So, what do you do in your tent in October...

[bangorme]

I missed most of this summer due to an ankle injury (related to fishing, not backpacking). So, now I'm thinking about doing the 100 mile wilderness in October. With it getting dark around 6:15 by then, that makes for a long night in the tent. What do you all do in there? I'll be going alone, so don't get too creative.

[Trailweaver]

Read. Paperbacks aren't too heavy for the entertainment. If you don't read, take cards or another lightweight game. Or a journal.

[dmax]

You could take the time to learn a skill ..... Example, map and compass ... Or, eat before dark then hike a couple of more hours with a head lamp. It's a fun experience.

[dmax]

Tie some flies, or whittle some floats ...

[ChinMusic]

I have the gift of sleeping 12 hours

[Old Boots]

MP3 player loaded with audiobooks.

[aficion]

MP3 player loaded with audiobooks.

I frequently build and tend a small fire where legal, and enjoy it until my first yawn, whereupon I extinguish said fire and take to my sleeping bag.

I don't actually do this in my tent however.

[Lone Wolf]

crossword puzzles

[stranger]

Change your schedule and start going to bed at 8pm, get up at 4-5am

[T.S.Kobzol]

Read my kindle and listen to my radio



Bumblebee Tuna

[daddytwosticks]

This is one of the negatives of hiking in the fall...long hours of darkness. It's already been suggested. Build a fire as entertainment.

[Drybones]

I have the gift of sleeping 12 hours

+1.....................

[Sarcasm the elf]

I have the gift of sleeping 12 hours

My hiking buddy has the same gift and i'm thoroughly jealous. I can pretend to sleep for 12 hours while backpacking in the winter, but without fail i wake up at least a half dozen times.

[FarmerChef]

We hike until almost done, timing it so we can make camp, build our fire (where legal) and get dinner prepped to be eaten just as it's becoming headlamp time. Then we finish our camp chores, enjoy the fire and crawl into bed around 8:00 - the new hiker midnight when the days are short.

[Sarcasm the elf]

To the OP, my suggestions are read a paperback by headlamp, then Ipod shuffle and benedryl to go to sleep.

[HikerMom58]

I frequently build and tend a small fire where legal, and enjoy it until my first yawn, whereupon I extinguish said fire and take to my sleeping bag.

This.......................................LOVE this!

[Tipi Walter]

This is one of the negatives of hiking in the fall...long hours of darkness. It's already been suggested. Build a fire as entertainment.

To me this is the least thing to be bothered with while backpacking. More darkness and colder temps mean nothing to the ambitious backpacker---he or she just accepts it as part of Miss Nature's beauty. And winter is coming so get used to it. As others have said, bring a couple used books and burn them as you read. Take a radio. Make tea and early morning coffee. Sit in yoga and do some meditation---meditation is all about darkness. Keep a journal. Look thru your fantastic camera pics---take plenty of extra camera batts. For cold nights bring a little 3-hour candle to warm your hands and fingers as you sit up on the pad. If you feel safe and have a good headlamp, do some night hiking---this is easier to do on the AT than on other trails.

I was out for a short 12 day trip in September in TN and the biggest negative was hearing the roar of overhead jets all day and into the night.

[perrymk]

Might be a good time to get an astronomy chart and see of you can find some constellations. Maybe bring a small telescope (or strong binocular/monocular) and view the moon and try to find a planet.

[Marmaduke]

I always go for an after-dinner hike just to check out the area, maybe some side trails..... then I'll come back to the tent. In the tent..... well I'm usually so tired from the day of hiking that I am out like a light rather quickly!

[tiptoe]

Sudoku, and then sleep.