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Post by tomqvaxy on Jun 1, 2021 4:14:32 GMT -8
somewhere there's a quote to the effect : i am never less lonely than when by myself.
or words similar; you get the point.
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TrailElder
Trail Wise!
I'm a Blue Liner, following blue lines on the map wherever they may lead. Tenkara rod in hand!
Posts: 313
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Post by TrailElder on Jun 13, 2021 4:09:09 GMT -8
So great you are jumping into backpacking! You will love it, sounds like. Big fan here of soloing in most situations where I am comfortable with the terrain and situation. Big fan of inReach, though it is absolutely no substitute for prep and being self sufficient. A last resort for SOS. I value it most for peace of mind for my loved ones when I'm out...
Keep connecting with people through forums like this, maybe your local REI or other programs, and you will likely find a sensei.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,706 
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 20, 2021 8:38:23 GMT -8
A resurrected long thread of a very common question asked by newcomers to backpacking. Interesting looking back what one wrote years before on subjects and also seeing usernames of those that no longer post herein. As someone casually studying neuroscience over decades, I find it fascinating that upon re-reading, I can recall almost every sentence posted that reflects how incredible human memory is. In this thread's case it began August 16, 2015 and continued through 2015. Then in August 2016 was revisited and I see my post on page 7.
Old thread I seemed to have missed? But there have been a few similar over the last couple decades on this and other boards. There is a higher percentage of solo hikers among older, more experienced, backpacking enthusiasts because over the years unless one's backpacking companion is one's marriage partner, sooner or later friends and life circumstances change and one finds one either goes solo or not at all. For we urban working people with typical complicated modern lives, that live hours away from our mountain regions, it is often too complicated to sync up with others, especially shorter the notice. Same thing with my snow skiing life. Over time it becomes easiest to just tell upcoming plans to a few people and unless one of them decides to join, just plan like it will be a solo trip.
This summer I backpacked twice with others and twice solo. Over the decades probably two-thirds of my trips have been solo. I quite enjoy the company and conversation of others if their personalities and behaviors and interests out in the backcountry work. Most of my trips are semi-basecamping trips so am not continually each day walking down trails and routes like many backpackers. I like to really explore scenic places well, slow down, and really get into nature deeply as much fascinates me. Some especially those without much of a natural science background much might be bored. Even when out on a group backpack, I'm often spending a lot of time doing things solo and day hiking solo. But I always encourage doing things as a group, as a team if people want to. I quite envy guys that have wives that love hiking and nature and share those experiences over years of adventure.
Last month did a 10-day solo backpack up Pine Creek that is in the Bishop area. Started hiking at 9pm with headlamp and 2200 feet later at 1am tossed down the sleeping bag. Hiking at night is both physically and mentally challenging and admittedly has a scary element in the darkness one is only going to experience when alone solo. Much of the later trip was rambling about off trails at or above timberline. Then this Monday returned from a 5 day late summer trip up and over Bishop Pass where I base camped 3 days. Lots of exciting inspiring times. Life is good. But solo is not my ideal but rather practical reality. For the next week plus, much of my free time is going to be processing images and then coding html to add the trip story to my 2016 Trip Chronicles feature.
David
www.davidsenesac.com/2016_Trip_Chronicles/2016_Trip-Chronicles-0.html
April 11, 2018 was revisited again and I posted on page 8:
Indeed until recently in our USA culture these last few decades, finding other enthusiasts in any sport, hobby, or leisure activity could be difficult. The issue is usually not that there are not others in one's region that one might link up with but rather there may not have been any usable organizations or community to do so or an individual may not be aware of such if there was due to limited communications of those days.
Decades ago growing up, one relied on organizations that one might read about in magazines, leisure activity guide books, find in phone books, or hear from other enthusiasts by word of mouth. With the rise of the WWW Internet people began complementing those older ways with web forums that more recently has evolved into vast social media sites. Thus finding groups and organizations can now be just a matter of web searching. Additionally is the www dot meetup dot com site that is customized for such bringing together of groups. In larger urban areas like where this person lives, there is a long list of such meetup groups including many focused on local hiking plus a few with backpacking. Still many people may not get beyond what is easy, just looking at their computer screens, because the individual has to actually get out and get together with strangers that can be a wall to climb depending on how gregarious a person's nature is.
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TrailElder
Trail Wise!
I'm a Blue Liner, following blue lines on the map wherever they may lead. Tenkara rod in hand!
Posts: 313
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Post by TrailElder on Jul 20, 2021 12:27:20 GMT -8
Over time it becomes easiest to just tell upcoming plans to a few people and unless one of them decides to join, just plan like it will be a solo trip. I really have found this to be a nice approach, since I like to backpack with friends, family, or solo. I just like to backpack. Since I'm comfortable (on most trips) solo, I can just say, "Thinking of doing this...if you are available and want to join me, let's go!" Lately, it's been about 50-50. Perfect! |
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582 
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Post by tarol on Jan 23, 2023 10:13:44 GMT -8
I used to. Nowadays have at least dogs and a partner for backcountry trips.
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balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 3,562
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Post by balzaccom on Feb 1, 2023 21:30:51 GMT -8
Backpacking/backpacking, I usually go with my wife, which is way more fun that going alone. And we often go off trail and into areas that get very little traffic.
But when I am doing trailwork or volunteer work, then I am usually on my own. But in those cases I am usually on well-established trails, meeting lots of other hikers, so it doesn't seem like I'm alone much. I do tend to camp away from other folks though, even on those trips.
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Post by cweston on Feb 2, 2023 5:21:26 GMT -8
I love how this is the thread that refuses to die (not that there's anything wrong with that). But in those cases I am usually on well-established trails, meeting lots of other hikers, so it doesn't seem like I'm alone much. Yep. I'm kindof an introvert, but I amaze myself sometimes at how much I do enjoy the occasional human contact when I'm BPing solo. I tend to seek out areas where solitude is likely, so the small number human parties I might encounter in a typical day really make for a welcome moment of interaction in an otherwise solitary trip. |
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Image Credit / Coolkat
