Do Many of you Hike Alone?

thank you . haha,i did take a navigation class, learn a little bit. But still feel confuse. I guess i need to take one more time and practice more.

I never hike alone, but, generally, my only companions are canines.  My wife will come with me a couple times per month, but it's usually at the cost of her complaining (too hot, too cold, too long, too steep, etc.).  If no one else is enthused about it, you'll be happier going it alone.

LOL, IMO, it's those challenges that make the hike fun. At least your wife will go with you a couple of times a month. I don't think my wife would accompany me if there was a pot of gold at the end of the trail.

I miss my previous constant routine backpacking companion. My wife has been slowed down by a hip replacement, "getting on" in age, a different set of priorities (what with empty nest 'n all), and my more cantankerous demeanor caused by age and flatulence.

Most others in my age group don't share cantaker-isms or the need to feint with the constant feeling of suffocation and pounding hearts at higher altitudes. They also have better judgement and make decisions based upon the wisdom I have yet to acquire. Besides who would want to trail behind or spend a night in a small tent with age involved cantankerous afflictions.

So, therefore, trying to match up their scheduled canasta and shuffleboard games with mine, I go it alone.

I only need to be fit enough to not trip over my own disabilities. I don't have to lag behind or catch up. I can go and stop when I want/need to with out using the old well worn "Photo Op" excuses.

Nobody believes my time honed lies no matter how interesting they were the first 10 times I told them. I don't appreciate the comments that I changed the number of miles, how cold it was, the number of grizzly and big foot's I encountered or how much my packs used to weigh in the good 'ol days.

And I don't have to go out of sight to pee.

I'll definitely do this if only to get my feet wet and try out my gear. I'm kind of a lone wolf. Not so much by choice, I just don't like doing what most other people do, and they don't like what I like doing. I don't think the solitude will bother me. When I originally posted, I was more curious about how common that might be (solo backpacking). 

rebaccard: I agree. Although I've done a lot more serious things than my wife she has accompanied me, (for better or worse) on numerous challenging outdoor adventures over the years. Only a few years ago we did England's Coast to Coast walk. It rained every damn day, but she never complained and just kept on trekkin'. She cried once when I picked the wrong route up Wyoming's Gannett Peak but Cowboy'ed up and made it to the top. (She does refuse to get out of the tent in the morning until the sun hits it, but I can forgive her for that.
Trekkerman

This may be the best reason yet to hike alone.