Backpacking Solo?

I spent years trying to get people together for an adventure. It was usually an exercise in frustration.

My best advice: Just go.

Solo trecking is a wonderful experience.

I go solo on a lot of overnights. I do it to test gear and challenge myself to go lighter – sometimes in conditions I wouldn't want to subject others to (this weekend was 32 and rain, then dropping into the teens).

That said, I also have a friend who's keen to get out so I've been facilitating that by lending him gear – winter bags, mostly – and sharing my shelter.

I think the best way to find backpacking partners is right here. Add your location to your profile, to start.

i'm new to backpacking 2-3 years so far, my work schedule is UN-foreseeing and fluctuates, i could never plan a trip with others at this point in my life. i have only gone backpacking solo. a little planing goes along way. start with small trips and build from that. i made it a point to get out every chance i can. I have covered 700 miles of the AT always learning something new, meeting new people. go out with as much knowledge that you have and build from that. hiking solo is safe if you use good judgment

+1 for just go. it is pretty nice actually. You go your own pace, stop when you want, eat when you want, sleep as little or as much as you need.

take pictures and share.. might attract someone who will want to go next time.

+1

Dozens of solo trips in the Sierra, Winds, Grand Canyon, and Colorado.
My schedule, my pace, anywhere, anytime.

I just recently made a mental switch from:

well, I"ll go solo next spring if I can't find another woman to go with

to:

actually, I really want to see how far/fast I can push myself on my own.

Part of this is I prefer to hammock, so campsite selection is a little different for me vs. a ground-sleeping partner.

thanx for all the advice. i like to meet new people on the trail, share camp fire stories. FTR, dont ever ask me to tell a scary story… you'll never sleep again and you sure as hell wont ever go camping with me again. i dont know where this gift came from but… i can scare the hell out of people while camping lol. probably best i start solo camping.

I've logged thousands of solo miles (sea kayaking and backpacking) here in coastal Alaska, and that's how I travel 95% of the time.

It does take a little adjustment at first, and even after all these years the first day or two out by yourself can be unnerving. You are far more aware of noises, shadows, looking for animals, and the like (note that I am always in brown bear country, so you may not have that to contend with). Don't obssess on it, but just be prepared to remind yourself to do a rational assessment of what your situation is and not let your imagination run away with you.

Don't be afraid to talk to yourself.

Bring a good book.

Bring an after dinner cocktail.

Bring ear plugs.

Have a reasonably specific goal and work towards it (a lake or peak, etc).

Avoid just sort of wandering around an area. You need a purpose.

And for Dog's sake, just go. It's easy to be lame and back out if someone else isn't going along to provide some peer pressure. Have the goal of the trip be your peer pressure and motivation.

I agree that you should just go. You can spend a lot of energy trying to find people to go with you, but finding a backpacking partner is hard since you two have to have the same schedules and around the same level of fitness. You're much more likely to meet these people by accident when you're backpacking. Definitely discuss your plans on going solo with your wife.

Stick to trails, at least initially. No cross country travel until you're comfortable being by yourself.

If you're a hiker and not a camper like I am (e.g. you don't spend a lot of time lounging in camp or taking long braeks), anticipate covering significantly more miles than you do with a partner. Hiking with company slows you down quite a bit. Once I started going solo, I found that I would arrive at camp 3-4 hours before I planned which can lead to boredom.

Consider getting something like a Spot to check in (it also can be fun for yourself if you get the tracking option to see where you go). Your wife may be much happier.

very good advice. im in georgia, outside of atlanta. no scary animals to be concerned about other than black bear and wild hogs. one question. do you carry a firearm while trekking in Alaska?

No, just bear spray.

I have a very small group of friends that I trust their knowledge for backpacking skills. Every few years I find a newbie coworker with potential that I try to mentor in the ways of the BPL Jedi. The rest of the time it's solo for me. As mentioned previously, you are 100% responsible for everything. No second pair of eyes, no two heads are better than one. None of that theoretical buddy support system "if I get hurt, my buddy will save me"

Instead of carrying excessive duplicates, learn how some gear can serve multiple uses, and somethings like firestarter may want to take backup. Avoid single points of failure on tier-1 critical items.

When solo, I go extra stealth. When asked by trail strangers where I'm going, I intentionally say somewhere else. I camp like a ninja.

You will hear squirrel noises at night that sound like bear or lion or human footprints. How will you respond?

