Sounds in the woods are a bit deceiving at first. We often associate "big" loud sounds with big things. This makes sense as it applies most of the time in civilized areas. But the woods are a bit different. One late afternoon we saw a good sized black bear walk down a loggin road without a single sound. No massive growl from a disney soundtrack, no crashing through the timber... Not a sound from a foot not even a snap from a twig... Big animals have learned that the simplest and easiest way to live a happy life is quietly smell, listen and move to the things going on around them and take the simplest course of action to avoid any confrontation... Many times wildlife will simply do nothing and let you walk right by.

However the smaller things of the woods can make a tremendous racket for almost no reason... The tiny chipmunk will let out one of the loudest squeaks/chirps combinations you'll hear on your hikes. But in the night when camping these sounds get amplified by our imagination. Who hasn't had the smallest cricket in some corner of a room and been driven mad from the chirps... Here's a woods version of the very well camo flying, hopping, bugger:

I remember a porcupine which gnawed on an electrical panel door most of a night... Even though he kept me up most of the night I didn't kill him because porkie is one of the best survival foods for a person who is lost / stranded. Anyone can outrun them and if you avoid the quills they are easy to kill with any simple stick or rock. Not the nicest thought but if starving it's good advice to remember. So don't whack em.

Owls hoot! Deer in a herd who wander in on your camp will "snort" at you for hours if you want to play the game of not identifying yourself as they smell but cannot figure out what that thing is... Coons who are used to raiding a camping area will come in and poke around if hungry enough. Course keeping food out of camp is excellent advice and will cut down on all kinds of visitors. However the really good part of camping is that you are already out in the bush which means you may wake up and seek this little girl bedded down just outside your tent.

They are young and not fearful of human scent just yet.

There certainly are things in the woods which can put a hurtin on us like bears, Moose <- A different story from Alaska), snakes (looking for a warm place to nap the moonlit hours away) and some spiders will make for a sore couple of days... But in reality if these bad boys wanted to put a bite on us there is little we could do to stop them. More likely they all want to avoid you and give you plenty of space and when paths do cross they usually give plenty of warning many times before coming to blows. I think the press loves to sensationalize and give them a sound "bite" or forbid it they have a picture or video of some "LL Bean clad moron" telling their side of the "attack" and it makes national news. Yet many murders and traffic fatalities barely get more than a mention on local news of most cities.... Given the odds I'll take the woods every time.

Camping in remote areas take some time to get used to the local markings and overgrown signs as most road signs don't even exist. You may do best by grabbing a good map and looking it over before leaving the park office and asking any questions about getting to the site especially if arriving in the dark...

Choice of quality and cost of gear is up to the individual. The more in shape and experienced you get the less you need to stay comfortable. I really like one covered bowl and a good knife for about all the cooking needs. I like the fact that I can leave all my gear hidden in the bush if I want to take a day hike and come back to camp and only be risking $100 total for the tent, bag, cooking stuff and extras... Where I have a friend who camps and spends more than $1,000 on his gear. Certainly he is more prepared and more comfortable than I but it's a choice each one gets to make. If I get a tear in a bag or tent I get it replaced pretty cheap and if you camp enough times you will jack your gear up....