My First SOLO camping hiking experience at Starkey Wilderness Park Vlog

I finally took the plunge and did my first solo camping hiking adventure.
My tips on doing it solo:
-Find a site that you are familiar with
-Know about the wildlife around the area
-Find a way to relax once nightfall comes such as listening to music, watching a show/movie
You can find below the gear used on this backpacking adventure
************kit.co/marisoldi/new-backpack...
As always please let me know know if you have any question and I'll be happy to answer them and Thank you so much for watching!
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✩ Instagram - / mari_marisol_
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[@RE-mv8cp]

🥰

[@EmilyFlynn]

Wow! So proud of you for such a huge accomplishment. You’re a natural at making vlogs like this btw! Love it

[@MarisolsAdventures]

:).Glad u enjoyed it..thank you!

[@JerryDugan]

Yay! You did it! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

i know right! it was a night i would never forget

[@BackpackingwithBuckley]

So great!!! Well done Marisol!! All animals sound big at night. You will adjust!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank you! i'm sure the more I do it the more relax i will be :)

[@BeerinBeautifulPlaces]

That’s incredible!! Congratulations on doing something a lot of people would never imagine!! 🥳🏅👏

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank u so much!! Not sure about more solos but glad I did one 😜😆😳

[@thelonehiker4698]

Love this video

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Glad u enjoyed it. thank you!

[@TheCountryCollectors]

What a great adventure! Solo backpacking and camping. So proud of you. Great job pushing yourself! It looks beautiful out there. Relax and enjoy! Don’t worry your not alone…you have us!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

:). thank you!

[@hsandv70]

Very nice. Proud of you. It is a great hobby and way of life. Congrats !!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you! totally agree :)

[@whimsicallywandering12]

You are so brave! Enjoyed watching. Happy for you! 🙂🌿☀🐞

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you!!!

[@dearmountains3431]

This is great! What a beautiful job you've done.Thank you for sharing your amazing experience❣❣

[@MarisolsAdventures]

aww thanks..hope to see u on the next one

[@BackpackingWithJason]

Great job on your first solo trip. I know those sounds can be freaky at night. When I go on solo trips I download a movie and podcast a lot of times. You’ll be thru hiking the AT before you know it. Cool video my friend 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MarisolsAdventures]

yeah i started watching a silly show and it helped. Aww thanks. would love to someday attempt something like that but for now baby steps :)

[@roymeetsworld1]

Very cool vlog, keep it up

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you 😊

[@TheTravelingSwiss]

This is amazing! Huge props to you - can't wait to keep following along on your journey! You shared some great tips along the way too :)

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank you, it was a little scary but glad i made it thru the night

[@LauraOnTheMove]

You made it! So many mosquitos...but fun to watch your first overnight trip. Sounds like there will be plenty more in the future!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you!! somehow i made it. was so nervous prior days leading to that....i want to keep doing it but trying to figure out how i can make it less stressful..lol..guess i need to get accustomed to those noises. how do u do it?

[@LauraOnTheMove]

@@MarisolsAdventures I wear my head phones as ear plugs when I sleep 😅 knowing what type of animals are out there is very helpful. It's great that you were really familiar and could talk yourself down. I always put my phone and pocket knife in the same spot so I can grab them if needed like you did. It's amazing how big the animals sound at night! I had something trying to dig into my tent once and I was convinced it was a raccoon in the dark, but I'm sure it was just a mouse. 😂

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@LauraOnTheMove OMG that sounds like a terrifying experience. luckily that didnt happen. tks for sharing

[@AdventuresOfATravelingDon]

Get it girl! Dive into the adventure. It's a bit scary at first but, you get used to it and it becomes super fun to solo travel. Love the camping set up you got. I love being out in nature. The quiet is the best. A bit unnerving initially but, once you get used to it you can really delve into your own thoughts and find yourself. You did well. Well done and great video.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank you! sounds like you've done this before? :)

[@joriktwo]

Great bike trails there at the park too that connects to the Suncoast trail. Cheers!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

yes i saw those trails too..thank u

[@willieoutdoors2531]

Congratulations on your first solo overnight!!! Awesome!😎👍

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you! at times i was wondering why did i do this. :)

[@willieoutdoors2531]

@@MarisolsAdventures I think everyone should at least do one solo overnight. My first solo overnight, I didn't sleep well because all the different sounds at night kept me up. It can be scary the first. 😁Lol

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@willieoutdoors2531 I agree. Glad i got it done. not sure if i would do it again..although i kinda want to but a little stressful lol

