Findings on going solo

^^^

So on Day 2 of a 10 day trip you have a serious problem.
Folks will start looking for you around Day 12.
(I think this happened last year around Shepard Pass.)

Call it what you want. I prefer to push the button.

I do most of my hiking solo but some of my favorite hiking has been with other(s) that shared a very similar hiking style. I did two hikes last year each with a total of four hikers that was some of the best hiking I've done. Why? I didn't have to compromise at all on style, hours or speed. second, with a compatible group you can have an absolute blast. But most of my other hiking was solo because I am very selfish and want to hike my own hike not someone else's. I can start when I want, stop when I want, go fast or slow, hike non-stop or very intermittently, hike all day day and into the nightfall without wondering if my partner wants to stop, go further etc. I hike pd a couple weeks on the PCT With someone who was trying to hike my hike (mileage, hours etc). It was very stressful for both of us.

I like both. I would prolly choose to have a partner come along every time if it were an option. However, if someone joins me in my search for zen, I typically don't:

1) sing random songs outloud to myself
2) hug trees and bushes
3) roll in the dirt like a cat in the garage
4) wear just my underwear at (a private) camp
5) go at my own pace
6) poop close to camp
7) hold in depth discussions with animals
:)

“But the volunteers who had strolled [solo] along the quiet, tree-lined paths showed slight but meaningful improvements in their mental health, according to their scores on the questionnaire. They were not dwelling on the negative aspects of their lives as much as they had been before the walk.

“They also had less blood flow to the subgenual prefrontal cortex. That portion of their brains were quieter.

“These results “strongly suggest that getting out into natural environments” could be an easy and almost immediate way to improve moods for city dwellers, Mr. Bratman said.

Details Here

I just spent a week solo in the North Cascades National Park, one of many short and long solo trips I have completed. But I also do trips with buddies, and go on shorter (less strenuous) trips with my wife and/or daughters.

All are good. The two (or three) types of trips are just different.

As has been said, there is a craving we all have, to varying degrees, for social interaction and to share experiences. We miss this when we go solo, which why we probably often relish those chance interactions with other hikers on the trail or at a campsite. I would not want to exclusively do solo trips for this reason alone. Yet, social engagement necessitates compromise in your autonomy.

Solo trips, for me, fill another desire, that for total autonomy and to physically and mentally challenge myself, as others have said. There is no one to negotiate decisions and choices. You can test your limits…chose to take it easy for a day. And you can a decision however and whenever you want, including changing your mind on the fly. For solo trips I rarely have a rigid route plan, instead preferring to just wing it and explore and adapt my distance, intensity, and route thereby allowing myself to explore based on conditions and whims. Such an approach is difficult to do in a most social situations. But, it often leads to intense memories.

So, both are great, and both have limitations. Which is such an obvious response.

I started hiking and traveling solo because I didn't know anyone who really liked backpacking for more than 6-8 miles a day and traveling in remote parts of other countries.

Now, I really don't like traveling or hiking with other people except for short trips because I feel like I have to make too many compromises and I have to let go of the idea of the trip I wanted to have. I like to "plan" by learning as much about the area as I can, list out many of the options and interesting things I might like to do or see in the area, and then make the decision on whether to do those things when I'm right in front of them. I haven't found anyone with whom I can take that lackadaisical approach to an itinerary.

Also, I like to do some back country photography and I can't stand having people wait around while I try to get a shot I like.

I find solo more rewarding on a personal level.
Backpacking with a friend is a lot more memorable for me, though, because I get out often and very rarely have anyone with me.

I often do solo day hikes, with dogs. Rain coat, lunch snack, bottle of warm tea and phone with gps and camera is all the gear. It's an opportunity to immerse either in my thoughts, or in a good audiobook, and walk and cover miles.

But if it's a multiday hike I would not enjoy it without my partner. Walking solo is fine, but activities such as setting up camp, making a fire, cooking, eating, spending a night – for me these are much more pleasant shared with another person.

Going solo is for me. It's my personal alone time. I can hike as little or as long as I'd like. I don't have to worry about keeping up with someone or someone keeping up with me. I can stop and go whenever I want and for as long or short as I need. I don't have to be concerned about someone else. I can go where ever I want and not have to worry if the other person/people want to go that way or if they CAN go that way. I can set up my camp where ever I would like to and not have to worry about some one else's opinion. I don't have to worry about making a "camp fire" or when I'm going to eat or what we are going to do the rest of the evening. I can fall asleep where ever I need and when ever I need. I can wake up at how ever early or late I wake up, and I can pack up and continue to hike at whatever time I am ready. It usually takes me about 5 minutes to set up camp for the night and about 10 minutes to break camp in the morning. I don't have to wait on anyone..I am free to do as I need at will. I don't have to worry if the OP is enjoying themselves or not, if their feet are hurting or not, if we are hiking too many miles or not, if I am hiking too fast or slow. It's all about me when I go solo. For me this is my personal time to do what I enjoy, what I love to do without having to worry about anyone else. My everyday life I am always doing things for everyone else. Going to work everyday 12 hours or more a day. Taking care of my family (wife and 3 kids and dog). Making sure my best that everyone is happy and safe always.
I do enjoy backpacking/camping with others..my son and/or friends once in a while, but it's not the same as going solo. Sure it's great to share the excitement and the beauty and the struggles and the views with them..but there is also a great satisfaction when I acomplish certain feats on my own and I can lay there as darkness falls in complete solitude and reflect on my day..my life..and be in total peace and not have to worry about anyone or anything but myself at that very moment.

In a few weeks I'll be doing a 6 day route with a good friend I've backpacked with several times before, followed immediately by 4-5 days solo.
The routine will change drastically overnight, and I think it would be less enjoyable if the solo part was done first. That's a groove it's harder to break out of.
Good times and special memories with a friend followed by quiet time and solitude before returning to the real world, though…perfect.

I'm sure that people's reasons for going solo differ. Clearly.

For me, yes, some of it is probably antisociality. When I'm on my own there is no debate about which route to take, no complaining about it being too cold, no whining about rest stops, no disagreements on when to stop for the night, etc. I'm free to do as a like.

But mostly, it's a function of the way my life is structured. I never know for sure when I'll have a weekend free, so I tend to head out on hikes at the last-minute. It wouldn't be fair to plan a hike with a partner only to find out on Friday that I have an inpatient to take care of, and cancel. Thus, of necessity, I mostly hike solo.

Some buddies and I get together for a group hike once or twice a year, for my social fix.

My problem is finding someone, ANYONE, who has the time off to go backpacking. I'm retired (yeah, I'm rubbing it in) and can schedule round others' calendars but few seem to be able to "get away" from the grind.

And yes, I realize they need to work since there is a rumor out there that you ned to eat.