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.

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5 comments:

  1. MarkGelbart8:28 AM

    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.

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  2. James Robert Smith11:22 AM

    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.

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  3. Kirk G - The Thrifty Rocketeer4:53 PM

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

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  4. James Robert Smith10:31 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. James Robert Smith10:34 PM

    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.

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