Camping alone in some places can keep your nervous system on its toes. I try not to camp in shady places unless I’m left with no choice and if I do it’s a four hour nap so I do fall asleep from driving 16 hours in one day. I gotta admit I’m not sure how many of those trips I’ve got left in me. The driving wears me down a bit.

I’ve never had anyone bother me when I camp gas station style I rarely stop in little town gas stations that go complete dark at night I prefer big truck stop lots or a Cracker Barrel because there’s other people like me camping there. Walmarts not so much I don’t care for the customer base. I’ve had one vagrant walk around my truck in northern Texas and he was greeted with a tomahawk from my tailgate. I think he was more nosey than anything. I didn’t hand him a questionnaire.

I’ve had raccoons terrorize my peace in Beaufort, one almost stealing my truck keys. Deer will scare the shit out of you when you aren’t expecting them. They may be docile but they can get big and when they enter your camp unannounced it’ll catch you off guard. I’ve been terrorized by cows more than bears. Cows are bigger, their shit is too. They’re loud, clomping around and MOOOOOOO all times of night. It’s like sitting next to an adult who smacks their food. Lot of free range cattle out west. Last thing, they smell.

I’ve had two bears come visit me while camping in the Appalachians. One looked more surprised than me it walked right by me before seeing me and scurried off. All two hundred plus lbs, it wasn’t big but big enough. Another mom with her cub walked by close enough for me to see them but kept her distance. At least 60 yards away. Not really my campsite but close enough for me. I’ll sometimes travel with a deer cam to see what critters come into my area. 99% if I see something it’s a deer or raccoon. If I’m in hunting island probably a cat or two. Not big cats just feral ones.

I picked up a beam of light in Moab last year. Still not sure what that was unless it was a dust devil. I don’t go too over the top with paranormal things, I can’t relax if I allow things such as Bigfoot, skin walkers, dog man, moth man, werewolves and such to enter my mind. Do I believe in such things? It wouldn’t take much for me to believe in Bigfoot. World is a big place. Plenty of places we’ve never explored. It’s possible. I’d rather not see one first hand to be honest I don’t carry any extra pair of underwear with me when I hike. I do believe in alternate realms, dimensions and portals so Bigfoot isn’t far fetched to me. If it does exist I feel it’s somewhere in between what we can see and what we can’t. Hence the constant blur. Or people are just full of shit. Pick your side.

I do get some weird vibes some places, there are a couple of spots I won’t camp anymore and I’ll get to one or two shortly. I’ve gotten “something is watching me” vibes a few times but I let my imagination go wild when I’m in nature. I try to feel for things, sight, smell, hearing I’m always trying to reach out. I’m always scanning for wildlife. Not for invaders but for curious animals.

I don’t consider myself a brave person. I’m familiar with this environment enough to understand it and allow myself to be at ease. I don’t take my surroundings for granted. I’ve gripped my pistol a few times just from vibes and or distant leaves crunching. I’m wired tight. I’ve got quick reaction times.

I’ll pull into an unfamiliar spot and sometimes leave. I’ll get a not so good feeling and move on. I’ve done this multiple times. If my stomach doesn’t like the spot I move. Intuition is paramount in this situation. Obviously landscape is important too. I’m leery of flooding or fallen trees.

I don’t fear any man of any type. I’d be more comfortable camping with a serial killer on the loose than grizzly country. I can kill a man, people die with ease and we all die eventually. I’ve got a much better chance with a serial killer than I do with a big bear or cat. Any random person walks into my camp you’re going to be greeted with a gun hiding under the small blanket in my lap. You won’t see it until you do. Linville is full of pull offs to camp right off the road. Some of these sights have amazing overlooks and often times asshats will pull right up to your site and take pics. They will literally walk right in front of my campfire setup with me sitting down and stand in front of my site to take a pic. It’s public land, I’m not the owner but maybe just maybe don’t do that. Especially when it’s dark. I had some gravy ranger pull up to my site open carrying with a friend a few years back when I camped off my tailgate. They were friendly enough but I’m not a fan of any Tom, Dick or Cletus open carrying around me in the woods. They took some pics and left. The whole time Captain Gravy had a 9mm following him around from my tailgate.