[@annetteevans5256]

Just watched this video. Love your honesty with everything.. I'd be anxious about the dark as well.. thx for sharing!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Aww thank you!! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@AnnitaMNG]

Congrats my friend! 🎉 That was a very brave experience, I am afraid of camping alone, I did it but with friends... it's good to connect with nature 🌱💚

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you my friend..it was scary but glad i made it

[@PFAM5]

This was a great video! Glad you were able to accomplish this and overcome your fears or concerns.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you! Yeah so glad I got this over with haha

[@mariojsworld]

Nice hiking video. Beautiful nature at Starkey Wilderness Park.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank u

[@Mansoortastic]

Loved the whole experience. Quite interesting and adventurous. Congrats on your solo trip

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank you!

[@RE-mv8cp]

omg you are very brave! i am very proud of you. Without having gone to spend the night there, watching this video made me nervous. how could you spend the night there alone! you overcame your fears…congratulations!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank you 😍, I did!

[@bklchannel5870]

That’s a great experience. Reminded me of our family camping experience last year and looking forward to do it again this year. I did enjoy and thank you for sharing us your experience.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thanks for coming along

[@PrimeTimeTravelers]

That seems like quite the adventure but also sort of scary. SO glad you were able to do this, you gotta be proud!! Stay safe and talk soon!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Yes so happy i did it..althought not sure i can do that again..i was so nervous

[@ervinslens]

Amazing hiking trail! Extremely enjoyable adventure with such a great guide. Trail is stunning, actually a whole video is top notch production. New friend here👌🎥🎞🥾🔔🔔

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thanks for your support :)

[@StepsbyKaatje]

Going solo is quite a challenge! Especially out in the wilderness. But it's something you can sure get used to. Often it's our imagination that makes it the most scary part. 😁 And that you can get under control by doing it more often and learning about the animal noises around you. That way you know if you have dangerous animals around you. Armadillos are harmless! 😁 Good job!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank you ..yeah that is why i started watching a show on my phone bc my imagination was making me anxious. thank you!

[@StepsbyKaatje]

@@MarisolsAdventures as long you don't put on a horror movie, that sure will help! 😁

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@StepsbyKaatje 😅😂

[@ChooseAdventureCaliforniaStyle]

Hey, thanks for posting this on fb. I do A LOT of hiking but really wanna get into backpacking. Awesome that you did this. Whenever I'm camping I think of Les Stroud; if he goes all those places solo and is fine we should be too...? I also watch Netflix at night while camping to calm the nerves 🤣

[@MarisolsAdventures]

yeah i just got into it this year! I have done a couple of trips so far and love it!! i do many day hikes but backpacking is just so different. hope u try it

[@JasonOutdoors]

Way to go👏. I think we've all been there.. every noise is something coming to get you. Everything sounds bigger at night. Glad you were able to accomplish this. 😊

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you! i hope the more i do it the easier it will become. Still feels scary out there!

[@JasonOutdoors]

@@MarisolsAdventures its probably safer out there. I feel like the animals are just curious rather than malicious. Unless it's ticks... they can Fu@$ off lol.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@JasonOutdoors lolololololol..i guess u r not a fan of them

[@JasonOutdoors]

@@MarisolsAdventures I would rather deal with bears 🐻

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@JasonOutdoors 😂 i have yet to see one

[@garrycollins3415]

That walking sound sounded like a deer. It looked like you hung your food using the AT method. I suggest the PCT method. Apparently bears have figured out how to cut the line and drop your food with the AT method. Permethrin on your tent for bugs. There is also an orange plastic card infused with bug spray that I hang at my tent door that helps a lot, bought it at REI. If your situation makes you comfortable you are not growing.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

love that saying, thank you! did not know about bears figuring that out will learn other method and thanks for the info about the orange plastic card..bugs are coming out now and didnt let me enjoy the sunset

[@garrycollins3415]

@@MarisolsAdventures to save money on permethrin I buy it from Tractor Supply or Amazon then water it down to match the Sawyer's dilution. It will be 1/10th the price and last you years.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@garrycollins3415 good tip ...thank you!!

[@TheAverageTourist]

Way to go!! I would be very anxious to do that alone... as a woman so many extra concerns to think of. You did it though and the morning misty camp site was so pretty.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

yes that morning brought calmness to the whole situation. It was really pretty. Thank you!

