Some call me pigheaded, but I call myself a Solo Walker

[hikingoz]

I've been reviewing and recording some of my past walks. I've realised that there are a few here and there where my hiking buddy has had a hard time, or vice versa, and things have got a bit crappy. When I look at those instances on mass it makes we think that a hard days walking in the heat, or in miserable conditions, or when things go wrong, can really bring out the best and worst in people.

So I was hoping in a good natured light that we could list some of the instances where our buddies have wanted to poke us in the eye or vice versa.

I'll start with a classic of mine. I took a girlfriend (at the time ) on a three day walk from the Guthega power station to Valentines hut in Spring time. The terrain is fairly easy going because it's all on fire trails. The weather was fine but unfortunately there was still a bit of snow about on the track and on the second day she decided that the going was waaay to tough and got grumpy. Not even a smuggled bottle of wine at the hut would chear her up. I was getting drilled

In the morning the poor dear went to put her boots on and the rand on one boot had shrunk by the stove and so the trip back to the car was pretty much the same deal. Needless to say I don't go bushwalking with her anymore We are still mates and laugh about the weekend but it's definately one of the times where things could have gone better.

[wander]

My wanders are always fun and interesting (it would be very boring if the terrain was flat, we new where we were and it was a constant 18 degrees C with a slight breeze, luckily with good planning I can normally remove most of these factors), some people have suggested otherwise but they are mistaken.

[Mark F]

While I walked with a club (SUBW and Kamerukas) in my teens and twenties, I now do all my multi day walks solo. This may change a little when my partner joins me for an easy weekend or two over summer.

TO me the benefits are:
Able to plan and do the walks I want to do, when I want to do them, at a pace and in a style that maximises my enjoyment - no joint decision making. Example - I walked the Vosgues section of the GR5 with 2 friends. Their idea of the walk was to head as fast as possible to the day's destination and then lie around reading. It caused some angst if we did not reach the predetermined destination, or that we arrived in a village on the closure day etc. For me I want to enjoy the country, do side trips, stop if I find a great place to camp, etc. No conflict over the ultimate goal but totally different walking styles.

I meet and interact with far more people. It is much easier and more likely that a solo walker will meet people, share a meal or campfire than a larger group. This is particularly relevant when walking overseas.

Down sides:
Greater risk of accident or illness. That's why I leave a detailed itinerary and carry a SPOT which I use daily and have an agreed system of messages that means I can be picked up without creating a rescue. Being solo I also am much more careful and assess potential dangers more carefully - eg river crossings.

Loneliness. Usually quite happy with my self (I am a particularly witty conversationalist! ), and I carry music and books on my phone.

Can't do car swap trips - true.

[Tofu_Imprint]

I like walking solo for some of the reasons mentioned already...

I always meet new people when solo, unless its really terrible weather or a particularly remote track.
I also walk solo because I don't know anyone willing to anything overnight or greater who lives nearby. My regular hiking partner is a Canadian who currently lives in NZ

I also enjoy being away from everything, in most cases I hope that I don't see anyone! I understand this is the opposite for a lot of people (most likely). Having said that I like meeting new people on some walks, we usually have something in common.

I have considered joining a bushwalking club but really can't see the point. Happy to learn as I go and not be restricted on walking locations.

Walking solo is also a great time to write. I carry a journal and usually come up with good ideas when by myself in the wilderness somewhere.

[Macca81]

I have one or 2 mates that i walk with regularly, with the occasional solo overnighter thrown in.
Sometimes however, Scouting walks mean that i dont have much choice of my walking partners... Last walk was a perfect example of this...

One of the last things a Scout needs to do to get the highest award in scouting (Scout Medalion) is to organise a 3 night, 30km hike (some of you may recal one of my former Scouts on here asking for advice on this some 18 months ago, Molly) in which the leaders are supposed to let the Scout do the organising of everything and the leaders walk, camp and eat seerately to the kids.

So this last walk, on Maria Island, i was walking with the new Scout Leader (new but still someone i have know through Scouts for some number of years...)
Anyway, this lad likes to talk... a lot... This is something i have known for some time, but have always been able to avoid it due to manipulation situations. However on this occasion i was walking with him for 3 days... just him and no one else. Needless to say i got most of his like story, and a little bit too much info on his sex life, current and former. Walking along he would see a stick and mention it and how it reminded him of something that happened when he was 4... or something... and the story never actually related to a stick... Over the 3 days, i think only 3 waking minutes had no talking...

Needless to say, i was ready to attempt self surgery on my ears to remove the eardrums by the time we got back to the mainland...
I did notice a quote on a sign at Darlington on Maria that i just had to take a photo of and upload to Facebook too "After a day of talking, i feel exhausted. After a day of walking i feel pleasantly tired." It just seemed to work... he must have lost 40kg with how exhausted he should have been!

