I hike alone and I recommend everybody to do it.

The risk are so small. Compare it to car accidents and driving. No one should ever get in a car...

 

I was just in the foothills of the Tehachapi mountains in southern California - checking out old mine shafts from the gold rush. Many are still open and you can walk in them. It hit me that if anything happened - I was totally screwed. Made me think a little bit longer before I decided to climb those rocks, or went off that trail.

 

Im in Colorado, spend alot of time in mountain lion country, and never had a problem. seen one, but he couldn't have cared less. that said, im always with gun,

 

I go fishing alone at least twice a week. Fair amount of hiking. I also walk every day alone.

 

80% of the time alone including Alaska.
:thumb:

 

I do hike/hunt alone, but I ALWAYS have a gun with me.

 

I went alone the other day and almost died twice in one day, got caught in a rockslide and caught in a river when it began to flood. Sometimes it's nice and relaxing to be out on your own, depending on the area.

Cheers,
Sean.

 

I always hike with a group of people, but it doesnt stop me wondering off by myself for a few k's or up a mountain once camp has been set up.

Typically I take a UHF though if I am going to walk off by myself, depending on the situation.

 

When I do hike alone which usually isn't often just cause I have a steady group of guys that bushcraft together, I still let somebody know where I am and what time to get worried if they don't hear from me. Doesn't help me in a concise emergency situation, like about to drown, but that's when you apply your knowledge and operate within your capacity with max situational awareness. And you should always have a weapon, which should go without saying. I don't personally carry a gun, although I'm becoming more tempted to, but my buck 110 and my hatchet will still leave a mark, even if that means I gotta take a beating to.

 

Since you're fellow hikers, let me run this by you guys. In the wild, animals seem to be able to tell when others are diseased and recognize their incoherency. Animals with rabies aren't usually attacked by others because of the conspicuous signs later in the disease. Do you think if you were confronted with a large predator, if you started to act irrational, rabie-like, do you think it would divert to it's fear tactic of retreat? Honest answers for an honest question.

 

Do you think if you were confronted with a large predator, if you started to act irrational, rabie-like, do you think it would divert to it's fear tactic of retreat? Honest answers for an honest question.

... no, but it would be funny to watch ... right up to the mauling.

 

Well, if you're thinking about hiking alone, it's probably a good idea to consider your own limits, and weather or not you think you'll be able to handle something like a couple of over-ambitious coyotes. If the answer is "no"... maybe you should take a friend.

 

@ Brad; Not sure mate, we don't have rabies in my country. But personally I think it would be better to keep your head together and steel yourself for some defence tbh. I feel very proficient with blades or my bow, in NZ firearm carry is illegal(So is carrying knives, but they are more leniant) unless hunting in the bush or mountains with a permit.

Cheers,
Sean.

 

When hiking alone, I always have a cell phone, have weapons, and a hiking stick.
Not worried about animals, I am humans though.

 

I only hike alone. I dont have anyone to go with and im not a very social person. I consider myself to be intelligent though, and i always evaluate the risks and make sure its something i can get out of if i break a leg or get bit by a snake.

 

Almost always alone. I leave an itinerary with my wife, usually a topo with the route indicated. I tend to hike light and the more I hike the lighter it gets. There are bear and cougar and rattlesnakes in the areas I hike in.

Doesn't bother me much as you can count on one hand the number of people killed in the US by bear and cougar every year. Even modest awareness will protect you from snakes out here. I'm in much greater danger just driving to the trail head. Must admit however that the Africanized bees moving into the area make me a bit more cautious around hives.

 

I have read any number of places that the recommended response to any aggressive predator is to stomp feet, wave arms, jump up and down and scream. Toss in foaming at the mouth and I guess you'd appear rabid.

 

I drink alone, yeah, with nobody else.
I drink alone, yeah, with nobody else.
Yeah, you know when I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself.

Oops, sorry.

I hike alone, yeah, with nobody else.
I hike alone, yeah, with nobody else.
Yeah, you know when I hike alone, I prefer to be by myself.

