Should Solo Hiking and Backpacking Be Discouraged for Safety Reasons?

[Shawn]

Is solo hiking/backpacking too risky, or is it a personal choice that builds confidence and skills?

Should parks or trail organizations do more to discourage or restrict solo hiking for safety concerns?

What are the real dangers of solo hiking: wildlife, injuries, weather, or human threats?

Are solo hikers unfairly criticized compared to groups, or is there merit to the concerns?

Share your experiences: Have you had a close call while solo hiking or backpacking?

What precautions do you take to ensure safety when going alone?

 

[krJoest]

I like being alone in the woods, it's given me a lot of freedom to explore where I want to go. I did a group hike last year, and I'm doing another one this year. Maybe I'll do more.

 

[Shawn]

I like hiking with my wife.

I don't mind doing group hikes here and there, though.

I enjoyed hiking solo when I first started, but when I met my wife, who was just a hiking buddy at first, I fell in love with hiking with her and almost feel abnormal to do it alone. However, at times, I still hike alone when she is at work and I'm not.

Biking... I prefer to ride alone for the most part. I can set my own pace and focus on what I want to get out of it.

 

[Jeff Ulrich]

For the most part I would say no, people shouldn't be discouraged from solo hiking/backpacking/camping trips. I wouldn't likely have been able to go nearly as often in the past if I hadn't gone alone. It's hard to find other people who are interested and able to go at the same time as I am. I do enjoy being alone in the outdoors, but it's also good to be able to share the experience with others. I liked taking kids along to show them different things, but it's a somewhat different experience.

On the other hand there are certain places and conditions where it would be wise to have one or more companions. Places that involve difficult climbing or where there is the serious risk of a fall are examples. Cave exploration or whitewater rafting are also activities that would best done with others. Those with serious health problems would best have someone along too. There isn't always safety in numbers when weather conditions turn bad suddenly or unexpectedly, but a group has a better chance than one person alone.

For those with reasonable ability and experience I think going alone is fine for ordinary hiking and backpacking. The key is probably to let someone know where you are going and staying, something I haven't been very good at doing in the past. I have thought of getting a satellite communicator/emergency beacon, but haven't been going to enough remote places in the last couple years to justify the cost of the service.

I guess the closest call I've had was stepping on an unstable rock in a creek bed near Stoneface. It flipped and I skinned up and bruised my leg pretty badly. Fortunately no broken bones or sprain, but I easily could have had. I'm not sure what kind of cell signal there was at that spot. Nobody knew where I was. It wasn't very remote, maybe half a mile from the nearest home, but still far enough that nobody would have heard me. Sooner or later somebody would have noticed my vehicle. In the future I am going to let somebody know my general plans and check in when I get back to camp or a place where I have communications.

 

[Driftwoody]

An experienced, responsible, healthy backpacker alone is probably safer than an inexperienced, ill-equipped pair going in over their heads.

The key is to know your capabilities, bring gear for the worst conditions you're likely to encounter, know the area of the trek, have the necessary navigation tools, and a bail-out plan.

Nevertheless, I would advise against solo off-trail adventures (especially in rugged terrain) where another human may not come by for a long time.

But I do not advocate prohibiting that activity. Carry a PLB.

 

[krJoest]

An experienced, responsible, healthy backpacker alone is probably safer than an inexperienced, ill-equipped pair going in over their heads.

The key is to know your capabilities, bring gear for the worst conditions you're likely to encounter, know the area of the trek, have the necessary navigation tools, and a bail-out plan.

Nevertheless, I would advise against solo off-trail adventures (especially in rugged terrain) where another human may not come by for a long time.

But I do not advocate prohibiting that activity. Carry a PLB.

Me and my friend walked over a yellow jacket nest on a bushwack, i wouldn't have wanted to face that alone. I still freak out when I hear buzzing

 

[Shawn]

Me and my friend walked over a yellow jacket nest on a bushwack, i wouldn't have wanted to face that alone. I still freak out when I hear buzzing

I almost stepped on one at One Horse Gap with my wife a few weekends ago.

About 30 of them things flying around it. I've been hit by them before. Not very pleasant.

 

[John Wick]

I’ve done a few solo hikes and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. That said, it’s definitely not for everyone. If someone’s new to hiking, it’s better to start with a group until they’re confident with navigation and emergency basics. I think the focus should be on smart soloing, not banning it.

 

[Shawn]

I agree.

When I first started out, before I met my wife, solo is all that I did. I learned a lot from it, had a blast, and really found myself. I don't think I would be into hiking as much as I am today had I not did all that on my own from the start.