HELP!/Wish me luck!!!

“I'm heading out tomorrow for my VERY FIRST SOLO HIKE. I'm not being too ambitious: I'm going to the Waterloo-Pickney trail. I'm scared to death, yet extremely excited at the same time. I know there are no bears there.....right?

I'm just mainly worried that I'm going to forget something important. I have my sleeping bag and pad, my Nalgene bottles (just need to remember to fill them before I go), my tent and all it's gear, not taking a stove (bringing easy eatin's) my first aid kit, my flashlight and toiletries ... and clothes of course. I'm going to get a nice journal for myself, before I leave.

O.K. you seasoned bunch out there: WHAT AM I FORGETTING?? I'm going alone, not planning on packing a lot. I'm trying to be as simple as possible. But I could use all the help you could supply.

And all the encouragement too! LOL! I'm leaving here at about 9 or 10 in the morning..... shouldn't take me more than an hour and a half to get there.... OH! Directions!!! HEY! Any one from MI have simple ones to pass along?? Take me from I-275/696 area, if you can.... and thanks.

K! Look out wilderness.....HERE I COME! hehe!”

“xtra socks, moleskin, pain reliever
duct tape?
water treatment?
possibly a hat for night time?”

“K....(taking notes.....and adding to pile on floor that's being packed)....

Keep 'em coming! I have the pain killer: Motrin 800..., extra socks: check; bringing in water...found in a review that there's no water source; and got my "Life is Good" hat sitting there already. Think I'll pass on the duct tape......ROFLMAO!”

“Have fun! Sounds like you have everything, the journal is good to have. I like to bring a small book with me when I solo. It helps at night if you get lonely or bored.”

“Book....check. Think bringing one of my Stephen King books would be a good idea??”

“Just don't make it a big heavy hard cover I bring a small paper back, also a whistle is good to have especially when soloing. Do you have a map and compass?”

“Make sure you have enough FOOD and fluids.

But if you're serious about the map, maybe you had better stay home until some can guide you.”

“You got it all...not get out there already!”

“I wish I were getting ready to head out tomorrow. I’m still at work. I’ve been here since 8:00 AM and won’t be leaving until about midnight.”

“No stumprider...I just want to make sure I have the correct directions. :-)

That whistle...now that I need to get. Meijer's I'm a coming in the morning! I'm doing the easy foods: the kind that don't require heat. Like tuna (a premade package ..without the packaging), lightweight things...but I'm definitely bringing plenty of fluids.”

“LOL@ Buddur! And MH, sure wish I could bring you with me. Well, at least to remind me what I've forgotten! ;-) Sorry that you're still stuck at work!

K! I think that I have it covered...well...maybe.

I'll be sure to take some pictures...OH! That's what I wanted to remember: a disposable camera! LOL! I'll also be sure to post how it went!”

“I'm still going......but my destination is now the Manistee River Trail! Oh boy....just hope those bears up that way aren't out and looking for a good snack! LOL!”

“A solo hike is cool, especially your first. Have fun!”

“Best of luck to you. Enjoy it! :)

I always bring pepper spray when I solo, just in case. Its not for bears though...

BTW, You're going solo and bringing Stephen King to read?! Are you trying to freak yourself out?!
=:0

Have a blast and hike fast (with all that adrenaline)!
:o)”

“did you mention a flashlight?


good luck, and use your head out there. if you run into other solo'ers out there, watch out for 13% of them.......the other 87% are fine though.”

“Manistee is a tuff trail if you don't do it right. I don't know how much time you have, but I would hike it starting from the Dam and hike south on the NCT side first to Red Bridge, then back up north on the return loop. If you are doing this in two days, first day, Iwould stay at the fire tower (it's about half way down on the NCT side) then stay at camp 5 or 6 on the return loop side.

Good luck and take care. Manistee is a lot different than Waterloo/Pickney.”

“Wuss (joke), my first six backpacking trips were solos. :o) And I never did any camping, car-camping or boy scout things before that. I did do a few dayhikes with friends. I read alot on backpacking (1 years worth of magazines) before commiting to this activity.

Just be careful where you put your feet (don't want to get a twisted ankle or something) and set up camp deep in the woods away from trail. Have fun and don't let your imagination run wild.”

“You will be fine. You will learn to get along without whatever you forget and have fun in spite of it. Enjoy. Trip report!”

“Remember: You are never alone as long as there's a satellite overhead”

“Don't forget the Black Helicopters too.”

“and sasquatch!”

“Well, considering I never ran into any of the above mentioned things....I'd say I was pretty alone out there.

Had a blast and I'm looking forward to my next trip. If you haven't already, take a look at my trip report. That tells all.

I'm trying to recruit a couple of more people I know to go with me next time, but so far, they're not budging. I'm not giving up! I want my toaster oven for the most recruits! ;-)”

“Well, considering I never ran into any of the above mentioned things....I'd say I was pretty alone out there.

Had a blast and I'm looking forward to my next trip. If you haven't already, take a look at my trip report. That tells all.

I'm trying to recruit a couple of more people I know to go with me next time, but so far, they're not budging. I'm not giving up! I want my toaster oven for the most recruits! ;-)”

“sorry about the double post.

sorry about the double post.

my computer fudged up. LOL!”

“sorry about the double post.

sorry about the double post.

my computer fudged up. LOL!”

“The aliens have taken over your mind. Didn't somebody tell you solo bpackers are more prone to be kidnapped by aliens? Do you have any "missing time" episodes?”

“You know what.......come to think of it..... there was that time when....umm......crap. Now I forgot when that was....

Uh oh! Does that mean I was abducted?? Great. There go my air miles! hehe!”

“LMFAO!!!!!

8)”