 

George doesnt hike alone, be brings jack and jimmy

 

I hiked 22 days on the Pacific Crest Trail, and was alone in a camp about 17 days I'd say. Not worried at all, really. Only worry I had was getting bit by a rattler and having to wait for another hiker to pass. I went almost 3 days in the Sierra's without seeing a soul. It was beautiful and lonely. Not the lonely where you're depressed, but the lonely where it's pure AWESOMENESS!!!

 

I have worked, hiked, hunted, fished and canoed alone for years in the wild and never had a mishap. I think it is the best way to learn self-reliance. You don't have anyone to fall back on and know that you have to be responsible for your actions.

 

@Swamprat,
Yeah, that's all well and good until something seriously bad DOES happen, and then you're rodgered. Like I think I included in my earlier post about how I went solo the other day and almost died twice coz of things that were out of my control/weather didn't forecast for.

Cheers,
Sean.

 

I have been hiking in the foothills of the Tehacapi Mountains in southern California (Im on a vacation ) I have been hiking alone the whole time. Now Im not to worried about animals so much - but I have been exploring some old gold mine shafts that are still open and walking some pretty harsh terrain. Its an erie feeling - if anything happened like a broken ankle, fall etc... I would be in big trouble.

 

hike alone all the time, seen the same black bear within 100 ft of the same place 3 times in 9 days this summer, i yelled and clapped my hands and he-she took off. it must have eaten all the food in the area as i haven't see it lately.

 

I hike alone all the time.. and for Coyote trying to kill me.. they would have to work hard because I would get very angry and voilent.. Worked well scareing off an agressive bear it charged me So I charged it and it was like wtf and ran off..


The trick be the meanest badest animal out there... most other animals will think if your chaseing them.. 1 you probly can beat its but.. and will run away..

Its predator prey mentality.. anything goes in the bush as for a Coyote a pack was stacking me I had enough of it so I ran at them and chased them for a few mins into the bush yelling and screaming at them... I chased them away I knew they were in hunt mode and were looking at me but when I saw that I ran at them grabed a stick started yelling and screaming... They didnt like that at all most Coyote attacks are on your dog thats with you because they think ok Ill go for the smaller easyer target.. and 1 person was attacked because he was walking his dog.. but me I was alone saw it thinking about me as a food source went to hell with that and got mad.. Coyote are easyer then wolfs to intimidate a wolf if it wants you will attack you no questions asked..

O and I shot them at a later date after even though it was in a park I called park services and asked if they wanted me to take care of the animals that were stocking people they were like go ahead we got alot of other animal cases right now to deal with... 300 black bear and counting killed for causeing problems in the place I live... was a bad year for them so they comeing into the city

 

I rarely go on major hikes alone anymore. I used to hike alone all the time. I also kayaked many of the local rivers alone. I really had no fear and I behaved recklessly at times partly due to my overconfidence in my abilities. I got married a little over two years ago. I have plenty of fear now. My wife would kill me if she thought I was putting myself in danger. She's my constant partner now. If I do go out alone, she knows where I am and she knows when to expect me home. It's actually a pretty comforting feeling knowing that she's looking out for me.

 

I never hike or camp alone. If not with anyone else, I always have either Smith&Wesson or Mr. Glock or Mr. Ruger with me, all are close long-time friends who've been with me through much adversity. In fact, at least one of them is with me even when I'm with other people.
I've been hunting, hiking and camping in the wilds most of my life, and most often alone. For years I worked in a law enforcement job where I was alone and if I called for help on the radio it would take many hours for help to get there. I don't fear when I'm out alone, but I'm not stupid, either. I prep as best I can, and let reliable people know where I'm going and when I'll return, and all that other stuff so often preached. Then, I take what comes, and try to do the best I can in whatever the circumstances may be. I find it liberating and enjoyable.
However, I don't like it. Any outdoors experience is much more enjoyable when shared with family or good friends. I greatly prefer to go with another person, maybe two, but if no one is available to go with me, I'll go alone.