5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Hiking Alone (Pt1)
5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Hiking Alone (Pt1)
I’ve learned so many things since my first solo hike. Looking back, some of my mistakes are just plain ridiculous. If you’re new to hiking, I’ll make your life a bit easier, because in this video I share five things that I wish I knew when I just started hiking alone. Actually, I have at least 10 important tips that I want to share, but I can’t cover them in a single video, which is why this is the first part of this video series.
▼ SECOND PART
▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 – Beginning
00:44 – Adjusting Your Backpack
03:18 – Hiking Alone
05:26 – About Waterproof Gear
08:14 – Choosing the Distance
09:56 – How to Navigate
13:11 – Final Words
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Highly considering hiking solo if my friend isn’t able to hike July 2022.
I think Il start doing some short solo hikes so I’m prepared if he decides to bail.
I have been using all trails for navigation online and offline and getting details about the trails
Thanks for all the advice! Im preparing for my first overnight backpacking trips this spring and summer
I’ll sub to your channel too!
As a solo hiker, I always make sure I have items for a tourniquet readily available. Life-threatening bleeding can take you out fast, especially if you’re alone and remote. Great video! ❤
pls come and visit Scotland or Norway .. your light boots and fast drying clothing won’t work at all .. too much toxic generalisation in your video .. sorry
First thing always carry a firearm or 2
I have to kinda disagree with you recommending not to use a raincover for your backpack and instead only using a packliner/drybags. When I´m hiking in really wet conditions for multiple days I always use a raincover not because it´s 100% waterproof (because it def isn´t) but because a backpack gets so much heavier if I let it absorb all the rain that´s coming down. I still use drybags for all my stuff because the pack can still get wet inside.
Very informative. Thanks brother 🎉
If you use the "All-in-one offline maps" by psyberia you can both import trails and can use different maps from several sources offline, given you have chosen them and viewed the area online once. You can even stock maps one over the other with variing transparancy so you get the cumulative information of all of them. ButALWAYS bring a physical map and a compass and learn and train how to navigate that way. It’s fun and it is a good failsafe plus even with a phone it makes life easier; you do want to see things and not have to stare at your phone all the time.
When it comes to shoes: I tried both the Salomons you showed and real waterproof leather boots.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages; just do not choose something in between (Goretex); it will get wet and take eternities to dry.
hey images of Sierra Nevada so cool 😀
I am glad I found you on you tube. Great to hear and see how you thinking of hiking/packpacking. It fits to my thoughts. Like when you buying ul but not forget the a big price of giving up comfort. I am used to campsites and taking my stuf in a backpack. In june ’25 I will go a step futher and go to Norway for wildcamping. So your vlogs are very helpfull. I all ready made a choice for my tent. I bought 2 months ago the Wechsel Poineer 2 ul (2,1 kg) I could go lighter but of the rainy weather I prefer to sleep in a 2p tent. And if I go for a weekend on a campsite the I bring my bigger (2 x 1,2 m) sleeping pad for some extra comfort. But there are tips I go follow that I found in different vlogs of you. Thanks for that. Greatz Mark.
Instead of getting waterproof boots, get waterproof socks
Very good tips, thank you!
Why does your voice sound like AI? 😂
Hiking alone, you should consider a personal emergency satellite communicator in the event you have a serious event. They have saved many injured hikers. Go to Canam Project/Missing 411.
Sorry but wolves are not dangerous animals. If you come across a wolf in the wild — which will almost never happen because they steer clear of humans — it’s because the wolf didn’t hear or smell you and as soon as they do see or hear you, they’ll run away because they’re smart like that. The only time a wolf will attack a human is if they have rabies, which is rare, or you approach their den. Bears and mountain lions are another story.
About waterproof boots: They never work. Neoprene socks and Seal Skins do work. Use your regular hiking shoes sized to fit the larger volume of waterproof socks. OR use plastic bags over wool socks. I have done all that in real snow. No problem. But forget waterproof boots. They simply are a marketing scam.
dont forget to stretch
Lost me at kilograms
Dude you should have had some equipment companies sponsor you for this.
Going to be hiking the 72 miles Quehanna Trail on my soon when the weather turns. It’s always like hitting the reset button for me. But I take my time, and enjoy it. Thanks for the tips.
GMRS WILL.
Couldn’t agree more with your tip to reduce daily mileage. I did a section hike of the Appalachian Trail and did waaaaay too many miles, waaaaaay to quickly. I ended up getting really sore knees and had to end my hike early.
Another mistake I had made was I had booked a hotel room with a non-refundable deposit. BIG MISTAKE! I lost my deposit money because I was injured and had to get off the trail.
As Quicksand would say: "LESS MILES, MORE SMILES!"
AllTrails works just fine. No need to fiddle with several apps and emails.