[@Vinny8El611]

Yay you are awesome 👏 I live 5 minutes away from there and just got a tent to do my first solo night. I just hope I survive 🤣

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Awww thank you! If you are going to do the same spot you will be fine. Just some weird sounds May come up at night. I’m sure u will survive and u will feel awesome the next day. Best of luck

[@traveladvisorak6065]

The hike looks good but staying in a forest all alone, sounds to be a bit scary thought. Great to see you staying solo in forest.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

it was scary! thank you

[@dalefeldhusen9350]

Good job! Next time take the fixings and cook a gourmet meal like Chris Bamman.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

:) Thank you

[@srogers9313]

At night most things are just as nervous of you as you are of them. Just make a little noise and make yourself known and most things will usually leave you be. A small fire always helps too just be mindful of Smokey the bear. Congrats on the first solo night!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank you..i forgot to make noise bc i was so scared..haha

[@srogers9313]

No need to be scared, After a few overnight trips you'll be at home in the woods. Just takes a little getting used to. That's all.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@srogers9313 yes for sure...the more i do it the easier it will get :). tks

[@ruzad-therovers4647]

Great you dared for solo camping, hope this place is free from wild animals , enjoyed watching your video

[@MarisolsAdventures]

thank u

[@keithfavara4943]

You've got more experience than me as far as backpacking, but I am in the same boat completely as you as far as not only wanting to do this, but I also hiked out to this same spot last year and took a peak at that same campsite. Also thought about trying to carry the bikepack out there using my mountain bike thinking that I could ride the trails a bit after setting up camp or the following day after getting up, but plus it would make the trip a bit easier. But.....like you.......not sure how I would handle the sounds at night. I plan on going back up there with my mountain bike soon to ride around and try to get some more confidence just by getting to know the area a little better. Good job on going through with it.......I'm hoping to take a trip back there when it cools off and do like you did and see how much my anxiety gets to me. I would definitely want a campfire as I can kinda zone out and just stare into the fire. Think that might help calm and distract me too. Once again........good job..

[@MarisolsAdventures]

before this i camped out on the tent sites with a group of friends and got used to the sounds. i think that helped a bunch otherwise i would have freaked out. i think that area is pretty safe so is a good spot to get your nerves out. let me know how it goes. weather should be nice soon.

[@keithfavara4943]

​@@MarisolsAdventures Thanks for the reply. The one thing that's kinda in my head is that they have wild hogs in that area...saw the ground dug up from them rooting around in it when I hiked out to that campsite. Hopefully none come visit my campsite if I go through with it. I like that campsite you went to, but to feel a bit closer to civilization I might go to campsite #3. If I bike it in then it's around 2 miles on the concrete path and less than a half mile after that to get to the campsite so the trip would go quickly to get out there. My one big strategy to deal with the noises......shove some earplugs in and hope to ignore them!!! I'm a light sleeper so I'll need them anyways. Well.....I will let you know if I'm as brave as you are in the future. Hats off to you for at least trying it. Never know till you try.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

@@keithfavara4943 yes i wish i knew about earplugs before. i think it would be a big help. i have no seen hogs ever but i know they are around. i hope you get to try if not you will when you are ready

[@NelsonParz]

What trail was this?

[@MarisolsAdventures]

It was on starkey wilderness Florida, the trail that takes you to primitive camping #1

[@iknowbinary]

Great adventure! Hope I can do this someday, need to gather enough courage. Is bear spray not required? And what brand is your sleeping bed?

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thank you! You will get there..all in its due time. No bear spray bc no bears around just pepper spray and knife. sleeping pad is big agnes. i have updated my description box with the link to my gear if that helps you out. thanks for watching :)

[@iknowbinary]

@@MarisolsAdventures awesome! Thank you!

[@musicnature007]

ฉันชอบการผจญภัย ฉันจะติดตามช่องของคุณ

[@Jackalopestravels]

Cool video! Just follow the tips I posted for you on Facebook and experience will be your teacher! Please feel free to hit me up if you ever have any questions about anything and I will either answer, or find the answer. I’m blessed to have a deep deep pool of knowledge available to me through my many friends in this space. Anyway, keep up the good work!

[@MarisolsAdventures]

Thanks for the advice and support!!

[@youtubespanishfishingchann6575]

I carry my gun just in case.....lol

[@mikemcghee5413]

2 HRS later? what? You need a dog for companionship.

[@MarisolsAdventures]

lol...yeah maybe one day

[@youtubespanishfishingchann6575]

Nice my and my girlfriend want to go we should make a group 🤔 or do some kayak camping 🏕

[@MarisolsAdventures]

i think you guys can do it. find somewhere close to you and scout it out to feel more comfortable