my wife thinks i'm weird

“I'm an introvert so hiking alone sounds completely normal. Of course, the more time I spend by myself, the more introverted I become, so maybe it's not a good idea. I might come back and stop talking completely.”

“This was a funny thread. Different takes from all sides. I was VERY impressed with Mrs.Stratdewd. I can't imagine being responsible for that many kids of different ages, out in the woods, by my self. Too much of a worrier. I like what Pathman said about hiking alone, too. So much of my time is spent being a slave to other people that it is great to get out into the woods and just take care of myself. What Walkindude said about not planning things to death is good too. A big plus of hiking solo or in a small group.

When I went on my first backpacking trip, I was embarrassingly afraid to be by myself. I'm getting much more comfortable, and I think that I could go solo and be fine, now. (except I don't yet have a big knife. I have a saw, but I don't think the enemy will wait for me to put the thing together and carefully do a angle cut). But I am also trying to get my family to go. Now that is a LOT of work, planning, packing, etc. for four people, plus trying to get all the household stuff done ahead of time since we'll be gone on weekends.

And Rugerman!!! Gab and spend money, when was the last time I had time to do that with my friends? Are you in the blue curl generation?”

“yer starting to get me depressed...

guess a good solo hike will fix that... :)”

“My wife doesn't mind me leaving for the weekend to go hiking. BUT, the kids stess her out and she's nuts when I get home.

I don't understand because they are angels for me ...

Anyway, when I get home I must deal with a week of guilt from my wife telling me how absolutely terrible her weekend was. I volunteered to take the kids with me and she said "What? Take the kids? I'll miss them!!"

So, now I just ignore her and go hiking anyway. Works for me.”

“My wife and I try to trade off. I get to go backpacking some weekends, and in turn, she gets to do things like take art classes on Saturdays if she wants to. So maybe if you suggested that she do something on her own some weekend, it would help.”

“Solo hiking is weird.”

“But it REALLY IS all about you!”

“I'm not a big solo backpacking fan. I don't mind hiking alone, I actually sorta prefer it because I am slow, so if I'm alone I don't feel like I'm holding anyone up. But setting up camp alone is a little depressing to me, so I prefer to have some people there, even if I don't interact with them a whole lot. I know this makes me some sort of bizarre mood vampire (lol) but that's the way I feel.”

“Ok...I think Rugerman must be married to Aunt Bee, and I took offence to practically everything you said. And for the records, I give STRAT the credit cards, tyvm. Sassafrass, ^5 g/f, I'm right there with ya sista! And Geobeat, apparently you have not seen our Ozark Mtn bluffs, nor are you familiar with my husband's over-confident, risk-taking behavior on them. And Rugerman (again, imagine that...) if he breaks his neck in a car wreck on the way to work, he will be found before 3 days pass BECAUSE WE WILL KNOW TO LOOK FOR HIM, EINSTEIN!! There are no cell signals in walking distance in the Ozark Mtns. Pathman, I'd be sure to pass the comforting thought on to his 3 sons when they asked about him...or maybe I should just make that his epitaph (sp?). And Stratdewd, my darling, get in line buddy. I'm going solo FIRST! So there!

I came. I vented. I feel mo betta.

Stratwife”

“Mrs. Strat, Loosen up! I went and reread my post. You must have no sense of humor. Doesn't your husband ever tease you? :)

If your husband is a risk taker on the trail he's probably a risk taker in life. Nothing wrong with that and I understand your worry but just thought it was kinda silly. IMHO

As for my wife being Aunt Bee. Didn't Aunt Bee cook or something?
LOL!”

“Anybody else getting these weird 'Sybil' kinda vibes from this thread?”

“so put on my epitaph "smashed to smithereens on I-25 by 18 wheeler"!”

“If you're Cybil, you're never really alone now are you?”

“stratwife, similar to rugerman, I am not a risk taker, either. I fully intend to see my sons full grown. (18,15 and 6!)

my point was that I can die anywhere anytime, and backpacking is highly unlikely to have anything to do with it, solo or otherwise.

Peace be with you and yours!”

“perhaps i should change my password......or get mrs strat her own trail name(mrs strat WONT do at all, trust me). she seems to be sneaking on here when i'm gone. she'll prolly be addicted in no time.

well, thanks ya'lll fro yer opinions & experiences. she seems to understand a little better & not be quite as worried about me.

re:cybal----you have NOOO idea!”

“Have fun on your hike, stratdewd. Dedicate a mile to me, since I won't be going this weekend.”

“statdewd is definitly weird - cept in this group.

mrs stratdewd is as at home in the outdoors as anyone I know and could probably out hike half of the people on this list - including myself. She is also just as likly to enjoy shopping and gabbing as she has done so with mrs garfum when stat and I have taken the older boys on BP trips.

Strat - just stay onna trails instead of bushwackin if yer goin alone. Makes it eaiser to find the body.”

“My wife thinks I'm wired.”

“Wired, as in wired for sound?”

“There are several good reasons for not hiking alone if you go off trail. Like you might run out of water (forget where you stashed it). Have to emergency camp (even though you were supposed to be on a day hike) and have a ranger pump fluids into you via IV when you finally do find your way back to the trail.

My brother's wife won't let him go alone for the above reason.

If you stick to a trail with people on it though, it's probably safe enough.”

“The primary sign of a well-ordered mind is a man's ability to remain in one place and linger in his own company.
-Seneca”

“weird - well yeah I guess I am - fortunately I don't have a wife anymore so a lot of y'alls problems are non-problems for me - in addition I personally like that little "edge" or added risk of hiking alone - I know that the only way I am coming out is if I do it myself - in fact I almost never tell anyone where I am going and the rangers only get told the minimum - ie where my car is going to be parked, how long it is going to be there, and very roughly which side of the mountain I will be hiking/camping - in other words if I become disabled on a hike then there is a fair chance that I won't survive - this risk is part of what makes solo hiking great for me - also note I rarely stay on the trails when solo - much more likely I'll be bushwhacking somewhere. I know a lot of SAR folks hate to hear of people doing what I do and I do feel sorry for whoever has to haul my dead body out of the brush if it comes to that but I don't feel bad enough to change my ways.”

“HOI, you're a man after my own heart, except I do tell people where I'm going. I just can't see a reason not to.”

“in addition I personally like that little "edge" or added risk of hiking alone - I know that the only way I am coming out is if I do it myself


me too phaed, this is part of the appeal to me.

i wanna hike from dixon ford, to boxley, right down da river. wahtchu think garfum?”