pulled up my camp chair next to the crackling campfire and started my first whittling project: a simple mushroom. While it was definitely a challenge as a beginner, I was instantly hooked. Once you get into the groove of it, whittling can be quite meditative, and it’s an awesome way to keep your hands busy while enjoying the atmosphere of camp. Plus, it doubles as a creative keepsake – especially if you source your wood straight from the nature around you!
Exploring More Trails
My main objective going into Day 3 was to try out a longer hike. I’d eased into exploring the park with a short 2-mile hike the day prior, but really wanted to spend a significant amount of time on the trails today. So, I packed a nutritious lunch, filled up my water bottle, and headed to the trailhead. One of the longest trails on the Schoodic Peninsula within the bounds of Acadia just so happened to start at my campground, making it a super convenient choice. Schoodic Woods to Blueberry Hill is another out-and-back trail, totaling 8 miles round-trip, surrounded by the coastal beauty of the park. I knew it would be a huge physical jump from yesterday, but I felt ready to tackle it with my lunch, a few snacks, and plenty of hydration to keep me going.
While the trail was absolutely breathtaking, dotted with the colors of changing leaves and views of the coast, I admittedly underestimated the challenge it would be. Physically, I was already feeling exhausted as I reached only the halfway point, and mentally, being alone was starting to take a toll. Since it was nearing the end of the park’s season, I was virtually the only hiker out there for the majority of my journey. Although I was taking all the right precautions, like marking my trail for the journey back and making noise to alert wildlife of my presence, the anxiety of my solitude took over. I was feeling exhausted and spooked, and I knew hiking any further would be both dangerous and unenjoyable.
Instead of completing the hike, I made the decision to cut my adventure short and find a ride back to camp. Luckily for me, there was a bus stop at Winter Harbor, the hike’s midpoint, which ran directly back to my campground. While I felt disappointed in my inability to follow through, I assured myself I was making the best choice for my safety and sanity.
Confidence in the Camp Kitchen
When I arrived back at camp, I took an hour to nap it off in my cabin tent. Today’s hike felt like my first major failure of the trip, so I knew I needed to regroup before doing anything else that day.
With the trail shaken off my mind, I decided it would be a good idea to build back up my confidence at camp. I’d been wanting to test out my fire-making skills, and it was the perfect time of day as I’d need to start cooking dinner soon. Lighting a campfire is easy with the modern tools we have, like lighters and pre-made firestarters. Instead, I was determined to build a fire from scratch, using only natural materials found around camp, and a small piece of flint I kept in my camping survival kit. It took quite a while to get a real fire blazing, but I did it nonetheless! It may seem like a small thing, but I truly felt like I needed this win after the day I’d had so far.
I wrapped up my leftover bass and veggies from the day before in a foil packet and threw them over the campfire to warm up. I waited under my sunshade tarp for dinner to be ready, taking the opportunity to sit in the pure silence of camp. It was just me and nature – no phone, no journal, no books, just uninterrupted solitude. My day was finally starting to come back around.
Reflecting on Day 3 Under the Stars
It was slowly starting to get dark earlier as we moved through the fall season, and as the stars came out on Day 3, I knew I needed to stay out to enjoy them. One of the more underrated advantages of camping in the autumn is the clearer skies the season brings, thanks to the crisper air with less humidity and haze. I set up a cozy spot to lie outside with a canvas tarp, throw blanket, and pillow, and spent the rest of the evening searching for constellations and reflecting on my day.
It was the most challenging day of solo camping yet, but it ultimately became a moment of growth. Not only did I learn the importance of listening to my body, both mentally and physically, and knowing my limits, but I also concluded that it’s okay to fail. At the end of the day, I made the right choices to take care of myself – and that’s a major win. Tomorrow is a new day, and another chance to grow. Stay tuned for the next blog in this 6-part solo camping series to see how I moved forward from here. See you there!
The adventure started with a quiet night and a camp set deep in the wilderness. Catch up on “Day 2: Into the Silence – Setting Up Camp Alone“ before moving on.
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