Written by Madi Clark
Hi, it’s me, Madi. Female Solo Hiker and explorer in Utah. I get the question asked a lot, “How do you do it?”or statements along the lines of “I want to do what you do!” and of course the “I’d like to do what you do but I’m too nervous to do it alone.”
I feel all of these in my heart. I’ve been there! Petrified to do anything alone. Not feeling comfortable in nature without someone else around. I’m here to tell you that the feeling is completely normal and that everyone at some point, hiked their first trail alone.
Quick tips to help you feel more comfortable hiking solo:
If you are new to hiking alone, pick a trial you’ve done before or one that you know is highly trafficked where you know people will be around in case of an emergency. If you decide to do a new trail, I recommend using an app like Alltrails to help find trails near you and to find the route to stay on course.
Before you head out, let a friend or family member know where you are going & how long you’ll be gone for, you can even tell them what you’re wearing. Consider also texting them when you’ve reached the trailhead & when you’re on your way back.
Make sure you have a full battery charged on your phone, consider buying a device that will allow you use satellite communication to both send and receive text messages and navigate where you are at if there won’t be any service. I personally use ZOLEO.
f you’re hiking a new trail or exploring around in a new area, take with you ‘extras’ just in case you are out longer than expected (clothing, food and water).
Consider carrying a knife, pepper spray or firearm (make sure you check your state’s laws about carrying firearms and types of knives that are legal)
Bonus Tips!!
Be aware of your surroundings but don’t let your imagination get in the way of you having a great time, listen to your intuition but don’t let worrying stop you from doing what you want to do.
It’s OK if you just don’t enjoy hiking alone. If you would rather go with someone all of these tips are just good hiking tips in general.
I always want to inspire and encourage you to enjoy this beautiful planet for what it is, if reading these tips helped you in any way, let me know!
xoxo, Madi & Ember
Be sure to follow along Madi and Ember on their adventures by checking out their Instagram