I know solo hiking is not for everyone, and some people have expressed concern for my safety during these solo treks. But I am rarely scared. Maybe I should be. I’m not even that well prepared for emergencies. There’s a whistle on my backpack, and I carry my cell phone and check for coverage frequently, and I mostly remember to tell my family where I’ll be.
Hiking alone affords me the time and space and silence to think. Especially in the winter, when there is much less to see. And on a recent winter stroll, my thoughts were mainly, “Why do I prefer to hike alone?”
I’ve never wanted to join a hiking group. I don’t like the idea of matching my pace to others, or making small talk with strangers. I do like hiking with my family or with a friend or two. I enjoy pointing out what I see, but I’m not sure how much my family or friends appreciate my nature commentaries.
My hiking trip in northern Spain last summer was a grand adventure. The hardest part of the trip, and what required the most courage of me, was not the hiking, but plopping myself into a group of strangers. I felt awkward and unsure of myself, even as the others were inviting and kind to me. That said, one of the best day’s hikes was intentionally started in silence. Oh, my goodness, that was blessed time. My mind and senses were free to roam and explore my surroundings and my thoughts, instead of trying to come up with topics to chit-chat about.
I did discover that hiking with this group in Spain gave me the encouragement to continue when I might have given up had I been by myself. Not because the hikes were too difficult, but who wants to hike in deep mud? I probably would have turned back that day had I been alone, and missed hiking through a glade of enormous ferns and an al fresco lunch while a cowbell symphony played in the background.
For myself, I need a balance between time spent alone and time in community. Of course, individuals have a propensity toward introversion or extroversion, and I definitely am an introvert, if the definition of an introvert is someone who is recharged by time alone. I may not present as an introvert; maybe I’m an extroverted introvert.
As I write this, I’ve just said good bye to a friend who came to the beach with me on a last minute invitation. I had planned to be alone the entire eight days, but it was really fun having her here with me—eating, walking, shopping, and talking together. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but now I’m just as happy to have time alone before I return home.
Like most aspects of my life, it’s the perfect balance that keeps me upright.
I still prefer to hike alone though. Then, when I return, I can tell my family (and you) all about it.