Hiking is a hobby that can be done in a group or totally alone, both ways have advantages and disadvantages, but there is a common problem with hiking alone and that is safety. Is it weird to hike alone? Can It be dangerous? We will give you the answers in this article also with some tips to make it safer.
Hiking alone is considered to be dangerous but it is not weird. Many hikers tend to hike alone because that is the best way for them to enjoy it to the fullest. Some people just can’t focus on important things while they are surrounded by other people. Thinking while hiking is very common, and other people will make it harder due to constant talk or with any other type of distraction.
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Is hiking alone dangerous?
Hiking is a great hobby for every type of person, no matter if you are young or old, no matter your preferences everyone should give it a try, but sometimes your health condition can be an issue. Mistakes are often not predictable and one unfortunate mistake at hiking can lead to a disaster.
Hikers often walk far away from any other people, also in the mountains or forest your phone’s signal can be bad. Let’s think for a second about what can happen to a person who is alone in the forest 10 miles away from any city. If that person will unfortunately break a leg, then walking back with a broken leg 10 miles can be impossible.
Walking with a broken leg will need at least x10 more times than it would if you were in the best condition. Often the trail can be impossible to walk with only one leg, for example, if you have passed steep trails with uneven surfaces like rocks or mud.
It mostly depends on the type of injury but even the idea of it should give you goosebumps. That’s why it is very important to bring with you a first aid kit to use when the right time comes. Even small injuries like bleeding can be deadly when you will be alone.
Maybe your phone runs out of battery or a low signal won’t let you call for help. Even the weather can surprise you, for example, the rain is not the problem for most hikers but it can quickly make the surface slippery and covered in mud which can be the reason for your slip.
You don’t need to break your leg to be in a dangerous situation, even a small slip can lead to a twisted ankle. If you struggle with one of your legs then you have to find something that you can use to prop your body weight. You should use it as an orthopedic crutch that will let you travel faster and prevent further injuries.
Why do people hike alone?
There are thousands of reasons for it, every hiker is different, but from our research through all of the internet we have picked 3 the most often picked by hikers, so why do people hike alone:
- Being alone with nature calms your mind – If you have a lot of stress in your daily life, then hiking can help you deal with it. There have been numerous studies proving that nature helps deal with stress.
- No one will interrupt your deep thoughts – Many people struggle if they want to think but they are constantly distracted by others. That’s why they are going for a hike if they want to think about very important stuff related to their lives.
- It’s hard to find a reliable partner for hiking – Finding a partner is easy, but finding a partner who is going to back you up, and go for more than one hike is very hard. A partner that will forget about hiking after a first trip is often a waste of time, and until you find that one reliable partner it is going to take some time. That’s why we have created an article about it so make sure to read it if that is also your problem “Why My Friends Don’t Like To Hike With Me?“.
Those above are the most pointed out reasons for hiking alone, and also how they have described it.
In summary – Is It weird to hike alone?
Hiking alone is a very common thing among hikers, but it can also be dangerous. So think twice before you go on a hike alone, and if you really want to then prepare yourself by bringing a first aid kit, and additional water supply. Even if you think that you won’t use them, they can save your life especially if you are going to hike alone.
If you prefer to hike with another person then you should check out our new article about “How To Catch Up To A Faster Friend On A Hike?“.
