How many of you break the cardinal rule of hiking alone?

[ellehcim]

At this point I am 100% guilty!!! I have nobody to hike with as of yet... Also, because of my schedule (unemployed) I am hiking during the daytime weekdays where it would be hard to find a partner anyway...

How many other people do this and what precautions do you take? ER: leaving a note or telling someone where you went and when you should be back, etc....

[hoppy47m]

It seems a lot of us are in the same predicament, no one to hike with. I have met other people while on hikes of course, usually going the opposite direction.
But I usually hike where others don't go. Sometimes I'll hike established trails, but most of my hiking it just a general direction, I follow my "what's over there" compass alot. Found some beautiful spots that way. I have hiked northern Arizona for almost 40 years, so I don't have a problem knowing which way is north...or south. Summer is getting closer and I will be hiking the Sycamore Canyon Rim, south of Williams soon. No trails, just follow the rim as far as I care to go.......with my dogs

[galeforce]

I also hike alone for many reasons. I've tried hiking with others they want to talk, to my thinking ruins the experience of nature. Life is to short to live in fear of what may happen. My dog is snake trained and I never put myself at risk. I also give my sister all the details of where I am going. Live is a journey with set no destination enjoy it.
Happy Hiking,
galeforce50

[alaskangriz]

Well I am guilty as well. I deserve the full sentence. I hike alone most of the time since my schedule doesn't match many of my friends, and the friends that I have (I would get rid of them but I like them) don't really go hiking all that much and when they do they take the "whimpy" trails. I like challenges, so I hike alone. Sorry everyone!!

[Daryl]

I'll never fault anyone for hiking alone because I have done it plenty, but I'd stronglt suggest not doing it.

I'm part of a search and rescue team and over the last 2 years we have recovered bodies of several people that didn't make it out. All of them were alone. In one case they started together, but split up and neither made it.

[Brothermak]

I guess I fall right in with alot of people here. I know the dangers, my schedule is weird, and I hike alone. I did a South Mtn hike(big whoop, I know but folks still get stuck there) and just got back from a solo overnight in the Mazatzals(insert real whoop here!). I always let someone know where I am headed, what my route is and my schedule is so they can COME GET ME OUT or find my carcass!
~Michael

[plummer150]

Might as well hike by yourself then, at the least!!

[cmweser]

In response to pbaenzig's reply:
Maybe we should ask the young man who recently had to cut off his own arm while hiking alone and becoming pinned under a boulder. If someone had been with him, they could have either helped or gone for help. He would have been out much quicker and probably saved his arm. And yes, I do hike alone and know I shouldn't. And no, maybe it isn't so much different than living alone.

[sherileeaz]

Seems we resurrected an old topic but very interesting one.

I won't hike alone ever, but don't fault anyone that feels confident to hike alone. When you decide to hike alone, you are responsible for yourself and what can happen. I think it's the individual's choice. I hope when they make that choice they know that something like what happened to the hiker that amputated his arm can happen to the best of them. I'm sure it's rare to have that happen.

[GeorgAZ]

I usually hike alone on really familiar ground, Quartz Ridge, Trail 100, Camelback, etc. or maybe West Fork(lots of places to twist ankles,etc.) and let people know where I am. Its the Sunday/Monday days off thing! I have done the Heiroglyph trail alone, but prefer company in the Supes.Lots of country out there even on popular trails and easy to get turned around. A friend used t o teach desert survival for the military and also privately,(Dave Ganci), and he said women did well because of the basic survival of the species/ procreation thing, but fortunately ,I was not one of the test subjects! I prefer company, but no chit chat!

[Shi]

I'm guilty of not just hiking alone, but camping alone (which has been limited lately due to my getting rid of my 4x4). I've seen some really awesome things while doing this. My dog had woke me one morning (she would stand and shake until I told her she could go after what ever she was wanting to go after) this particular morning, she woke me to 4 big horn sheep outside my tent. It was amazing to see this. These animals can walk cliffs that I wouldn't even come close to without a good anchor and a rope.

I generally use a buddy system when I go out remote. I have a friend who used to work Mountain Rescue, so I'll tell him the general area in which I'll be in and what time he should start sending help (after I get the lecture of camping alone, of course, yadda-yadda-yadda.....safty and female alone). I'm new to this site, so I'm hoping to meet like minded people to do more backpacking and hiking with!

[J&SHike]

In response to 'Cakewalk'
"I like to hike alone, I never tell anyone where Im going, and I often go off trail - If something tragic should happen, I suppose the authorities will have to look for circling birds to find me."

Most search and rescue missions are for "Dayhikers" not back country backpackers. It would cost way too much for the state to have an SAR team staffed 24/7 thats why 99% of ground based search and rescue teams nation wide are volunteers.

Their motto: "These things we do so others may live"

This should not be taken lightly, "Oh we're lost someone we'll come looking for us" is ignorant to say the least. These people have lives of their own and jobs and cannot always drop what they're doing and come looking for you. These people have family and loved ones and are risking their lives for you.
If you must hike alone at least leave details:

Who: Thats you
What: What vehicle are you driving?
Where: Where do you plan on going?
When: When are you leaving and when do you plan to return?
Why: What is your intent for the hike, fishing,swimming etc....?