Have some goddamn sense people.

I’ve had two weird experiences I can’t explain while camping in Linville. One as recently as yesterday which is why I’m writing this. It was enough to make me consider my camping options up there.

A brief introduction to the environment of where I camp. I drive up to a poorly maintained gravel road near Morganton, NC. It’s about 14 miles long, lots of washboard trails, loose gravel, deep ruts and mud. There are about 40 pull offs where you can camp. Some are 10 feet from the road, some are big sites where several campers can fit while others are so narrow you can barely squeeze your truck in between the trees and rocks. Some are well maintained while others are rutted out from rain and wear and tear. Theres another pull off up there where you can drive into the mountain and not see anyone all day. I like these spots if I’m staying for a couple of days. People drive up and down these roads on dirt bikes, 4 wheelers and corollas. Most cars can make the drive but when it rains you better bring a sleeping bag and a sandwich. I rarely need my 4WD unless it’s been raining. There are two sides of the mountain, ridge side is the money shot side. You’re facing the gorge, great vistas especially at the top, I like these spots for the sunrise, when the earth is tilted just right the sun comes right up in your spot. It’s amazing. You’re forgoing privacy for the scenery. You’re usually about 20 feet off the road. People can see you while you’re camping. Also the weather system is unpredictable on the ridge. You can expect random 25 mph gusts from out of nowhere. The other side is the wooded side, more trees, denser forest, canopied areas much farther from the road. You can still see the road but some spots you can hide completely. Don’t be too invisible though someone else may think it’s vacant and pull-up on you. I always leave my hammock out hanging, like when your college roommates would tie a towel around the dorm door for the “do not disturb” moments. I camp in these spots more often than not. No wind to blow my awning in the air, less distortion, less road dust and no tourists taking instagram pics. When I had my trailer these were ideal, I could leave my trailer in a large open site, leave everything aside from food out and go do my thing. I go on Sundays to insure I get a good spot. I’m coming up when everyone else is coming down. Some days I may be one of a handful of people on the entire mountain. It’s serene. Maybe a little too much.

One time about a year ago when I still had my trailer I came up on a late Saturday afternoon to camp. My intention was to pull off to any spot I could find, I knew the good spots would be taken on the weekends. I was staying two nights. I’d find temporary accommodations the first night, keep my gear tight and the next morning I’d set out to find my ideal spot. I have about 6 I enjoy up there. I found a narrow pull off on a sharp turn by the road. I’m familiar with the spot as most of them. I’ve driven this road well over a hundred times. There’s another spot right up the road about 50 yards from the turn that sits on the road. I backed my trailer into the narrow trail and set up camp for the night. It was around 6pm plenty of light still left in the day. I’d make an MRE for dinner so I wouldn’t have to break out my entire kitchen. As I was unloading I heard a noise that sounded exactly like a couple of kids or teens trying to make animal sounds. Almost like primate hoots. They sounded human. I knew there was another site up the road I just assumed they were letting their kids explore the woods behind me. It’s pretty thick back there but there are a couple of game trails around. When I heard the hoots I smiled and hooted back. The hooting immediately stopped and I didn’t hear a peep for the rest of the evening. I made a small campfire, ate my dinner and slowly made my way up to my tent.

I don’t sleep in my tent alone. What I mean by that is I keep at least three options of protection with me when I go “upstairs”.

Something sharp, something blunt and something that goes bang. I’m not paranoid, I’m prepared. I have a family that counts on me to return home from every trip. I’m not a hero and I’m not that brave. Anything disturbs my sleep will have a war on its hands. I mentally practice these situations in my head as to not be surprised should something actually happen. And I’m wound very tight. There are no surprises. I expect to be bothered.

