Monday, March 18, 2013

No More Companions

My wife doesn't like me to go hiking alone. However, because so many people who I meet as part of outdoors groups end up being total fucking assholes, I've decided to stop hiking with "friends" and just stick to solo-hiking. Yeah, it's tougher to plan these things alone, and there is the risk factor, but that's better than being worried you'll offend someone with the answer to a question or dealing with other folks' fragile egos, or having to forgo a desired destination for the sake of others.

So from here on out, no more hiking with "pals". It means I'll have to choose my hikes to be a lot less risky, but in the long run they'll be a lot more fun.

I'll probably have to avoid bushwhacking through the rhododendron...
And I won't go rock-hopping across big creeks...
And I'll have to be careful not to fall on my ass while taking self-portraits with my timer...
But you know what? The views are still as grand.

5 comments:

MarkGelbart said...

You are lucky you can go alone.

Whenever I want to go on a little nature walk, I have to bring along my disabled wife.

I don't like to leave her alone in the car for more than an hour, so I never get to go on the 6 hour hikes I wish I could go on.

I usually have my teenaged daughter with me too. I worry about losing her in the woods, and she's in lousy shape and can't walk fast for very long. Plus, she often has PMS and acts like a surly teenager.

I dream of solitude because it is an impossible fantasy for me.

James Robert Smith said...

I've been in similar situations. My wife doesn't hike, and when she's along on the trips I have to take that into account. Mainly I try to go off on my own with no one else.

When I do hike or backpack alone, I leave a detailed itinerary of where I'm going and what my route will be. That way, if something does happen and I don't show up they will know where to start searching.

Kirk G - The Thrifty Rocketeer said...

Please invest in a GPS and an emergency alert beacon so we can come find you later...

James Robert Smith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
James Robert Smith said...

I often carry a GPS. If I do anything adventurous or risky, I'll take along my satellite device that pinpoints my location to rescuers if I activate it. Carole bought it for me a couple of years ago, but I've never felt the need to take it along. I will if I do anything that I consider dicey.