If your response to the above is anything like: "I don't have the time, or I don't always plan on hiking that day, I like to hike when I want to and not make plans"
Then you are very selfish and can only think of yourself and not of the impact you will have on others if something should happen to you.
Be smart,
Joe and Sara
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger" F.N.

[Leva]

I hike alone because I'm somewhat slow due to some health problem (asthma, arthritis, back problems) and always feel like I'm holding the group up when I go in a group. I CAN go just as long/far as most people, just not as quickly, particularly if I'm lugging a big pack ... I've done some pretty remote hikes, including Chevelon and some trails in the White Mountains alone, including overnighters. I'm comfortable packing alone, and don't mind the loneliness -- my only fear is an injury, and since I also live alone out in the desert, *shrug*, I figure if I hurt myself at home I'd potentially be in the same boat if my only close neighbors weren't around. (Actually, I did hurt myself in my own house a few years ago and discovered the hard way that my nearest neighbors can't hear me when I scream for help at the top of my lungs inside my house.)

I'm careful when I go out alone -- I'm very aware of the potential for injury, and stranger danger, and general mishap. I carry ample water, extra clothing, a basic overnight survival kit, a cel phone (depending on location -- in some places, a cel phone is pointless and best left in the truck), a good book, mace, a weighted hiking stick (think quarterstaff) and high-calorie food.

With my pack goats, I'm hoping to get back into the group hiking thing. They've got a bit more training needed before I'll be comfortable hiking in groups, but being able to load my gear onto goats sort've evens the playing field. I still hurt, but I think I can keep up -- so as soon as the goats are conditioned and trained properly, I'll be looking for a group to hike with who won't mind a couple of very large (200+ pound) goats tagging along with packs on. :):)

Leva

[hikngrl]

In response to Leva's reply: Talk to Hooli and GTG over on AZH- they are used to the goats!!!!

[Snick33]

Leva,

I hike alone for similar reasons; I injured my back a year ago and can't hike at the pace I used to. I felt I was dragging down everyone else's pace so I started hiking alone. My wife always knows where I'm hiking and when I'm expected back. We have a good system of knowing when it's time for her to be concerned about me not returning. For example, if she knows I'm hiking somewhere that has good cell reception, and I'm two hours late, it's probably time to call out the posse. The posse being her and friends of ours initially, (we're not the type to call 911 when we can help ourselves). What drives me nuts are the people who get lost or in trouble with absolutley no plan "B" or contingencies for emergencies.

Incidentially, I know Cakewalk and I'm sure has a plan "B" and a plan "C" and is the type who would cut his arm off if he got stuck. He is an independent, pioneer sort.

[Tom_AZ]

I usually hike with friends but I have hiked alone but it has only been on trails that are being used by others. I have not hiked alone in isolated areas. but when i do i will make sure family and friends know where i went.

[J&SHike]

To snick33: "Incidentially, I know Cakewalk and I'm sure has a plan "B" and a plan "C"...."

That's good, I wouldn't want to think anyone on HAZ would be that careless.

Joe and Sara
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger" F.N.

[Leva]

In response to dcornelius' reply:

I tried to register on AZH when HikerinGilbert suggested it ... It says I'm banned. I suspect ya'll must have had a troll that used the same ISP that I do, or something of that nature? I sent an email but have had no response. (I've got to get some of the goat pics up, too.)

I always tell someone where I'm going -- usually that someone is my dad and he knows many of the trails better than I do.

My instructions are generally detailed, i.e., "Plan to hike to Horton Springs along the creek, then take Derrick's back. If I don't call you by dark, let the rangers know." Or, "Hiking Fossil Creek to the first big waterfall, then returning. Doing photography, so expect to be down there until after dark. Will call from Strawberry about an hour after dark ..." That sort of thing.

I always have a Plan B -- and I've been in enough "learning experiences" involving surprise inclement weather in relatively "not very remote" places that I always, always, always assume I'm going to get stuck somewhere in bad weather and have to wait it out. My two most miserable nights were at Horton Springs after I fell in the creek and it hailed three inches fifteen minutes later and on top of Black Mesa in the Superstitions, within sight of the city lights, when 100 mph winds blew in and rain and hail, then temps into the teens probably in december, on a night that had been forecast to be clear and relatively warm. Neither of these are particularly remote places.

I've rescued a few people on trails here and there who just had NO clue. It always amazes me that people think ample water is one 20 oz bottle ...

Leva

[ajcanable]

I hike alone all the time.I just moved here recently and don't really know anyone who is interested in hiking.My 12 year old son will go on weekends but he can't handle anything but the easiest trails. so i go alone most of the time.
ajcanable

[Trishness]

In response to ajcanable's reply:

I've hiked alone a few times but someone always knew where I was and it was on some pretty heavily traveled trails. Even when I have a partner or hike with a group, I always let someone know where we are and when we should be done and then call them after the hike. There are too many stories about casualities out there to take chances.

[Diane Tuccillo]

This is an interesting topic to me. I noticed the responses seemed to be from guys, which I am not. And I do go day hiking alone rather often in the cooler months. I bring my dog with me, a fierce whippet. I often forget to leave a note about where I am going, sometimes heading out spontaneously. That is really bad. I take my cell phone, but lots of times I am where it does not work. So much for that. I do need to remember to be more cautious. Maybe just writing this and thinking about it will help.