First solo trip?

[FLRider]

My first true backcountry solo trip was in Ocala National Forest last August (link is to trip report). It was an heck of a lot of fun; bears, brutal heat, and biting bugs made for an interesting three days.

Since then, I've done probably fifteen or twenty solo trips to the back country, and I've enjoyed the majority of them. It's nice to get out there and not have to worry about social interaction for the better part of a weekend, at least for me (but...I'm kinda an ornery guy, so...).

[fishbait]

My upcoming October started out as a two man hike, then as my first long term solo hike and is now looking like a group hike again I enjoy the solitude of solo hikes as much as a group hike. My wife seems to be more worried my upcoming hike than I am. The funny thing is she has no problem with me doing long distance bicycle rides where I think there is a greater chance of risk and injury than on a solo hiking.

[swankfly]

My upcoming October started out as a two man hike, then as my first long term solo hike and is now looking like a group hike again I enjoy the solitude of solo hikes as much as a group hike. My wife seems to be more worried my upcoming hike than I am. The funny thing is she has no problem with me doing long distance bicycle rides where I think there is a greater chance of risk and injury than on a solo hiking.

I have a friend whose wife will not allow him to make any solo trips. Mine doesn't seem so concerned, often encourages me to go, hmmmmmm.

[OneClick]

The funny thing is she has no problem with me doing long distance bicycle rides where I think there is a greater chance of risk and injury than on a solo hiking.

Thank you! I keep telling my wife similar scenarios and always quote Al Pacino from Heat "you can get killed walking your doggie". I do a lot of road cycling and wonder how long it will be until some moron texting plows me over from behind at 50mph.

Maybe someday I'll convince her I'm not one to sit inside my whole life worried about what COULD happen. You just need to take things easy, be prepared, get enough food and sleep and use common sense. Solo backpacking is the best!

[drifter]

Since I left home over 35 years ago I can count on one hand the number of group campouts I’ve been on, I just prefer the quit solitude. My wife worries more as I get older but I tell her “with age comes wisdom”. Wisdom not to do the same stupid stuff I fortunately was able to live thru the first time. Many, many years from now (I hope), I don’t to want to be laying on my death bed and say “gosh I sure am glad I DIDN”T do what I wanted to”

[stevebo]

I've grown to really love solo hiking (even though non-hikers think you're strange when you tell them you went hiking alone!) I've gone by my self so much, that it comes as a shock when I see other people in the woods . I may be biased, but I think it shows alot of depth and character in a person, when they can spend an extended time with just their own company! Its so full of quiet, so full of freedom---kind of gets in your blood!

[drchip]

My first solo trip will be an over-nighter tomorrow to scout in advace of a similar trip with my 8 year old son, and to test my new tarp. I'm really hoping the weather will make it a truly solo trip. Can't wait!

[canuck_kayaker]

Good luck, enjoy! I hope to do a solo kayak trip soon!

As some have mentioned, the gf isn't a fan of that.

[swankfly]

My first solo was an accident, it started out as a planned group trip. I went out bought all the gear I was told I would need for a 3 nt backpacking trip, about $1200. My father fell ill and was in the hospital, so I had to cancel. Told my friends to go ahead, I had copies of the map, I knew the proposed itinerary and if there was anyway I could go, I would "catch up" to them on the trail. Dad got better, I got the go ahead, drove 8 hours and arrived at the trailhead at about 10pm. Savage Gulf. A ranger was still up and helped me fill out the permit. I explained what I was trying to do, figured I could hike in the DARK and catch up to them. He explained it was about 11 hours to that campsite and no one really hikes at night??? He offered to take me in the truck down an old fire lane to another site about halfway, I could camp there and catch up the next day!!! What a deal! He drops me off and points into the darkness, "campsites are over there" and leaves. I am standing in the darkness with $1200 of never before used gear, it starts raining. I find my headlight and try to find a campsite, I didn't even know what I was looking for...stumbled into a couple of areas and realized there was other people camping there. I ended up setting my tent for the first time on about a 15 degree incline, woke up at the bottom of the tent at 4am to get an early start. Keep in mind, my first setup and take down of my tent was in the DARK! I hit the trail, I think it's the trail, with a headlamp, bumbling along. I get down to where my buddies are supposed to be at 9am. The place is deserted, no trace of anyone camping there since the rain? I say to heck with it and set up my tent. I go on a day hike to the stone door, about 9 miles round trip. Come back late that afternoon, still no sign of anybody. I decide to pack up and hike out. I get everything packed up and I hear a cough. I walk down towards it and I find my buddies in the last campsite taking a nap! I tell them my story. They bust out laughing. They said they had just turned in for the night, last night when they heard some hillbillys driving in the woods at almost midnight (Me and the ranger). They stayed in their tents and kept the lights out fearing for their lives. We spent the night in the same campsite the first night, I left in the dark of morning before they woke up! My first solo trip and I wasn't really soloing! Ahhhh, young, dumb, invincible, and invisible! What could possibly go wrong?

[stevebo]

Thats a great story!