Who Here Backpacks Alone or Has Backpack ed Alone

“I did a trip this past weekend alone. At the campsite I was all alone and felt weird. I walked over to the other lake, laid down for a little while, then made dinner. I took another walk, and met a kid filtering some water and talked to him for a little while. I felt a little bit better just talking to someone. Is this common out in the wilderness by yourself? Have you overcome this if it has happened to you? How many trips does it usually take?”

“Id think you enjoy getting away from all that noise and enjoy a bit of solitude.”

“I dislike that feeling so much that I don't backpack alone anymore. Even if I don't contribute much in the way of conversation around the campfire, it feels better if there's someone else there.

I took a solo trip to the Sipsey in January. I was basically miserable the entire time, mostly missing my family. I swore then I'd never backpack alone again. Maybe if I'd planned it out a little better, gone to see something, it would have been better. Also, being January, the sun went down at about 4:45, so I got to spend a lot of time in the dark as well. Just a bad experience.

I might backpack alone again, but it will be a long time.”

“I don't have any problem going alone. Instead of sitting around camp, I hike till near dark or in the dark till I get tired, make dinner and crash. Get up and go.”

“I solo alot...most of my friends just day hike...some of them are climbers...they're not backpackers. I always bring a book or some magazines to read...and do origami. I do like Pathman also...eat and crash.”

“I just finished a 6 day solo hike.

I rise with the sun and hike all day til dark. Usually, if I'm at camp then I'm eating or sleeping.

BUT, if I'm with a group then I like to spend more time at camp.”

“I've never done a solo trip before. As a female, I have some reservations about hitting the wilderness by myself.

I was on a two night canoe trip w/ another female a few years back and we ran into some pretty creepy guys who made themselves at home on our campsite. Long story short... We slept w/ weapons in our hands.

Since then, I've been a little nervous to hit the trail alone. I'll get out and do it eventually. It'll just take some time.”

“Backpacking is fun for me either alone or with others. I feel that the beauty out there can be enjoyed alone or with other people.”

“Most of my trips have been solo for the past several years. The first day or two doesn't seem to bother me too much. Like pathman, I tend to hike longer when alone. Also, as stanley pointed out, a book or magazine works wonders.

It is the third or fourth day that I get that "lonely" feeling. Especially if I am in a remote location and haven't seen anyone on the trail. The lack of human contact becomes deafening at that point. After the fourth or fifth day however, I tend to adjust to it. A jet contrail or the sound of a jet at night tends to remind me I am certainly not alone.”

“I've tried it and it's not for me. For me, a big part of backpacking is the camaraderie. I like a little time alone for reflection but not more than an hour or two at a stretch.”

“Thinking about this more, I may be somewhat hermit-like when backpacking. It has been so long since I've been on a group trip, it'll take some getting used to. My last trip with one other person was Nov '99. My last backpacking with more than one other was probably 1984, although I've car camped with more.

I've got a couple group trips coming up. Hope I can handle it.”

“It is different, Pathman,,,,but with the right crowd, it doesn't take long to get used to it...

I really enjoyed the Sipsey trip.”

“Tarabull - doesn't matter what kind of weapon ya had, just that you was prepared. Good for you. If ya felt comfortable that's all that matters. Don't let them jerks ruin your future trips, screw 'em.”

“OK, so I guess I'm not weird/going nuts. LOL. When I went to bed the squirrel/squirrels starting making noises for a while, that was kinded of cool. In the morning, I guess one of them decided to pay me a visit and jumped on top of my tent, just to say get up and get out. LOL I think I will get over this on the second day or beyond. Many jet's flew overhead that day/night/morning. Maybe next time I will bring a book along. This will not make me not want to go by myself. In my club we have tons of dayhikes on weekends/weekdays, but when someone decided's to do a backpack, not too many people show up and in many cases no one show's up at all. Next year I will plan alot of backpacks, if no one shows, tough #&%!$, I will go by myself.

tarabull

Sorry about your experience.


Thanks everyone for sharing.”

“Yeah tarabull,,,,,

wasatch promises never again to come into your camp after eating 5 brownies.......”

“Mostly I "solo" with my dog, which may be why I never got the weird feeling you describe.

In my misspent youth, I did hitch-hike across country and I remember some weird but wonderful feelings as I would be walking out of town or walking into the night. I carried a sleeping bag at the time and did "camp" out a few times during my journies.”

“chili36,

You the same person that posts on the other backpacker forum?”

“I've only soloed once. Well, I took my dog. I had to see what it was all about. Lot's of introspection over my five days out and I didn't see a lot of people. Personally, I think having friends on the hike, be it newbies or experienced packers, makes the trip more interesting as it adds differing viewpoints and observations. Not to metion the discussions. I also like to scramble and go off-trail and I've come to the conclusion this isn't safe to do when solo. I'd say if you're going to solo, stick to the trail.”

“We don't mention "that" place here. ;-)

Tarabull, you just need your bros' along, then you'd have nothing to worry about!”

“Ive done all of my backpacking trips alone until my last trip in July when I went with my first group from TT. I liked being with other people but it was nice that I was able to hike alone. I like that part the most I think. I hate it when im car camping and there are people every where!
I love both
people and solo”

“Wasatch, with the exception of two recent hikes, I have gone solo for the last 30 years. I really enjoy the solitude of the wilderness; no phones, no deadlines, no bull$hit.
I really enjoyed the 2 group hikes I went on and I plan to go on more of them, but I would have been just as happy alone. I have spent up to 2 weeks alone in the wilderness and loved it.
I think it just depends upon your personality type and the people you're hiking with.”

