I Don't Like Solitude

[Jamesh Bond]

I am smiling as I type this. I guess people who are "spiritual" are supposed to seek solitude, huh? I think I am spiritually aware, but I do not like being alone for long periods of time, like more than overnight.

Admiring my hero, Colin Fletcher, I used to go backpacking solo, starting in the mid-1970's. But I eventually realized I found it just too boring. Another thing I did not like about it was that I tended to get lost in my own thoughts, which tend to exaggerate danger and possible harm. My mind can exaggerate the severity of challenges, like thirst, blisters, fingers going numb from cold, or the difficulty of building a good fire in soaking wet conditions. Everything seemed harder to overcome vs. when I was part of a group. There was drama going on in my imagination, involving wolves or bears or snakes, especially in the night. Like Mark Twain said, "The worst things that ever happened to me, never happened to me." The good news is, I never suffered any permanent injury, and I was in some beautiful places.

Carlos Carsolio has climbed the 14 highest peaks in the world, without oxygen tanks, and most of those peaks, he took solo. I'm sure he had some help getting close to the top, but he reached many peaks on a solo final day. He said, "The best mountain climbers of every generation come in different forms. It’s not like gymnastics, where everybody looks similar, or in certain other sports, or in cycling. In the mountains, the best mountaineers for each generation include those who are taller, shorter, more tough, less tough. The physical aspect changes, but, yes, there is a common characteristic, which is will. It is a certain capacity for suffering, which is not masochism, but rather learning to accept it, to train oneself, to train for cold, hunger, thirst, tiredness, physical pain, because the satisfaction is much greater than all of those things. And among all those things, of course, is perseverance. It’s a very important factor, that continuity; to be looking for the creative variables, without losing your vision, because the mountain is alive and changing. It changes every moment."

OK, but still, I think, "Why do it alone? Whether on a mountain or elsewhere, why?" I have an answer or two of my own, but I would like to get yours.

Thank you.

Andy/redsquid2

I'm exactly the same. Gets too boring.

It's actually ironic because I'm an introvert that REQUIRES alone time to decompress. Just can't apply it to very many activities.

I envy those like Pitdog who go out and have such enjoyment.

 

[plue]

Solo or with a friend, I'm happy either way. The problem is most of my friends aren't stupid enough to go to the places I want to go, so I end up by myself.

 

[John_B]

I tried but the world keeps finding me. I went on a solo hike in March up Old Rag. Enjoyed the birds singing and the sun shining through the leafless trees and the melt off gurgling in the streams. I made it to the top and I'm just sitting in the Sun warming, imaging that I'm the only person on the planet.

Then I hear it. Screams like geese at a cocktail party being set on fire. It grows and now I'm searching for the source and I see them. A line of midgets coming up the switchback stalking my happiness to gut it from my soul. Them they catch up and surround me yelling flapping their little arms and running to the edge of the clift and I secretly hope that they fall over the side.

Gosh damn 40+ cub scouts and their fat leader.

I walk back down the mountain an angry man and I'd kick the first squirrel that got in my way. Get back to my jeep only to discover that their are vans on either side and I have to climb in through the back.

Eternally pissed off at you all.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

Solitude just comes with the territory.
Its lonely at the top.

If you can hike fast or survive on uncooked food and don't care about cold temps don't mind sleeping on dirt and what not, you might not want weaklings around and they might not want to be around you.

I like a sense of accomplishment and don't mind a bit of suffering on the way. Suffering a bit actually makes it more special since because of it not everybody can do it.
Compulsory army was great that way lots of people who had to suffer a bit and got challenged nicely. But then only 2 or 3 out of 60 really wanted to be challenged the rest would have preferred an easier life if possible.
Now try to find 2 out of 60 in a civilian setting and then on top of that select for some educated ones who aren't meanies or have other undesirable traits. Nearly impossible.

My advice is compromise. Hike with your friends who have a great character who you like to be around with and if they slow you down and you still need some pain and challenge simply carry your 2 weeks food supply with you while they buy theirs along the way. Wear heavy combat boots while they use sports shoes and so on. Not only will you be able to spend time with your friends but you will also feel greater by comparing your superior outdoors and hiking skills and strength and endurance to theirs than by just walking alone.
Maybe they'll even pick up a few tricks from you even though they will most likely never adopt the desire to challenge themselves in that particular field and that's completely fine.