Yeah…about the river crossings. Have any of you guys ever heard of ropes? How about grappling hooks? Floatation devices? That last one is really simple, such as enough lengths of pool noodles to support your load and body weight fastened into the TOP of your backpacks. No i know the real reason why hikers are always dissappearing. I would be willing to bet that at least a third of them are fish food.
lived near Glacier Park for 35+ years
hiked alone hundreds of times….in grizzly country
put on well over 4000 trail miles, summited peaks well over 100 times
reduced my pack weight, not by elimination, rather by product innovation
NEVER carried over 40 lbs. even when i backcountry camped for a week at a time.
ALWAYS had bear spray. ALWAYS had 2 or more knives (for different uses) and a saw.
had encounters with griz, black bear, wolves, wolverines (i love those guys!), mountain lions, moose, elk, and yes – dogs.
always had raingear and lot of dry socks
camped under trees and no tent many times.
LOVE HIKING AND CLIMBING ALONE!! LOVE IT!! THE PEACE ATTAINED ALONG THE TRAIL AND ATOP A PEAK IS SOMETHING CANNOT BE EXPLAINED – – -ONLY EXPERIENCED
It is naive and incorrect to think solo hikers are safe. Nothing increases risk more than going solo. Predators of all species attack solo prey more often than groups of 2 or more. No one to help you or go for help/rescue if you are injured alone.
Great info I would only add that personally I would not to rely upon maps on the phone too much. One drop accidentally into a small puddle, there goes your map (and of course phone unless splash proof). Also unless one’s batter is in tip top condition, phone batteries can die in sub zero conditions, although a good idea with the charger bank (as you mention) , very necessary for long hikes to keep the phone (as an emergency communication device, charged, just in case). Great video! The biggest issue i thin for beginner hikers is def the incorrect placement of gear within your pack as you describe and this can as you say make a huge difference in comfort.
My tips – pace yourself carefully, think twice before attempting a move that a partner if you had one would call you on, careful about deviations from your plan (noting you should always take an emergency beacon), careful the heat or cold again items a partner would ping you on but unlikely you do this yourself if you are not purposeful. Many of these video recommendations are not solo specific but generic.
Always carry a satellite communicator when traveling solo in the backcountry. If you get sick or hurt it could save your life.
..hiking alone is risky. Anything that can happen and you are alone. No help, no assistance. I don’t like group, but two or three people is my fav…
This is a great video! Nice discussion. Well done. New follower here. Nice advice. Crow
Well done! Your excellent advice was spot on. If your other videos are as well done, I will be happy that I subscribed. Ciao
If you are hiking a trail GPS alone is good enough but if you are hiking cross country you need a compass. GPS only gives you a position and you need bearing to get to your destination. I carry two compasses. The electronic compass on my Casio Pro Trek and a Lensmatic compass as a manual backup. I use the watch for DRing (Dead Reckoning) and the Lensmatic for precision. I usually am pretty good at DR navigation. I only do day hikes now but I still go places where you can get turned around.
I prefer to go backpacking alone. I always hope I’ll get attacked by a cougar 😏
I love the app AllTrails. It has a great search feature that you can apply filters to and the ability to download offline apps with premium subscription which only costs $35 a year. It also reports the trail condition and great pictures and descriptions with estimated hike times. Another thing I highly recommend when hiking solo or even with a group is a satellite communicator. If you’re in an area without cellphone signal you can still communicate with others and get help in an emergency. The one I use is by Zoleo but I know that the Garmin inReach is another great option.
The free version of Gaia GPS allows you to download maps too, but it limits you to their own library of topo maps. I’d say they’re good enough for most hikes, but I’ve noticed they’re not the most accurate when it comes to trail spurs and trails that aren’t well-used in general. As for Google Maps, it’s surprisingly useful for offroading. You don’t get the detailed trail info that a service like OnX Offroad provides, but you will at least see them show up in Maps.
Great hiking advice! I think the advice on how to pack and adjust your pack is the best part. So many beginner hikers have a bad experience because they choose the wrong size pack, load it incorrectly, and pack it wrong.
why the musik and the tik tik tik
3:55 I agree, no need to worry about getting killed by a serial killer … that’s never happened to me.
Tell people to carry coconut water when hiking. It’s easier to stay hydrated. Also tell people to bring a satellite phone and a solar power battery charger.
extremely good content Hike Much. I shattered the thumbs up on your video. Maintain up the superb work.
Wool Wool Wool.
Saying something isn’t real life followed by “it only happens on the news” is crazy
Based on the video, the shoulder straps should be higher. It is low because the torso length does not look correct. Next, the slope angle of the load lifting straps need to be 45 degrees for proper support. They are not.
Great tips
Would it be possible to do the first ever hike alone ?
I’m 55 and new to backpacking. For starting how much weight do you recommend for a older new backpacker?
Lol… 15km is not good for a beginner hiker, even on flat ground unless they’re a super fit beginner hiker.