[hikingoz]

Bushwalking is a test of humour some times. Particularly if it's a hard slog

[ULWalkingPhil]

Wish I could find someone that can cope with the conditions. I've never been that lucky. So called outdoorsy people have joined me on some of my hikes, They would say how much they love the outdoors and can't wait to go hiking. I've warned them, told them, days can be long, your legs could be screaming at you by the end of the day and there's no toilets, they say that's fine, I can handle that. Well entirely different scenario by the end of the first day and worst on the 2nd day. The complaining and moaning and demands placed on me to get him or her out of here. I had one guy join me that raved on how he was in the army and all the difficult stuff he had to do in the army, by the 2nd day he complained how dirty he got and how hard it was to walk with a pack on. That was one person I thought I could have relied on, he turned out to be the most miserable #$%# I had ever met and hiked with. It was a relief to get back home.

I used to always think, safer in numbers, if something happens there's someone there to get assistance, because of this thought, Many hikes I have missed out on, because I could not find anyone to join me or the person's that did join me, I had to cut the trip short and head back home, because they wanted to go home.

I've since hike solo now and it's the best thing I've ever done. I've seen so much more, I can do as I please, I can stop when I want, I can go when I want. I still like to go hiking with other's, but I'm very cautious now who I take with me.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Bushwalking clubs? Problem with those, from what I have seen is that there full of older people, Which are not all that keen on long distance walks, anything more than 10Km and they don't turn up, let alone trying to organise a overnight hike. Maybe you guys in the city don't have this problem. I've arranged a few overnight walks now for the local club and so far no ones joined me, I've always been on my own.

Recently went to a Bushwalking event near the Sunshine Coast, was run by a few clubs in the area I was surprised a lot of people pulled out of walks because it was raining. Hiking in rainforest when it rains I think is one of the best times. Absolutely enjoyed it myself.

Maybe I have not come across the ideal club yet.

[Mark F]

I rethought my earlier post and realised that the likelihood of an accident increases with every additional member of the group. 2 people - 2x the accidents! This is usually at a greater rate than you would think as less experienced people join the group. Safety in numbers is really about getting help rather than avoiding accidents in the first place.

[Cocksy_86]

I use to always go solo. Now I'm no longer single, and I miss my family too much when gone. It's kind of put a hault on multiday hiking altogether.

[Lindsay]

Apart form the occasional day walk I always walk solo. The ability to walk your own walk without having to consult someone else or compromise your intentions is worth any very small extra risk that may be involved. I value the time alone with just my thoughts (and a good book to read at night) and I return home feeling more at peace with the world.

[Nuts]

There is something much more satisfying with going solo. While i find it increasingly difficult to get time away (that isn't work related), I managed to squeeze in 5 days solo recently. I fell asleep on my groundsheet at lunchtime in the sun one day for a few hours, walked into the night another day. Read a book all day in a hut, on another, chose a route to which I wouldn't have liked to expose others.. so on..

Reminded me how much I like solo walks

[Nuts]

..

[hikingoz]

Walking with like minded companions can be a lot of fun. Bushwalking is a test of strength of mind, body and sense of humour and I think a more experienced group can adjust for this and get along better. I've definately had some group walks that were equal or better than if I had gone solo. As a climber, I also have shared many trips with a buddy which I couldn't have done otherwise. We regularly disagree about various things but both do our best to make climbing as fun as possible. Generally I find that experience makes for a better companion, and that the more I trips I've been on with someone the easier it gets.

I agree with some of the comments that solo walking has the advantage of easy planning and easy execution. I enjoy my trips alone and set more difficult goals for myself than for others. The higher the degree of difficulty, or the longer the trip, the more likely I am to walk alone.

[pazzar]

I do a bit of both. I recently did the Western Arthurs solo for 8 days. After 4 days I was probably getting sick of myself though. The hardest thing I found was finding the motivation to get up and pack up in the morning, especially when it was raining. It is so much easier to just stay in the tent and read a book.

Having said that I walk in groups a lot at the moment. I lead walks for the University Walking Club. You get all sorts on these trips, but generally they are good to walk with. I just have to make sure that if the walk is going to be hard, I need to make it sound ten times as scary as it really is. We took 13 into Lake Rhona and never saw the temperature rise about 0 degrees, yet everyone made it, had a good time, and rarely complained.

I think I found my solo limit, 4 days is plenty. I have found a few people that I really enjoy walking with, and are as crazy as me at times, but they are all disappearing on me. It won't be long and all my adventurous walks may be solo again.

[Son of a Beach]

I used to find 4 days solo to be about right for me.

However, since having kids, I find I start missing my missus and the kids after just one night out. Yep, I've turned into a home-body-softie. I still go out solo for one or two nights occasionally, but these days I find that having company while bushwalking (whether it's my wife or other people) prevents me from missing home and family too much.