zeke
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Peekaboo slot 2023
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Post by zeke on Aug 30, 2018 4:26:56 GMT -8
Many of us hike solo, or with just one friend. The lucky ones hike with spouses or SO. I had a regular bp'ing bud for 20 years. Even then, I did some trips solo.
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Post by autumnmist on Aug 30, 2018 12:10:02 GMT -8
We used to walk a lot as a family, not always hikes, sometimes just leisurely strolls with all of us, parents included. That tradition began with a hiking vacation in the Porkies. I don't think we children knew we were hiking - we were exploring. In fact, my parents still walked together for at least a few miles daily during their late retirement years, especially as snowbirds. But the heat was more of an issue when they were in their 80's +, so they limited their time outdoors. Going from Michigan to Texas took some adapting. My sister and I and sometimes one of her dogs would hike together as well. A hiker friend also was a good companion; we enjoyed our hikes together and solved a lot of the world's problems!
It's not quite the same with my parents and family out of the picture; I always enjoyed those hikes as a real bonding experience and one which enhanced family togetherness and solidified bonds.
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ErnieW
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I want to backpack
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Post by ErnieW on Sept 2, 2018 6:03:02 GMT -8
I like a mix. I like backpacking with old hiking buddies, hiking with new people even though that is a bit unpredictable and lots of solo hiking.
On one of my earliest solo hikes I was just laying down to sleep and had my head on folded up clothes. Basically with my ear to the ground. Something came running up to the tent. Sounded big. My heart raced and adrenaline surged. I listened for a bit and whatever it was was still out there. I got up the courage to open the tent and see what it was...
A big rabbit.
So another thing to learn is how to store food and gear at night. That depends a lot on where you are hiking. Here in the NE USA you can do food hangs from trees. How to get your hang rope over a good limb is a learned skill. Out west it seems it is mostly bear cans or bags. For the most part you are defending against small varmints not bears.
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Post by hikinggods on Sept 2, 2018 19:14:15 GMT -8
I'm one of the lucky ones-- my husband is my backpacking buddy. But I still like to take one or two backpacking trips every year by myself. That isn't going to work out this year, but I still have my solo tent and gear, so will try again next year.
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Post by oldguy59 on Sept 3, 2018 20:03:31 GMT -8
I hike by my self most of the time but usually not alone. Seems ther are people every where.
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rangewalker
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Agitate, organize and educate.
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Post by rangewalker on Sept 6, 2018 17:59:11 GMT -8
I'm curious, do many of you backpack/hike alone? Funny , this has been a reoccuring question for years, and I know my answers have shifted all over the place as my life changes. I have been without adult supervision for a few years now. I literally grew up backpacking and hiking, now 65, and go solo and with one friend at a time. I have hiked in groups with folks I met on these forums. I recently went our a second time with a woman friend and found out BPing was not for her. I have another longer term friend that will go out in two weeks into a roadless area for an intense bird study of fall migrants in the area. Since you just starting solo, keep it simple and go short distances, enough to get a taste, like half day in an area with decent water and shelter. Sometimes I hike for distance and get up and do it again. Sometimes my solos are just to be our; often just day and half trips with the idea of having all the camp stuff done early and I am out to watch and listen to the dusk wildlife.
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Post by ryanlivas on Oct 2, 2018 2:07:30 GMT -8
I can really say that backpacking alone is good for 3 reasons (for me) : 1. less hassle; you dont have to rely on someone. 2. It's much great to just look for yourself and nothing else. 3. You own your time, you can have time to think and enjoy the nature as well.
I'd really love to do backpacking by myself but since I'm just new to backpacking and I dont have much experience with hiking yet then it'd be much better to join a group hikes or better to someone close to you, family or friends. Maybe, soon, I'll give a try to do a solo backpacking.
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lanceman
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Off the beaten track and far from the madding crowd is where I try to be
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Post by lanceman on Oct 2, 2018 4:18:14 GMT -8
I like to backpack on my own for the following main reasons: 1. I like the solitude. 2. I hike with a camera, and like to stay at my own pace, sometimes I spend over an hour where it appeals to me.
but in the Himalayas, sometimes it is too lonely and there is no mobile signal at all, in that case I hire a porter to walk with me.
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Post by ryanlivas on Oct 4, 2018 1:01:28 GMT -8
Definitely! I like being alone too and I find it really enjoyable and peaceful at the same time.
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RedDoug
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Trail active, stand back.....
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Post by RedDoug on Oct 13, 2018 21:48:41 GMT -8
I have thousands of trail miles in- about 1/2 of them solo I would guess.
If you can't sleep alone in the woods you probably should take up another pastime. Saying that, for many it might take a few nights to get used to doing that. But once you have established your confidence to sleep out anywhere alone, you have gained a great prize in life that many can never achieve.
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Post by ryanlivas on Oct 15, 2018 22:46:19 GMT -8
it might take a few nights to get used to doing that. But once you have established your confidence to sleep out anywhere alone, you have gained a great prize in life that many can never achieve. I strongly agree with you RedDoug. Definitely, Trying is indeed helpful for it.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 16, 2018 18:06:22 GMT -8
Almost everyone lives until morning almost every night, until they don't. I'll take those odds.
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ghsmith76
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2021 Has been good
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Post by ghsmith76 on Jan 21, 2019 11:10:14 GMT -8
I typically hike with my Australian Shepard, Brook, @aussiebrook but I have been looking to find other older backpackers. I am 64 and last year I met a 70 year old backpacker while on the Timberline Trail. We realized we had similar interests and made it a point to do a trip together. It has worked out well. We will next be backpacking the Grand Canyon Boucher to Bright Angel in early March.
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mk
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North Texas
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Post by mk on Jan 21, 2019 14:28:52 GMT -8
Grand Canyon Boucher to Bright Angel Awesome hike -- we did that one a few years ago.
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OwenM
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Post by OwenM on Jan 21, 2019 23:27:43 GMT -8
I've backpacked with another person maybe 12-15 nights of >400 since getting back into it 8yrs ago, and all my "big trips" have been solo, except for the most recent one. Having someone whose company I really enjoy along on that weeklong trip was wonderful, though, and I would love for that to become a regular thing. There are just very few people whose company I enjoy for very long. Being accompanied by an equally competent partner with similar pace/daily mileage, who also does a lot of solo hiking and doesn't need their hand held or even to remain in sight of each other, was key to that being a great experience for both of us, I think. We could hike close together in silence or talk for awhile, or get separated and meet up at a scenic spot or trail junction a little while later, without there being any stress. Some people have to always be talking, or *right there* the whole time, which I find unbearable.
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