Absolute solitude for extended times doesn't sound horrible to me if it weren't for my 2 kids. They are just awesome and I would hate to be away from them.
If I ever get time to do the Apalachian trail in one piece I will need them to walk it with me. I don't understand how some peeps need breaks from their kids but mine aren't teenagers yet.

 

[leghog]

I tried but the world keeps finding me. I went on a solo hike in March up Old Rag. Enjoyed the birds singing and the sun shining through the leafless trees and the melt off gurgling in the streams. I made it to the top and I'm just sitting in the Sun warming, imaging that I'm the only person on the planet.

Then I hear it. Screams like geese at a cocktail party being set on fire. It grows and now I'm searching for the source and I see them. A line of midgets coming up the switchback stalking my happiness to gut it from my soul. Them they catch up and surround me yelling flapping their little arms and running to the edge of the clift and I secretly hope that they fall over the side.

Gosh damn 40+ cub scouts and their fat leader.

I walk back down the mountain an angry man and I'd kick the first squirrel that got in my way. Get back to my jeep only to discover that their are vans on either side and I have to climb in through the back.

Eternally pissed off at you all.

Old Rag is a very popular day hike. Well published in VA day hike literature. Hard to find solitude in such places, especially on the cusp of Spring. Such should be expected on any well published day hike and most others in the Shenandoah National Park on the cusp of Spring. It's a very heavily trafficked National Park. Think about it. The park is only 75 miles from the nation's capital and gets about 2 million visitors a year. Not really a place to seek or expect solitude. Go a bit father west to places like the Monongahela National Forest for better chances of solitude.

 

[neeman]

I solo hiked up Hunter Mountain in the Catskills to catch the sunset in everlasting peace and quiet

There were two dudes with the biggest ghetto blaster playing Grateful Dead, with some herbal refreshments
If you cant beat them, join them
I was not what I planned........

 

[22-rimfire]

I generally am very comfortable in my own skin. There are times when I'm home and alone that I simply want to "do something" and I usually head to Walmart to satisfy that urge. Used to be the mall and observing people of all sorts.

I prefer to shoot alone, but shooting with a buddy is fun too. I prefer to fish alone. I prefer to hike alone as I can set my own pace and spend as much time as I want playing photographer or simply sitting beside a gurgling mountain stream or waterfalls. The camera actually ties it all together because I might spend a hour doing what others might consider really boring stuff. With others, I have to take into account their sensitivities.

 

[leghog]

With others, I have to take into account their sensitivities.

Yeah, sensitivities are over rated which may be precisely why I like most dogs more than most people.

 

[Bob W]

Then I hear it. Screams like geese at a cocktail party being set on fire. It grows and now I'm searching for the source and I see them. A line of midgets coming up the switchback stalking my happiness to gut it from my soul. Them they catch up and surround me yelling flapping their little arms and running to the edge of the clift and I secretly hope that they fall over the side.

Gosh damn 40+ cub scouts and their fat leader...

Found this information online, the very first Google result. If you were searching for solitude, you didn't try very hard.

The Old Rag Mountain hike in the Shenandoah National Park is one of the most popular hikes in the mid-Atlantic region. With many spectacular panoramic views, and one of the most challenging rock scrambles in the park, this circuit hike is a favorite of many hikers. But be prepared for the crowds. This is the only hike we give a zero star rating for solitude.

On the other hand, I've had some incredibly solitary experiences at some very popular parks and touristy destinations. The trick is timing, luck, and planning:

Parks and public lands with poor vehicle access have fewer visitors.
More remote properties have fewer visitors.
Less-publicized properties have fewer visitors.
State parks and national parks have the most visitors; seek out BLM and Forest Service land instead. State forests, wildlife areas, conservation areas, county-owned properties, and other categories can be good too.
Most people are found on short destination-oriented trails close to the parking lots. Avoid these places, especially during peak seasons.
Poor weather days are good for peace and quiet (and better for photography).
Avoid weekends!
Avoid popular destinations on summer break, spring break, and school holidays!
Get to the locations early, before the herds of people arrive. And stay later after families, tour buses, and more casual visitors have gone home.

The most popular and most accessible walks in the Blue Mountains, spectacular ocean coast National Parks, county parks on Long Island NY, National Parks in the Southwest, city parks right in towns, state parks, museums and historic sites... With luck and timing I've had solitary experiences at all of these places. :thumbup:

I guarantee that if you had been on Old Rag on a foggy/rainy day at sunrise on a Wednesday in October, you would not have encountered a pack of 40 cub scouts screaming "like geese at a cocktail party being set on fire."