I go to my tent no later than 9. My senses are dulled from no light and I’m sleepy so I turn in early. I’ll read in my tent or if I’m on the ridge I’ll stare off into the gorge. I wasn’t ridge side this night. I take one bag up into the tent with me. It usually consists of a headlamp, water bottle, fixed blade, lightweight charger so my phone charges overnight, headphones and my pistol. My keys also stay in the tent with me now (see earlier story about raccoon). I never sleep through the night when I camp. I’m a little on edge only because I’m out of my comfort zone of security. Around 3am something “punched” the front flap of my tent door. I say punched because it was quick. Like a jab. A hard jab because I felt the trailer move forward from the impact. If you aren’t familiar with roof top tents they are made of thick heavy canvas like you’d see from the big military style tents or jeep tops. They aren’t lightweight nylon like the backpacking kind. You can cut into them with a thick sharp blade but it’s tough hide. The roof is a hard composite like a turtle shell. They’re rugged and strong.

But

It’s still canvas. Not actual walls. You’re still exposed in a collapsible shell. The punch woke me up immediately. I sleep with my head pointing towards the door. I dont like sleeping with things right above my head I’m slightly claustrophobic.

I didn’t panic but I will openly admit I was scared. To hit my tent above my head would mean reaching up to around 7 feet high. Bear? Maybe a really big one. There was no sound before the punch that I know of and no sound of anything retreating. I didn’t jump up when it happened I stayed low and quiet. If anything was trying to get me to up and out of the tent it wasn’t happening.

I routinely practice in my head several different scenarios of what can happen when I camp. Breakdowns, injuries, bad weather and worst case scenario -violence. I put my gun in a specific place in a specific way to give me quick access. If I get an invader my gun is at my feet, still holstered of course. I use my keys to hit my door lock on my fob to light up the site like an alarm. I’ll put my headlamp on and turn on my flashlight. My headlamp could blind an airplane on full power. My flashlight is a blunt instrument pointing me where to shoot with my gun. I’ve practiced it mentally and physically. Dozens of times. My reaction time is better than average and if it’s a human barging into camp I’m probably more prepared than you are. Also I don’t think I’d hesitate to shoot. I have no issue putting a large hole into a maniac’s center mass. I fear no man. We aren’t bullet proof. Now a healthy apex predator? Yeah now those scare the shit out of me in a very healthy way.

When I woke up from the punch I did exactly what I trained myself to do.

Unholstered my gun

Grabbed my headlamp (left it off)

Flashlight lined up with the pistol

Turned both lights on while repeatedly hitting my truck door locks which in return causes the truck to flash so you’re experiencing a laser light show immediately while I’m scanning the perimeter with my pistol in hand. No I’m not ex military I read a lot of GI Joe as a kid.

I saw nothing.

No tracks

No camp disturbance

Nothing missing at all.

I sat upright in my tent for half an hour. Complete silence.

I finally laid back down this time with my head away from the flap and stared at the ceiling for two hours until sunrise lit up my camp. I walked around the entire area, no tracks were found. No branches fell and it wouldn’t have mattered I had my tent awning up with poles a branch would’ve had to fall under the awning to hit my door. Another option it could’ve been a bird of prey grabbing a some late night dinner on my tent door. One big enough to push my trailer forward? It’s a 2000 lb trailer when loaded up. With a 175 lb occupant inside. No feathers from impact were found. I had my mountain bike with me so I took it for a ride up to the next camp site to see if my neighbors had any problems. There were no neighbors up the mountain. Camp site was untouched, no fresh prints and the campfire was stone cold. No one had been there recently I had just assumed I had some neighbors due to the human made “animal sounds” I had heard the evening before. You know the difference between a natural sound as opposed to one that sounds mimicked. Once I realized there were no neighbors and the sound I heard wasn’t teenagers I got a little chill down my spine. I returned to my camp, loaded up and moved across the other side of the mountain ridge side, closer to the road. I wasn’t leaving because of my experience the night before but I wasn’t staying anywhere near that spot again.

Needless to say I didnt sleep well that night and my gun stayed a little closer.

