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Seven Solo Backpacking Tips
By Steve Gillman, Thu Dec 8th
Solo means peace and quiet. No one to talk to meansno words are put between you and the beauty around you. Themiles just flow. It's entirely up to you to say when you eat ortake a break. Want to jump in that alpine lake? It's yourdecision alone. It's a unique experience. A solo backpacker also is vulnerable. Twist your ankle, andthere's nobody there to help you. Have you ever been stuck alonewithout food for days? How can you make your solo backpackingtrip safe? You can't. It's inherently more dangerous to go aloneinto the wilderness. What you can do though, is make it safer. Some Solo Tips 1. Tell someone where you'll be, and when you expect to return.It's probably best if you leave a map with them, and let themknow who to call if you don't return on time. 2. Bring a cell phone. I don't do this yet myself, but manylives have now been saved by cell phones. Turn it off and put itin the bottom of your pack so it won't bother you. 3. Bring the usual safety items (matches, 1st aid, iodinetablets, etc), but double-check to see if they are there and inworking order, as you'll
have nobody elses supplies to back youup. 4. If you're not sure of your abilities, or have a bad knee orother potential problem, stick to well-traveled trails. On manyroutes, another backpacker will be by every hour. That's good toknow if you're in trouble. 5. Learn well how to read a map and use a compass. If you aretwo miles off route and can't get a signal on your phone whenyour knee gives out, you're in trouble. Even if you like towander, you should be able to know where you are on the map forsafety. 6. Know your abilities. Don't plan on twenty-mile days if youhaven't done them before. 7. Learn to lighten your load. When you're alone, you lose theefficiency of sharing the load for stoves, tents and othercommon items. It's easy - and dangerous - to become overloadedwhen yours is the only backpack. You might want to read up onultralight backpacking.
Solo is riskier, but for some of us, it's well worththe risk. Try it, and you might agree. Just be sure to take thenecessary precautions
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