Solo Trekker: Exploring The Globe Independently – Please respect the outdoors by saying “Leave No Trace”. Learn more about how to apply the Leave No Trace principles to your next outdoor adventure.
Almost every outdoor experience in my life has been with a group of people. From fishing, camping, and exploring the Idaho wilderness with my family to traveling abroad and being part of a group of friends who are always on adventures, I don’t get out into the wilderness very often. There are occasional hikes, hikes, or overnights, but part of what I love about being outdoors is sharing it with people!
Solo Trekker: Exploring The Globe Independently
So when I decided to hike the Pacific Trail in the summer of 2015, I wondered how this “solo hiking” thing would go. Planning the experience brought a lot of unknowns and uncertainties (but definitely excitement). What did it take to walk the long way? Did I buy the right gear, stock up on enough food, and plan the right city stops? Am I crazy to quit my job and move from Mexico to Canada? Can I do it alone?
Nepal Bans Foreign Solo Travelers From Trekking Alone
I had enough in my head about the experience, but then other people added their own questions and stresses: Are you going alone? Is it safe? Do you carry sunscreen or other protection? Aren’t you afraid of what might happen to you there?
As with all life decisions, there comes a point where you either move forward or you don’t. Regardless of the questions or concerns we have (or others have for us), ultimately it’s up to each of us to say yes or no to get on with life. “Yes,” I said, and I had a dream that had been haunting me for over a decade.
It’s been a few years since I returned from my PCT hike, and not a day goes by without me thinking about my experience. I remember that I work, learn, and change from my time on the trail. One of the most unique parts of the trip was traveling solo, and for me there was a lot that I didn’t know. The things we are most insecure about or afraid of often provide the most opportunities for challenge and growth.
When it comes to challenge, growth, and change, I want to share with you five gifts that come from solo travel.
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“What do I need?” It was one of the most important questions to answer during my time at PCT. After sitting down, the answer is yes. Actually, “hell, yes!” it feels more accurate. Whatever it takes to push myself. I have an inner motivation to get up early every morning to hike another 13 hours that day. My body is capable of more than I thought. I’ve been mentally and emotionally uncomfortable, in pain, lonely, and depressed for longer than I thought. I believe these things can be true of you as well.
This discovery and awareness builds strength and confidence, especially when traveling solo. It’s encouraging, there’s no one else to pack your wet tent and gear in the morning, or fix your lunch when you’re tired. All you want to do is… Little by little, your perspective changes and those things become normal. Walking 30 miles a day is becoming the norm. Sleeping alone in the forest is common. You just realize you don’t have what you need, you actually do it. You’ll find that I also have grit, which has become my motto, “whatever it takes.” The only way you’ll know is if you take the risk. About the risks…
I remember sleeping alone on the PCT near Idyllwild, California. It was also my first day of solo travel. Both of those activities created a healthy fear for me. Camping alone and hiking alone will be part of my PCT experience whether I like it or not. As I camped and hiked alone at night, I quickly learned that I could overcome fear and anxiety, or use my common sense, knowledge, experience, and gut reactions to deal with those situations.
There is risk associated with most things we do in life. Some of those things don’t seem so risky because we’ve learned how to do them over time and they’ve become second nature. Maybe it’s more normal and acceptable in society, so people don’t think anything of it. Sure, there are some things that most of us would agree with, but it’s pretty dumb, but it often seems scary or weird because we haven’t tried it. Some activities require a lot of training and experience for the person participating to take the least risk; Other risks are mitigated by the measures we take.
Solo Trekking In The Himalayas (part 1): With Many Other Options Available, How And Why To Decide To Trek Alone
I embark on a challenging course, zip lining, and outdoor industrial world. People often ask if something we do is safe. They want reassurance that they are not feeling nervous or experiencing fear. As a facilitator, I will not use the safe word in my answer. I let people know that there is inherent risk in this type of work, and that we’ve done everything we know to mitigate that risk—from the equipment we use to the regular research our facilitators do. However, there are some risks involved when strapping yourself to a cable and flying through the canopy.
Is it dangerous to hike alone in the forest? Of course. I also risk hiking in the woods with other people or commuting to my office in Portland, Oregon on my daily bike ride. The bottom line is that we can’t eliminate risk – solo or not. You will be afraid of some things on the trail. You just won’t get much sleep on your first few nights camping. When you encounter a bear on the trail and no one else is around, you’ll wonder if this is such a good idea.
However, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of travel. Use common sense. Listen to your gut reaction (or someone else’s!). Get the education you need before you go so you can be confident in your abilities and decision-making. Learn to use your braces and know how your equipment works before you go out on your own. Search for your travel destinations. If the training seems outside of your training or education, don’t do it. If it makes you (and your loved ones) feel better, carry a satellite GPS tracker. If walking is scary enough for you, find another hiker to walk with (you won’t be the only one looking for it on the trail!).
Try not to let your worries or people’s fears influence your decision to come out or not. The risks and uncertainties in my experience on the PCT correspond to those we experience in our daily lives in the front country. Perceived risk often keeps us in two environments. Whatever path you choose to take, put your fear aside and take a step outside of your comfort zone.
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I am a strong man. She is also the queen of filling my schedule with activities, people, work, and more. Hiking thru the PCT meant I was mostly by myself with only one thing to do. I had concerns about how this lone would perform over 2,650 miles. One of my biggest worries was what it would be like to be alone in my head. All of them. Sun. Long. No audio to tune me out, no people to work on, no office hours to watch Netflix to distract me and make me feel useful and productive. It’s just me – sweaty, smelly, unemployed, the tour has thrown me out.
The silence and solitude began to move me to a place where I felt grounded and centered, where fulfillment was more important than fulfillment, where I didn’t avoid listening, where my drive and accomplishments weren’t necessary. The solitude of the trail helped me think, process, ask questions, listen to answers, make decisions, and find a place of clarity. I’ve seen boredom lead to creativity. In this solitude, I found that my emotions felt freer instead of being pushed around, stupid, or manipulated to please the people around me.
There is something about the desert that seems sacred—a natural temple of intense beauty and wonder
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