Having The Mojo To Go Solo

[Pennsy Camp and Canoe]

I tend to watch a movie on my phone.

my 1st solo attempt (failed)


successful solo

[Ohoopee]

Backcountry fly fishing. Mind is always busy reading the stream flow,
managing drift, tying different knots, selecting flies, traversing
thigh deep streams looking up for trees and down for rocks. Sometimes
just sitting on boulder having a snack. Then you hike back to base camp.
Make it as simple or difficult as you need. Pick your poison!)

[TrailSlug]

The reason I have the mojo to go solo is due to going with others and nearly killing myself keeping up with younger hikers. A few of these and you'll be glad to go solo so you can hike your own hike and stop when your ready.

[Bad Biscuit]

I rarely solo (I like having story time around the campfire) but the idea intrigues me as well.

I think you MUST be comfortable with all of your gear and navigation because that takes out the "scary" part for me. I have done several solo hikes (just not overnight) and I find the time alone in nature is relaxing. I can also go my own pace and explore areas of interest.

For a solo overnight/multi night trip in the plans, I plan on taking a longer lunch that normal, eat in the evening then hike a few more miles, and set up camp just before dark. That way I won't have the time in camp by myself to get bored. I'll probably put in more miles, too so I'll be tired and ready for bed.

[Nodust]

When solo I hike til I am tired, then setup hammock and go to sleep. Wake and repeat. Just a different pace than with others.

I recommend it.

[alifeoutdoors]

Audiobooks. There's nothing like sitting by the fire, listening to the Lord of the Rings smoking my pipe and sipping on some hot cocoa or tea. I've hiked with some amazing story tellers so that's what I like about it. It's like having someone around the campfire spinning a yarn.

[Big Flounder]

While I truly enjoy my outings with friends, I love my solo trips too. But I understand what you're talking about when it comes to getting bored. I've come home a day or two early before because of it. That being said I'll spend my time laying in the hammock and reading a good book on my phone or tablet, writing in a journal, taking day hikes, napping, fishing, cutting firewood, napping some more, etc. But it is hard to keep busy and I often find myself forcing myself to just kick back and enjoy the down time. We often get too used to being in the rat race of every day life that we find it difficult to sit still and just enjoy the fresh air, sounds of the forest or a nice sunset.

[emfalcon]

I so much prefer solo backpacking to being in a group. I can set my own pace, my own miles so I can have a little or as much camp time as I want. But I also dislike people in general, being around groups of people, talking with people, being social is something I don't do well. As far as getting bored, no clue how you can get bored. You can read, listen to audio-book, write, learn bush-craft, hunt for interesting sites around your hike. Just getting my pack, hammock and supplies dialed in fills a lot of my time as well.

[Carver]

If ever you have the opportunity, hike a few hundred yards with a four or five year old child. See the forest through their eyes. Everything is interesting. Hunt for arrowheads, check out rocks, different kinds of trees, always bugs and butterflies, pay attention to clouds, strange sounds, hawks and eagles, red squirrels and chipmunks, old fire scars on trees, tracks and poop, old mines, deer browse. The list goes on if you are aware of your surroundings. Good luck.

[Smilin]

I am not a fan of solo camping, but, like others have mentioned and I have just learned this about myself, if I can hike from sun up till just before dark I really enjoy solo trekking. The camping is just a means to an end.