How do I get my wife to be less afraid of bears eating us when we go camping?
Sleeping outside scared the crap out of me the first 10 or so nights I did it, so I know where she’s coming from. I knew the rational explanations but that didn’t help. It was only with experience that the fears went away (and having other people around help.) First, are you sure she really wants to get more comfortable with this or is she just going along because she thinks it’ll make you happy? If it’s the latter, cut your losses now and don’t push her. If she really wants to try sleeping outside here are a couple more options. First, to elaborate on ShawnString’s cabin idea, maybe you can find a place with a porch you can try sleeping out on, and if things get bad duck inside. Second, consider an RV park or campground with a wooded, secluded tent area (e.g., the Dorset RV Park in Dorset, Vermont) — this might offer more of a sense of security, and if it all goes downhill you can hide out in the rec building until sunup. Killens Pond State
Thank you for all of your replies. There are some great ideas here. My wife is not afraid of camping, nor am I “pressuring” her. She truly wants to learn how and is motivated enough that she is willing to face her fears. My questions were about specific ways to help ease her into being comfortable in the woods in the dark. They were not about our relationship, our marriage or issues relating to it. Any assumptions you have made are exactly that: assumptions. My current thinking is that we will start with some day hikes up near Harriman, and then progress to a kayak/canoe trip over at the Delaware Water Gap area. We’re also going to try and go on some of the 1 and 2 day bike trips that are organized by the NYC bike groups. Then we’ll try the rustic cabin idea and/or car camping and then finally an overnight hike and/or overnight camping trip. She has expressed wanting to hike down the Grand Canyon to the river, which I thnk we might try at the end of the summer. But I’ve warned her it i
