Backpacking Solo
TIPS FOR BACKPACKING SOLO
Are YOU ready to take the plunge?
Think you’re ready to take your first solo backpacking trip? Go you!! This is a huge backpacking milestone that not everyone is willing to take. Kate recently took the plunge and completed her first solo backpacking trip – talk about a mental and physical accomplishment! It was a one night, 12-mile loop located in Colorado (full Trail article coming soon!). Before taking your first solo backpacking trip there are a few things to consider:
Do you have all the right equipment for a solo journey?
GEAR
If you usually backpack in a group or with a buddy (hi Kat!), you might be like us and have split ownership of the equipment. If this is the case, make sure you either borrow that equipment from your buddies or start investing in your own gear. This might seem like the obvious consideration, but for me, I had to invest in a camp stove and some other basic essentials that Kat usually provides on trips. Be sure to run through our Packing List to make sure that you can check off everything in your pack!
WEIGHT
Now that you have ALL the gear, the next consideration is going to be weight. Similar principle as before, if you usually backpack with someone there are techniques to split the weight (i.e. you hold the stove, I got the propane kinda thing). When backpacking solo, remember that you are responsible for the weight of EVERYTHING. This will definitely add a few lbs. to your pack which, overall, tends to slow down your miles per hour and can add more stress to certain areas of your body (I’m talking to you hips!!). Be sure to decrease your weight wherever possible while maintaining all the essentials (things like remove packaging from food, only bringing one layer of clothes, etc.).
Has your previous backpacking experience prepared you for this?
This trip was truly an accumulation and a test of knowledge of everything I had learned from previous backpacking trips. Everything from lighting the camp stove, opening a bear box, setting up my tent by myself, and handling a bear encounter, etc. If it wasn’t for each of these Lessons Learned then I don’t think I would have had the confidence to pursue a solo trip. The point being, make sure you have some experience under your belt. I highly recommend going back through our Getting Started backpacking series and making sure you have experience in each of these areas before taking to the trail solo!
During my solo trek, I was reminded of Katherine and I’s very first backpacking trip to Charlies Bunion. It made me so thankful we stayed in a shelter with lots of other people that first night in case we needed some help with the basics (i.e. couldn’t figure out how to start our backpacking stove), there were plenty of people around to ask for help. However, you can’t always expect the luxury of having others around. Unfortunately in my solo trek case, I was truly by myself meaning NO ONE around. This just reiterated the need to be self-reliant on my own skills, abilities, and equipment. Backpacking solo is a challenge, but a fulfilling one! My first trip was full of ups and downs; I was able to lean on my previous experiences and equipment to make sure trek would be one for the books!
Is your Brain full of Backpacking Safety knowledge?
Cause it should be!
SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY!! If you haven’t already, go re-read our Safety First article. Each of those safety precautions is heightened when backpacking solo. You have to be ready to make judgment calls by yourself on navigation, have your first aid kit on hand if you take a tumble, and know your nighttime food storage plan, etc.! Safety is critical to your success on a solo mission. For me, bear safety was a big concern. My plan was to either have full conversations with myself out loud or playing Taylor Swift’s new album off my phone and sing very loudly & terribly while hiking. The bears probably scattered for miles. Being loud when hiking is your number one prevention against bears.
“A Backpacking Beginners Tip: If you or a friend has one easily accessible, bring some form of a GPS on your solo trek. That way if something goes REALLY wrong, you have the ability to send your GPS coordinate to either a close friend or a professional search and rescue team. ”
Ready to be Brave?
Go and conquer those fears!
I love a good ‘rah-rah’ moment and backpacking solo is full of them. The hardest thing I had to tackle on my solo backpacking trip was being brave, truly brave. I like to think being brave is different for everyone, depending on who we are and how our previous experience has defined us. With that being said, have I mentioned I didn’t sleep a wink at night? Even though I had taken all the right safety precautions and made sure I was bear conscious, hearing the endless amounts of ruffling and knowing there was no one in proximity to me was scary! We each have our own fears that we bring to the trail that test us and make us stronger. Don’t let fear hold you back, leave it to the trail to make you a better and braver version of yourself!
LAST CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE GOING SOLO
Pick a popular and medium to high traffic trail with designated campsites on a weekend so you’re not hanging out alone at night like I was!
Double and triple check the supplies you are bringing before taking off. Nothing worse than realizing you forgot the propane to cook with! (Disclaimer: This didn’t happen on this trip but you catch my drift ;))
Choose reasonable mileage for your first solo trek. Take this opportunity to test the waters with the added weight.
Please, please let people know where you are going. Call the ranger, call a friend, send your hike information to a few people, and your expected time back.
Don’t be lazy! You won’t have your hiking partner whispering in your ear to make sure you follow through on all those safety precautions so it’s on you to make it happen! It might be easy when you’re tired after a long day to say “maybe I don’t need to go hang my bear bag THAT far” – no, do it anyway!
Alright, if you think you can answer each of those questions confidently, get ready to pack that backpack and get on the trail… SOLO! As always be safe, be brave, and go with confidence! You got this!
WANT TO REVIEW THE BACKPACKING BASICS?
Check out our Getting Started page for everything you need to know to hit the trail!
HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT BACKPACKING SOLO?
Message us in the comments below!