“I'm a borderline extrovert/introvert, which I suspect has a lot to do with why I like both equally as much.

I like both for different reasons. It's fun going solo and being able to do what you want, when you want, go at your own pace, do some "soul searching", ect. But going with others is fun for the comarderie (sp?) and sharing the experience.”

“however...after my last experience, I prefer to either hike with another human being or needlestitch...even though it was only a porcupine that I heard that night, and not a bear, I will not go alone again for probably a very long time...I took a picture of all my gear that night too...for Ebay...haven't listed it yet though as I cannot let "Porkie" scare me into the sell.”

“Father Goose

I agree with the no phones, no deadlines, no bull#&%!$. What's funny is I'm basically a loner, I feel quite content being by myself when other people are around, but out in the wilderness it's another story. I'm sure the more I get out the better I will feel about it.

Being on the trail by myself is no problem, matter of fact I like it that way. It's just at the campsite alone I have to get use to.”

“damanvid,

Don't do that!”

“Wasatch,,,,although most of my hikes were solo,,,,I would say that within 5 miles of a trailhead, less than half of my campsites were not shared.

It seemed to me that in the Wasatch National Forest, there were cars at every trailhead, every day.

Strangers are only strangers until you meet them.”

“Wow, Wasatch, that pretty much describes me too. Loner most of the time, prefer having people with me in camp. Hiking alone is okay.”

“I think a good way to condition yourself is to go with only one other person. Also try sleeping outside your tent a few times. It is a different feeling and can be quite exciting. I spend four days in The High Uintas solo and fished alot more than I usually do because I wasn't worried about my partner getting bored-it was great!”

“chili36,

There is basically no good backpacking in the Wasatch National Forest, but I have found a place or two. You have to go to the High Uintas for real backpacking in northern Utah. There are some cool spots up in Logan canyon, but only a few miles in and only at about 8,000-9000 elevation.”

“thats why I bring a small radio. (half the time I cant get crap on it) Just for the night time when its getting dark. I guess that is when I start to get loney too.”

“ML, I have done that a time or two and the sound of the radio is like thunder in the forest.

It made me think someone 5 miles away could hear me,,,,and I couldn't hear crap other than the radio.”

“Soloing is my best way of releaving STRESS. No bothers, no one to #&%!$, no one to listen to except the wild.

Im trying to talk the wife into a LONG SOLO hike, maybe the AT through hike or something shorter.”

“You want your wife to hike without you?????”

“No no, she wouldnt leave the kids for a week eve again. Me myself!”

“Prowler:

"Kym, I will be gone a few months, I am going to thru hike the AT"

Kym:

"Ok honey, can you pick up a gallon of milk on the way back?"”

“She'll be there on every crossing to meet me!

Hopefully!!”

“Kym: (at each road crossing)

"Honey, where is the milk?"

Prowler: "Dang it, I forgot again, I will pick it up on the next section."”

“Kym: You expect me to let you through hike with someone called "Swinger"?

Prowler: No, I swear, its "springer" not "swinger".”

“I car camped with my friends and we would day hike...the strangest feeling was the first time I went camping solo. No one to talk to, no one to laugh with...It was very different. Now with all my friends so far away from me...and seriously into the backpacking thing vs car camping...I was forced to do it solo or not at all. So solo it was and had no real problems with it, but solo now includes my dog, unless I'm on a bsn trip and far away from home and doggieless, but then I discovered Trail Talk, and I now have people to hike with, so soloing is not madatory...there are hikes everywhere. But I still solo with Khatru enjoy the quiet and no conflicts of interest.”

“When I go solo, I walk till dam near dark then stop. Not as much down time in camp to make you board.”

“ya that is the downfall WD”

“Before I started the Northwest Indiana Hiking And Backpacking Club I backpacked 10 years solo!

8)”

“no wonder your CRAZY!!!!”

“What's wrong with walking all day?”

“Not a thing!”

“Ya I know I am and it feels real good!

8)”

“I solo when no one else can go and I love it! Backpacking started out as a way to relieve stress (like Prowler said), but now that I'm out all the time, its just a way of life for me. I enjoy both. Sometimes you see more being solo (wildlife, etc). I say hi to everyone I see, and if they want to talk, I stop to talk. I don't mind being alone at night. SnowDude likes to stay home once in awhile, so if nothing else is going on, I go solo. This weekend will be a solo trip, unless something comes up.”

“chili36,
there would be no way you could here my radio.

unless your sitting on my lap with one of the headphones on your head and the other on my head. like I said half the time i cant get anything so thats why i make my own tapes and listen to them after dark while sitting next to a fire or in my sleeping bag.”

“I often hike with my wife but just about as often hike alone.I almost always have a dog . The dog is a heavy sleeper , I a light sleeper , it works out .I don't much think about it anymore, I like the solitude, coyotes howling , no neighbors.”

“I hiked solo for many years mostly in winter. I wish the winter nights weren't so long. They seem to last forever. Solo is OK in the sense that you can do whatever you want as fast as you want to go for it, but I like going with my TT pals better. I day hike and mountain bike the majority of the time solo so I enjoy the socializing when I go with others.”