The advantages are awesome. Pure liberation. Take as long as you want to #2, or photography or trek as fast as you want or make changes.

No one to talk to, so you will need to be comfortable with your own company for hours and days. I do a lot of life analysis, philosophy when solo. No one to BS.

In most large cities, there are hiking clubs of one sort or another. In most, there are chapters of the Sierra Club. Granted, some of the people there have environmental activism in mind, but many of the people are there just for the activities. So, you might find some backpackers that way. Now, they may do trips that you like, or there may be trips that you don't like. However, you may find some like-minded others to team up with.

I used to lead a lot of group trips. Then I kept reducing the group size to suit me until many are solo trips now. For summer backpacking, I like to make each trip different from the last one. So, some are solo trips. Some are with a male friend. Some are with a female friend. Some are with a small group, like three or four others.

–B.G.–

ive heard of hikers getting attacked in a tent while asleep by brown bear. park rangers find their body ripped apart and a tent full of bear spray. no way in hell would i trek through alaska without a firearm. the sound of a gun scares the hell out of bears. kinda hard to defend yourself against a bear attack with bear spray in a tent. bear spray is excellent to stop a charging bear when you see them coming. big side steps… spray… side step.. asleep in a tent? not so much

You'd better be a perfect shot to use that sidearm. And when you wake up in the middle of the night, and it's pitch black, make sure you kill the bear with your first shot.

Or have a different plan entirely.

>> park rangers find their body ripped apart and a tent full of bear spray.

How often does this happen? I've never seen a news report… the gore factor alone would surely get it on national news. Sounds like an (sub)urban legend to me.

Why are you worried about brown bears in GA? hang your food, use a bear can or bear box and black bears will have no reason to bother your tent.

if you are really worried about it, cook before you find camp and go a bit further afterward.

"ive heard of hikers getting attacked in a tent while asleep by brown bear. park rangers find their body ripped apart and a tent full of bear spray. no way in hell would i trek through alaska without a firearm. the sound of a gun scares the hell out of bears. kinda hard to defend yourself against a bear attack with bear spray in a tent. bear spray is excellent to stop a charging bear when you see them coming. big side steps… spray… side step.. asleep in a tent? not so much"

Care to link to this story? Saying things ,that are extremely rare and possibly untrue, like this do nothing to help someone who is looking to start backpack solo, except create unnecessary paranoia. Especially considering the fact that the OP is looking to backpack in Georgia.

Bear attacks are very, very rare. Especially those that are predatory. You may benefit from reading Stephen Heterro's books. Bear Spray has been proven to be the most effective as a bear protector/firearm. As a solo backpacker, bears will be on your mind but they aren't your number 1 concern.

Solo is the best way most of the time.

I like hiking with my son

Not so much with other people.Always waiting on them.

David,

"ive heard of hikers getting attacked…"

Are you serious?

Or is this thread just a bait-and-switch?

its happened several times. i have a friend that works for the E.P.A. in alaska. supervises oil refineries and pipelines. a lot of incidents dont reach the media out of respect for dead and their families.

why be a statistic? really think about this. sound asleep and a bear rips through a tent. you actually think you have a chance with bear spray at super close range? even if you miss the bear firing off a round, the gun shot alone will scare a bear away. its proven that bear spray actually is pleasing to a bear. you have to blast him right in the face. spray bear spray around a tent a bear will come and lick it off. seriously. i love nature and am very careful not to disturb the wild but…. no way in hell would i go through brown bear country without a firearm.

Uh, I LIVE on Kodiak Island. Have for 25 years. I've spent decades working in remote field camps and traveling through coastal Alaska. I can definitively declare you to be a total kook on this topic. Every thread has one. Now this one does too. Nice job.

I TRUST MY BUDDIES FIELD EXPERTISE AS A "WORKING" PROFESSIONAL.

better safe than sorry. they dont carry high power carbines for show. bear spray is carried and used. carbine when it gets hairy.

>> a lot of incidents dont reach the media out of respect for dead and their families.

There'd still be data. Coroner's reports, hospital information, etc. And, because it would be extremely useful to people who live or frequent the wild, it would be compiled and made available. "Working" professionals like rangers and law enforcement would benefit from this knowledge.

When something like this comes across the forum we like to see the data. Just point to the data.

David, I don't doubt you believe the story and your fear of bears is very real. Do a little research, find some data or track the source of the story you heard. I think you may find it helpful.

Fear is a big hurdle.

Good luck!