1. Make sure someone knows your plans!
It’s not enough to announce, “I’m going off to hike the Appalachian Trail.”, unless of course you’re planning to hike the entire 2,198 miles of it. If you are planning a solo backpacking trip, it is crucial that someone knows where this adventure is to take place. When backpacking in remote areas anything can go wrong, and some things certainly will. It is imperative that there is someone – a point person – who knows to call for help in the event you don’t return during a designated time.
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Recently I became unnervingly aware that I had failed to check this most important of boxes off my preparations list. My family knew I was planning to hike along the Georgia Appalachian Trail and stay overnight in a trail shelter. What they did not know was which shelter or where I was planning to meet the trail. There are in fact ten different shelters along the more than seventy mile stretch of the Georgia AT. These shelters are surrounded by thousands of acres of forestland. I had inadvertently put myself in a potentially dangerous position by not specifying exactly where I planned to hike and spend the night. To make matters worse, I failed to give anyone an estimate of how long I felt this hike would take.
Not only were my whereabouts unknown, but no one knew when to expect my return. With no cell service along the stretch of trail I was hiking, I quickly found myself cut off from the rest of the world. It was an unsettling feeling knowing that I was on my own in the event of trouble. It also brought about a good deal of guilt knowing that my family was practically holding their breath until they heard from me. This worry could have been greatly lessened had I simply made the specifics of my trip known. Lesson learned? Check.
2. Always carry some form of navigation and check it frequently.
Solo backpacking requires a keen sense of navigation. If using a mobile app make sure you download the appropriate maps before you lose cell service. Also, make sure you are able to navigate offline. There are several good navigation apps available, however, they are completely useless if you are unable to use them offline. Sometimes this is simply the difference between a free and “upgraded” subscription. You should decide whether you want to pay for an upgraded subscription before you head out on the trail. Good apps will allow you to navigate while offline and will alert you when you have strayed off course. Another important feature to look for is a wayfinding capability that will show you the location of water sources, shelters, etc.
Even the best navigational aids are become useless if you fail to check them. On my first backpacking trip I had been hiking for a couple of hours when suddenly the trail looked different – overgrown and unkept. There were no white blazes on the trees to signify that I was following the Appalachian Trail. I glanced at my phone to realize that according to the app, I had strayed off course. The good news was that I had only gone about two hundred yards or so in the wrong direction. If I wouldn’t have stopped to check my device, I could have easily become seriously lost!
I am a firm believer that anything mechanical will eventually fail. Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t entirely trust electronic devices. My solo backpacking experience caused me to rethink not carrying a standard compass and paper map of the area I was hiking in. Personally, I think it is wise to carry two forms of navigation on solo treks – a GPS device or offline navigational app, as well as a map and compass. Of course, this means brushing up on my compass reading skills.
Understanding a topographical map will greatly help in backpacking trips and properly estimating trekking times. A five-mile hike along a relatively flat trail is much different than a five-mile hike with a 1,000-foot elevation gain. Understanding the lay of the land will only help to plan, and effectively communicate the logistics of a trip with your point person back home.
3. If solo backpacking in a remote area, you may wish to consider a satellite communicating device or personal locator beacon.
With the aid of satellites, we are able to pinpoint our location anywhere on the globe. While this type of tracking technology may seem a bit intrusive in the real world, it can be an absolute lifesaver in the backcountry. There are dozens of different types of devices available that will enable you to send messages and ping your location in the event of an emergency.
Personal locator beacons, or PLB’s, can alert global emergency services with the mere push of a button. The sole purpose of a PLB is to notify emergency services in the event of trouble. Your location is pinpointed via government-run satellites.
Satellite messenger devices have more functions than PLB devices. They offer messaging capabilities with family and friends, and depending on the brand and model, are accessible online which enables your family to track your whereabouts. Most devices offer a check-in feature, and all have an SOS function. Satellite messenger devices communicate via a private satellite network and therefore require a subscription service. Solo backpacking is much safer when there are modes of reaching help in place.
4. Make sure your devices are fully charged before you start your trek.
Like any electronic device, cell phone navigation and messenger devices only work if the batteries are charged. While satellite messengers typically have extended charges, using a cell-based navigation app can quickly drain your battery. Make sure you have a full charge on all of your devices before you step out on the trail. This also includes your headlamp, or flashlight. It gets awfully dark in the deep woods and being without adequate light can be not only terrifying, but dangerous.
I am a big fan of documenting my adventures via photos and videos, but this comes at a price – a quickly depleted cell battery. If you find yourself with very little cell battery, by all means stop taking pictures! Definitely avoid videos. Make sure you have shut down all unnecessary apps that may be running on your phone, avoid social media, and turn your phone off if you have arrived at your destination for the night. Safety is always more important that selfies!
The good news is that you can, and should, take a portable power device with you on your backpacking trip. These portable charging banks are available in various sizes and charging capabilities. I purchased a portable charging bank for my first backpacking trip. Although I didn’t have cell service, I was able to recharge my cell battery and my headlamp as needed. I had no worries about running my navigation app. This peace of mind made the extra ounces it added to my pack to well worth it.
5. Allow yourself extra time to arrive at your destination before it gets dark.
I like to have a good understanding of my surroundings, especially when I am alone in an unfamiliar place. That’s why I think it is important to allow yourself enough time to arrive at camp and get set up before the sun goes down. For me, this means having enough time to figure out my sleeping arrangements, unpack my sleeping gear, make dinner and safely store my food provisions. If you are camping in an area that has a bear box, that last task is fairly easy. However, if you need to hang your bear bag that will require a bit more time and effort.
