24 hours ALONE. The Haven Challenge

Derek Tillotson · February 8, 2021
24 hours ALONE. The Haven Challenge

What’s the longest you have ever been alone?

I recently read the book Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel where he tells the true story of Christopher Knight, a hermit. Christopher spent 27 years alone in a forest in Maine. The book goes into detail on historical nomads and what drove them to leave society... It’s all very interesting.

Michael then ask the questions, what the longest you’ve been alone? And better yet, alone in nature?

Man camping with a hammock tent in winter

Reflecting on this, I realized that an overnight campout with my dog a few years ago was the longest I had ever been “alone”. But my dog was there… so did it really count? Not wanting to be disqualified on a technicality, I decided to spend 24 hours by myself.

I snowmobiled and ski toured into a new part of the Uinta mountains in Utah. Made some good turns and made a great camp. Here is another adventure with Haven Tents.

—Derek Tillotson, Tents Founder

“Modern life seems set up so that we can avoid loneliness at all costs, but maybe it's worthwhile to face it occasionally. The further we push aloneness away, the less we are able to cope with it, and the more terrifying it gets.”

—Michael Finkel

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