How I prepare for solo hikes
Hiking solo will always be a risk, but I really love the solitude. In this post, I’ll write down all the things I do, and the precautions I take, before taking a solo hike.
The main concern with solo hikes is safety. If you’re hiking alone, then there is no one who is accountable for you. This can be a problem if you were to get hurt, get lost, or come across some unfriendly strangers.
My one main takeaway from this - if you don’t feel comfortable going alone, don’t go alone. I’m a big believer in bad juju, and if something doesn’t feel right, don’t risk it. At the bottom of this post, I’ve provided some information on how to go about finding other people to hike with.
Depending on where you are in the world and how secluded your hike is, your potential for risk will be different. Pack accordingly, plan accordingly.
1. Do your research
I’ve personally never embarked on a hike where I’ve just winged it. Way too scary for me. I always do my research to select known or marked trails to follow. I’m not the best at getting my directions correct, so I want to minimise the risk of getting lost - if I can stay on a marked path I will.
Usually, I will look up online for reviewed marked trails. Even better if I can find a detailed blog post from someone who has done it recently, even even better if they are a solo woman (so I can get their safety perspective). The trails I choose should have recent reviews and be popular enough that there is adequate information out there about them. I’ll spend loads of time reading other people’s experiences to set my expectations, make notes of any areas that may be more difficult to navigate, and probably to calm my nerves. Then it’s about finding maps.
I don’t pay for any navigating or hiking apps, so really rely on websites that provide free navigation. I will make sure I have downloaded/screenshot a copy of a trail map and a copy of a satellite map. I will then also download Google Maps for that area to allow offline crude navigation, again making sure to do this is in satellite mode as it is more useful to be able to distinguish the terrain. Finally, if I am lucky, I will try to find a freely accessible navigation map that provides directions, pictures and tracks your movement. You can find these on websites/apps like Wikiloc, Maps.Me, Komoot etc. For many of these, you will need to subscribe or pay for offline use, but if you are able to have the webpage loaded on your phone before you head off you may be able to use it whilst out.
Then on the day / the day before, do some final research. Check back on recent reviews and see if anything of note has been reported. Check the weather conditions so that you can be prepared. Check how you plan to get to and from the trailhead.
2. Pack smart
If you’re hiking solo, it means you have no one else to rely on. Therefore, you need to make sure you are properly prepped for most situations, with contingency plans and items in place also.
My usual pack list:
Bag (rucksack, cross-body, bum-bag)
Appropriate clothes (raincoat, sun hat)
Water (plenty)
Snacks
Money (and at least enough cash for food & water)
Torch (I use my bike light which can be attached to something and is rechargeable)
Swiss army knife
First aid, sunscreen…
Fully charged phone
Battery charging bank (or sometimes I take a spare phone)
ID (in case you get stopped by any authorities)
I rely on my phone a lot when I’m hiking, so I will have a foreign SIM card installed. My phone acts as my navigation, my torch, my compass, my means of contact, my tracker, and my camera. Depending on where I am in the world, and how long a hike I’m going on, I sometimes use a separate phone as my tracker and navigation, and then another for taking pictures and listening to music, as both uses are a real drain to the battery.
Once my phone gets to 50% I am much more cautious about its use, limiting photos, not using it for entertainment and thinking about turning back home soon.
30% is danger zone and I should be well on my way home. If needed and able, I will put my phone into power saver mode, which limits its use to basic phone features.
3. Be known
So you’re all prepped for your hike and ready to head off. Since you won’t have anyone with you to be accountable for you, it’s important that you let someone, anyone, else know where you are going and what you are doing. If you’re staying at a hostel, mention it to your roommates. Ask them what they’re up to today and let them know what you are doing. Not vibing with your roomies? Let someone at reception know. You can do this at a hotel, hostel, or AirBnB (drop your host a message). It’s just good to let someone know to expect you home. I also always let my family or friends know, even if you aren’t in the same country. This is because strangers don’t know you, and you can’t really expect them to care about you.
With my family/friends, I let them know where I’m going, how long I expect to be, and when they should hear from me. I then also share my location on my phone which you can do via WhatsApp, Google Maps, Find my Friends). This can be a drain on your phone, so be aware of that.
Some trails will have sign-in books and staff on site. Make use of that, as they will log your whereabouts and if you don’t return by the end of the day they could come looking for you, so make sure to sign-out after you’ve completed your hike.
Whilst on the trail, you may come across people. This usually makes me feel better, knowing that there is another headcount on someone knowing I’m hiking this trail. I’ll say hello, or give a nod, some sign of recognition. Of course, sometimes coming across people can feel threatening. Keeping to trail paths will minimise coming across ‘dangerous’ people. In my experience, you usually just come across other tourists or lone locals on a commute. I haven’t been in a situation where I felt at risk of a person. But I do make sure to be aware of my surroundings, particularly after walking past someone, to make sure I’m not being followed.
4. Update and communicate
Once I’ve returned from a hike, and by returned I mean back in familiar surroundings with access to internet/phone charging/water/food, I then let people know that I am back and safe.
Now is an opportunity to give back to the community from which you did all your research before the hike:
leave reviews
write a blog post
update maps/directions
post pictures of the trail
All these things will help other people, like you, plan for the trail.
Alternate option: When you don’t want to hike alone
I have travelled in some areas where I have not felt confident about taking on a hike solo. For areas like this, I will usually stay in a hostel (one with good reviews for being social if possible). That way, you can hopefully find some people to hike with you. Don’t be shy, just ask around what people’s plans are. Many people coming to a hostel will be there looking for other people to share experiences with too. If you get stuck, you can always ask at reception. Sometimes, where hiking trails are popular in the area, hostels may even run their own hiking activities that you can join. Look on a hostel’s website or social media to get an idea as to whether this is something they offer.
Failing that, you can always splash some extra cash and book an external tour. These tours are often in group settings (although I’m sure you can do private if you want) and you will get the added benefit of being guided by an expert. You can find tours like this from Viator, Air BnB Experiences, or ask at your accommodation for local travel companies.