By arriving at camp during daylight, you will understand not only the options available at your campsite, but where the best place for hanging a food bag might be. No one wants to walk deep into the woods, in the dark, to make sure provisions are safe. You also don’t want to guess where the privy is. Having a knowledge of your surroundings will lessen the stress of being alone in an unfamiliar place.
6. Figure out the water source once you arrive at your destination, not the morning after.
Don’t assume, as I did, that you have enough water when arriving at camp. I noticed the sign that pointed towards a water source, but I figured I was good until the morning. Not only did I fail to accurately account for the amount of water I would need for dinner, breakfast and morning coffee, I also didn’t check to see how far away the water source was. My plan was to fetch and filter my water in the morning after breakfast. After dinner I realized I only had 16 ounces of water left. Knowing this wouldn’t be enough for coffee, rehydrating my breakfast and drinking water resulted in a long, thirsty night.
Realizing I didn’t know how far I would have to walk in the morning to get to the water source caused me to conserve what I had. Hence a very dry throat when I woke up. As it turns out, I had to walk pretty far. If I would have filled up my bottles and filtered water the afternoon before I wouldn’t have had such an uncomfortable experience.
In my opinion, the best plan is to have enough water on hand for your dinner, breakfast and following morning’s hike. Don’t scramble in the morning to fetch and filter water. You will be busy enough with morning chores and breaking camp. When solo backpacking, these chores become yours alone. Lesson learned? Check.
7. Trail shelters are dust bowls with mice.
I arrived at the AT shelter to discover I was the only one there. Although there were plenty of level tent sites surrounding the shelter, I felt a little safer just staying in the three-sided lean to. Besides, why unpack my tent if I didn’t have to? I’ll just set up my sleeping pad and bag and make myself at home.
I have read plenty of trail journals in which thru-hikers rant on and on about how bad the mice are in the shelters. So naturally I had been warned. However there didn’t appear to be any signs of mice, so I thought I was in the clear. Wrong! No sooner did the sun go down than the sound of scurrying little feet started brushing past me. I’m surprised I didn’t run the battery dead on my headlamp with all the rapid fire on/offs that I blasted across the dark plank floors that night. Eventually I gave up. I zipped my sleeping bag all the way up and tucked my head in. I was good so long as they didn’t crawl across my face.
In addition to be on alert against tiny invaders, I also found myself coughing through most of the night. Trail shelters are very simple, crude structures designed to offer reprieve from inclement weather. The floors are barely elevated off the ground and dust is everywhere. Even though I felt somewhat secure being in a “structure”, I believe I would have been more comfortable in my tent without the mice and dust. My lungs would have thanked me, I’m sure.
8. Make sure all food and “smelly” items are properly stored before you settle in for the night.
It’s not just food that attracts wild animals. I’m here to tell you that mice have a thing for lavender-scented hand sanitizer. My little furry friend spent the majority of the night trying to haul off a pocket-size bottle of it. Finally, I just stuffed it into my sleeping bag hoping that out of sight would be out of mind for the little bandit. When I opened my eyes to find him staring deep into my soul, I realized I was wrong.
Everything with scent needs to be stored away with your food bag. This obviously includes trash, but it also includes toiletries. Toothpaste smells delicious to wilderness critters. It’s like mint flavored ice-cream. A big yum-yum son. So be sure to pack it away where it’s not so tempting.
Plastic storage bags are like currency in the deep woods. They are super lightweight and are excellent for separating things. Pack it up – zip it up – forget about it. Unless, of course, you like feeling tiny feet scurry across your face. Or worse – chew through your expensive gear!
9. The two-sleep theory is a reality.
I’ve read many trail journals in which thru-hikers write about their “two sleeps”. The first is when they fall asleep early after settling into their tents. The second comes somewhere in the middle of night after they have been awake for a few hours staring into the darkness.
When you are on a solo backpacking adventure there is not a lot to do once the sun goes down. If backpacking in late autumn or winter, that means you are in complete darkness by 6:00 p.m. In the forest there are no Netflix binge-watching opportunities. If you are solo, then there are no conversations to be had. There is no cell service, therefore texting buddies about your heroic adventure is not an option. You are alone in the dark! It’s easy to just fall asleep, after all you’ve had quite the hike and are no doubt exhausted. While this may be true, bear in mind that if you fall asleep at 6:00 p.m. you will most likely be wide awake at midnight waiting on six more hours of darkness to pass.
On my first solo trip I was tucked into my sleeping bag by 6:00 p.m. This was mostly because of my need to feel safe and closed in. I was aware of the consequences of falling asleep at 6:00 p.m., so I packed a book. I read by the light of my headlamp until around 9:00 p.m. In spite of my constant mouse patrol, I am certain that I slept better than I would have if I had simply given into sleep at an earlier hour. I believe that had there been other hikers in camp to interact with, the desire to simply fall asleep wouldn’t have been so great. Controlling your sleep is very important in making sure you get adequate rest for the next day’s hike.
10. The best thing about solo backpacking is the solitude. The worst thing about solo backpacking is the solitude.
Solo backpacking can be liberating but it can also be lonely. I experienced both of these emotions at a very heightened level. Knowing I was all alone in a vast forest was a very spiritual feeling for me. Engulfed by nature, I prayed more than I have in years – out of gratitude, fear, boredom. I was a praying fool! But I also felt entirely alone, probably the loneliest I have ever felt. It was this utter feeling of being castoff from the rest of the world.
I am now a firm believer that people die of loneliness as easily as they die of disease. Loneliness evaporates the soul. When you backpack solo you come to learn a lot about yourself. In that sense, it’s a good thing. I refer to now as a “purging of others”. A solo trek is an experience which forces you to put everyone and everything else aside. I came away from it with the knowledge that I can in fact do amazing things when I set my mind to them. I also came to realize that when alone, I like the company I keep. Which in this sport, is essential.
