Solo Hiking Fears: Real or Imagined?

There are 2 types of female hikers: those who will admit to having solo hiking fears, and those who won't.

I'm firmly in the 1st camp (a little outdoors pun there).

Why?

Because I'm a realist.

I accept my limitations, mental as well as physical.

I know how far to push myself, and when to back off because I'm only going to freak myself out.

And I freely admit that I was too timid to hike by myself for many years.

When did that change for me?

When I got serious about my hiking skills, and devoted time and energy to becoming a strong, trained hiker. At that point, I began to trust myself.

Now I have no trouble being alone, whether it's in my house, my car, or my tent. Alone does not mean lonely for me.

In fact, I do my best thinking & emotional processing when I'm not distracted by other voices or bodies. Alone time on a trail gives me a chance to concentrate on what's bothering me, or on decisions I need to make. I welcome it!

However, I realize that some female hikers would do anything to avoid being alone. Alone for them spells danger, distress, uneasiness, worry, fear.

So who's right?

Is being alone on a trail scary?

Or serene?

Rest assured, this is not a right/wrong sort of thing, it's a comfort level issue.

I would not want a female hiker to feel embarrassed because she's afraid or uncomfortable to go it alone. No one should push you into hiking by yourself, if you're not physically or mentally comfortable with that idea.

HOWEVER! There's one tiny exception to my claim that every woman should judge for herself whether or not to hike solo.

I would perhaps gently prod a woman into trying a solo hike if she's right on the cusp of WANTING to be challenged.

Because there's no better way to stretch yourself than a solo hike, even just a solo day hike.

A half day up and back on a well marked trail is enough to bring out bunches of solo hiking fears, and if you structure your hiking trip just right, you'll learn a lot about your own mental and physical limitations.

And the thing to do with that information?

Use it to become a stronger hiker!

Take some classes, read some books, hang out with other hikers and ask questions, record your observations in a journal, email me for suggestions....

Solo hiking fears revolve around the fear of being alone, which I am guessing for most female hikers means not having someone else to (pick as many as apply): rely upon in an emergency, or to talk to, or to share a meal with, or to enjoy a fabulous sunset with.

My response to this?

YOU are someone, and just how often do you really slow down and concentrate on yourself?

Give yourself the gift of ME-time.

Put yourself in charge, trust yourself, and treat yourself as a treasured friend on the trail!

An example: Pack a mouth-watering lunch. Allow yourself a generous chunk of high quality chocolate as dessert, or whatever else says "decadence".

Choose a great hiking destination.

If waterfalls speak to your soul, ask around and locate a great waterfall hike. Bring your sketch pad, camera, or journal, and really enjoy being at the waterfall. Do you even notice how you tend to block out your surroundings when you're chatting with someone? No distractions this time!

Pick out a flower field guide at your favorite bookstore, and be sure it's in your pack the night before your hike. If your regular hiking buddies love to charge up the trail and ignore all of the beautiful wild flowers, today's your chance to stop and admire EVERY SINGLE ONE, with no guilt!

Do these examples seem obvious?

You'd be surprised how many women hikers I've talked to do not think that treating themselves with gratitude and love is important. They don't want to face & conquer solo hiking fears because they're not "worth" the time investment.

Let's face facts, shall we? Most women spend time and energy making things great for everyone around them, and put themselves last.

I'm giving you permission to put yourself first, using the "excuse" of a solo hike.

And here's one more thing to consider.

Facing your solo hiking fears could lead you to undreamed of places.

Being alone could become a treat, and lead you to discovering all sorts of interests.

Have you ever stopped to look at the flecks of crystals in a granite boulder, using a small hand lens? You might be a geologist, and not even know it!

Or when was the last time you really watched a soaring bird? Or cloud patterns? Or a beetle making its way across the trail?

Relax into some new possibilities!

Okay, so I'm not going to bully any one into hiking solo.

I've been the timid woman quaking in her tent at midnight, wondering what that noise was in the nearby bushes.

But I didn't stay stuck in that fear. I pushed beyond it, and learned to trust myself.

If I can do it, YOU can do it! Conquer those solo hiking fears!

Email me if you need some encouragement, or advice.

Hiking solo brings great rewards. I'd hate for you to miss out on them...

Solo hiking fears: we've all had them! Return here for more solo hiking information.