Sunday night

So my last trip up to Linville was this past weekend. I parked on the ridge side closer to the road only because I wanted to rise with the rise as I call it. Sun comes right up at my spot to the left it’s a good moment to for my morning sun gaze. My first night in my Moonlander and it had been over six months since my last trip up there. I was excited and a little euphoric to be back. Set up was done, I cooked a steak and watched the sky fade for a bit. No music, no noise just stillness. The gorge is a little unstable when it comes to weather patterns and I started to get some fun wind at my site. Not crazy but 15- 20 mph winds will blow all of your shit everywhere. I have a much more stable shelter system in place now but the wind will still make your windows whistle all night so I decided to roll my gear and truck a quarter mile down the road off the ridge. I’d already closed camp because of the wind so all I had to do was close my doors and head down the hill. I pulled into a nice shaded spot, large canopy of strong trees and little to no wind. I’ve stayed in this spot before it’s a solid place. I parked and opened up my camper and sat on my little sofa watching the sun go down between the trees. I was in stillness mode, half meditating, half asleep. 9pm on the nose I closed up shop, lock my truck and my back camper and went to sleep. I went in and out of consciousness for most of the night it rained a little so the inconsistent pattern of the rain kept me up. Around midnight I finally fell asleep.

I woke up at 5:04am I know this to be the specific time because I had turned over to grab my phone to see if it was time to get going. As soon as my phone lit up the back door of camper pulled in a jerking motion like something was trying to yank it open. Not a push or punch like my tent it was definitely a tug. My truck went backward this time not forward. I had my ceiling motor fan on so I couldn’t hear my outside surroundings that well. If something ran off I couldn’t hear it. My ecoflow battery, which powers everything is right by my head so I quietly pulled out my dc adapter everything was attached to and my camper went dark and quiet. I grabbed my pistol (I’m getting good at this now) and lied back down with my gun pointed toward the door. No lights inside this time I didn’t want to be seen I did the same thing I did with my truck key fob and hit the lights repeatedly while I scanned my site from my portal window.

Nothing that I could see. Because of the rain it was pea soup fog all over my range of sight.

Awesome.

I texted one of my friends who I knew was up and gave them the run down just in case I “disappeared”. I was angry more than scared this time. Something tried to open my back door. Something tried to enter my camper. What animal can pull my camper door back? Once again, possibly a bear? No sniffs, no huffs and once I got out of my camper once again, no prints on the dirt. It had been sprinkling rain barely, my truck was dotted with it. I would’ve seen tracks of a bear. Human footprints? Could’ve been mine, could be from the last occupant I couldn’t tell. There were none in placement that looked like a pair or even two prints facing my truck. I didn’t stick around too long I felt exposed while I looked at the ground at 6am in the fog with a pistol in my grip. Headlamp wasn’t much use.

Something definitely tried to enter. My back door was locked tight. My old truck camper didn’t from the inside. I used a bungee cord to keep it shut. Had it been my old truck this may have been a different story. How my camper is set up, you’re not coming inside without my permission. A grizzly could probably tear the door off with some effort or a window but it won’t fit in the window. I’m not in grizzly territory. Black bear can’t get inside. It could open the back maybe with some effort and dexterity if I left the doors unlocked. Best case? It was a bear and had managed to get its nails under the door hinges. As o turned on my phone light I scared it away and its claws were under the door handles.

There were no markings of that on the door. Dust is an amazing fingerprint finder. There were fingerprints all around the handles but they could’ve easily been mine. Nothing out of the ordinary.

No sign of life. I got up, started my truck and drove through the fog until I was in an open area to fully inspect my truck.

I have no clue as to what came into my camp. Bigfoot? I think if it exists it could’ve easily ripped my door off. Not sure how much a Bigfoot can bench press.

This won’t keep me from going back up there. It will make me question where I choose to camp when I go back up. Two occurrences in over a 100 plus visits doesn’t make it a consistent pattern but it does get in my head. Human encounter? You’re just dumb and looking to end your career of breathing.

Animal? Well I’m in your corner of the world I’ll stay respectful just don’t try to eat me. Anything else? I’m not ready to accept that either but you have my full attention at the moment. Let’s keep this civil. I’ll say this if there’s a third time I doubt I’ll come back up for a fourth. Unless I bring a companion.

Happy trails yall .