In my opinion, the story where a group of campers see a figure in the woods that seems to disappear and then reappear closer each time is the scariest. It builds up a lot of tension. The feeling of being hunted or stalked is really frightening. And the fact that it's in the middle of the forest, where they are supposed to be enjoying nature but instead are facing this unknown threat, makes it even more terrifying.
The scariest one could be the story about the hiker who gets lost and then hears a voice calling his name but there's no one there. It plays on our fear of the unseen and the unknown. When you're alone in the woods and hear something like that, it sends shivers down your spine. It makes you wonder what could be out there, if it's a malevolent spirit or just your imagination gone wild.
Some common themes could be the fear of the unknown in the wilderness. Maybe things like strange noises at night, which often turn out to be something spooky. Another theme could be getting lost and encountering something terrifying while trying to find the way back.
Isolation is another factor. When you're camping, especially in a remote area, you're far from help. So if something scary happens, like seeing a strange figure or being chased by an unknown entity, you feel completely alone and vulnerable. In some stories, campers are in the middle of a vast forest or on a deserted mountainside, which adds to the fear. Also, the darkness at night. It hides all kinds of potential threats. You can't see what's out there, and your imagination runs wild. Maybe there's a monster just a few feet away from you, but you can't tell. All these elements combined make camping stories really scary.
The unknown is often the scariest element. For example, not knowing what is making that strange noise in the dark. It could be a wild animal or something else entirely.
The unknown is really scary. For example, in the woods, you can't see clearly at night and there could be all kinds of strange noises that you don't know the source of.
There's a story of a group of campers who found an old, overgrown trail while camping. They decided to explore it. As they walked deeper into the woods, they started to feel like they were being followed. They heard faint footsteps behind them. Then, they came across an old graveyard that wasn't marked on any maps. The moment they saw it, a cold wind blew through and they all got a sense of dread. One of the campers tripped over a broken headstone and when he looked up, he saw a figure in a tattered white dress standing among the graves. They all ran back to their campsite as fast as they could.
Getting lost in the wilderness while camping can be extremely scary. You might not be able to find your way back to the campsite or to civilization. I once strayed from the marked trail while camping and ended up in an area I didn't recognize. It took me hours of wandering and panicking before I finally found a familiar landmark and made my way back.
Once, while camping in the woods, a friend of mine heard strange howling at night. It was like no animal he knew. As he peeked out of his tent, he saw a shadowy figure moving among the trees. He was so scared that he didn't dare to move or make a sound until morning. When he told us in the morning, we thought it might be his imagination, but the fear in his eyes was real.
The isolation. When you're camping, you're often far away from other people. So, if something strange happens, there's no immediate help. For example, in those stories where people hear strange noises at night, they can't just run to a neighbor's house. They have to deal with it on their own, which adds to the fear.
One common scary element is strange noises. Things like unexplained howls, rustling in the bushes, or creaking trees can be really spooky. Another is seeing strange shapes or figures in the dark, which could be misidentified objects or just our imagination playing tricks on us. Also, the feeling of being alone in the wilderness can be quite scary, especially when you think about all the wild animals that might be out there.
It's hard to say which is the scariest. However, 'The Monkey's Paw' has a very disturbing concept. The idea that wishes can go so horribly wrong and bring about death and misfortune in such unexpected ways is quite scary. The story builds a sense of dread that lingers long after reading. It makes you think twice about what you might wish for if you were in that situation. And the fact that the paw seems to have a mind of its own is really spooky.