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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 27, 2016 - 10:06am PT
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After a very serious injury I decided, under the haze of youthful dementia, that my first real
outing should be the solo of a long and serious Cascade route. Perfect logic, right? It all
went swimmingly (that's my climbing style) and I was walking down a Julie Andrews alpine
meadow looking for some enchanted spot for the night. I came to a downed log. It was
surprisingly large for being at the tree line. Rather than exert myself, or do something un-lady
like to get over it, I stepped onto the bark on top of it. Did I mention the log was lying downhill
at a 10 or 15 degree angle? Yep, just as I weighted my foot that little birdy chirped in my ear
how dumb a move that was. When the bark slid away all my weight came down on the just
nearly destroyed knee. The pain was tremendous and I seriously thought I was done for. I
would lie there with Julie Andrew's vision haunting me while the maggots feasted on me. I
bivied next to the log, sans water, and spent the night fighting off snafflehounds. The next day
I wrapped it with an Ace and limped down the rest of the descent and the 7 mile hike. See?
It was the hiking that nearly did me in.
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High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
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Oct 27, 2016 - 10:30am PT
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kingtut, you don't think we get this?
the ones it's never happened to?
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Oct 27, 2016 - 10:32am PT
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Cragman, haven't you done a lot of your searching for Matthew solo?
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Oct 27, 2016 - 10:44am PT
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Nice post Dean. All of us cherish our time alone and sense of independence. We have the luxury of believing in control when things go well. When they don't, then we realize our dependence on others and how frail we can be. I've always been a little more circumspect about risk of injury after blowing out my knee in my early 20s. That quickly shattered any false illusions of infallability or that care alone will prevent a bad outcome.
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John M
climber
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Oct 27, 2016 - 11:09am PT
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1.) They never thought it would happen to them.
that would be untrue about me. If I had gotten injured solo, I would have been grateful for a rescue, but was well aware that injury could happen to me and had thought long and hard about what that might be like and what I might have to do to rescue myself or how my life would end. I prayed I wouldn't have to suffer long, but knew that it might happen.
I have not been majorly injured in the back country. Only sprains and strains. Those were still miserable to hike out with, but I was able to do it. I have been quite ill in the backcountry. I hiked out with no pants because I had sh#t all over my pants and decided to bury them rather then carry them. ( food poisoning ) and there was no water where I was. That was a fun hike. I was covered in vomit and sh#t was running down my legs for 12 miles, but I knew I needed to get out because the stream I had hiked to for an overnighter had no water in it and it was hot and I had gone through my quart of water the day before. Fun fun..
Its a mind set combined with strength of will. I would say 70 percent of my adventures in the back country have been solo. Plus surfing and skiing solo. I love it.
The one thing I was kind of ignorant on before coming to the taco was how much the family could suffer if you are not found. Based on that, I would consider getting a locator beacon. But am poor, so haven't and I still do long hikes solo when my health allows it.
I have talked to my family about this. Parents and brother and sisters. I am not married and have no kids. They know how I feel. That I don't want them spending a lot of effort trying to find my body if I am lost. Give it a certain amount of time, but don't do this years later thing of trying to find the body. That in my opinion is just a waste of time and resources. Spend those resources on people who might still be alive.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Oct 27, 2016 - 11:20am PT
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Wow, I feel solo hiking is actually safer then staying home in the city. Solo climbing, solo free diving, solo surfing. Those can perhaps be a tad riske', but solo hiking? Come on..
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Bruce Morris
Trad climber
Belmont, California
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Oct 27, 2016 - 12:54pm PT
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When I was in my early 20s, I wandered all over the southern Sierra solo - Kings Kern, Brewer Basin, Lucy's Foot Pass, Evolution Basin. Sometimes not seeing anyone for a week. Soloing in the Palisades and the Clark Range.
Never gave a thought the personal safety issues. I was young and immortal. Should have joined the Marines. They could have used me in combat.
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Al Barkamps
Social climber
Red Stick
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Oct 27, 2016 - 12:55pm PT
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In general, I think we worry about the wrong things. Statistically, you are much more likely to to get into trouble doing a myriad of other things, such as driving a vehicle.
This is utter nonsense....
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Reeotch
climber
4 Corners Area
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Oct 27, 2016 - 12:59pm PT
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Please show us some numbers Al.
Shall we compare solo hiking fatalities to solo driving fatalities?
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Oct 27, 2016 - 01:21pm PT
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Jon, interesting comparison, although I find that some of the listing are somewhat hard to interpret.
For example, in the obesity section, they list people as "2x the risk of dying".
Actually, no. The risk of dying is identical, irrespective of weight.
I just mean to say that one has to be careful interpreting statistics that were not completely explained, or not meant to compare one thing with another.
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Al Barkamps
Social climber
Red Stick
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Oct 27, 2016 - 01:39pm PT
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Please show us some numbers Al.
Shall we compare solo hiking fatalities to solo driving fatalities?
An average mortality rate per year for driving is around 1.1 deaths per 100 MILLION vehicle miles driven and certainly includes passenger deaths. What's the statistic for hiker deaths per miles walked? And is the driver's risk of death only if crashing alone against highway furniture? Or against other drivers? What's the comparable risk of death when a hiker walks into another hiker?
If you don't want to think of it that way....compare the amount of time spent driving versus time spent hiking. But these are just 1st order ways of comparing risks. Regardless, hiking alone is far, far riskier.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Oct 27, 2016 - 02:50pm PT
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I free, lead rope-solo, solo distance swim and have done both for over forty years. I thoroughly understand and accept the risks involved; either would be a stupid activity if I didn't.
Now I don't actually do much hiking, but it's not hard to imagine the various risks, particularly in places like the Columbia River Gorge where lots of things could potentially go wrong. Risk management is a funny deal though. We are all subject to human foibles and my thought in general has always been that it isn't the things you know about and are guarding against that are going to get you, but rather all the subtle, overlooked, or overly familiar things you didn't think about or that have faded into the background noise.
And it's also a matter of what level of risk you are willing to accept. I was surfing in San Onofre last week on too small of a board with my legs hanging in the water like so much bait while waiting between sets. It wasn't a great feeling given there are no sharks at my local crags. And it wasn't particularly comfortable to know that a shark attack is a random occurrence completely out of my control - I especially didn't like that part - but other than getting a longer board I'll probably be back out there the next time I'm down that way.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Oct 27, 2016 - 03:03pm PT
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The Buddy system Buddies are best when the thing you need most is Help
Captain Obvious
of course coming from a person who goes off the beaten track looking for rock at the drop of a hat.
Ive stumbled Badly, and fallen, pulled rocks, and a tree stump on my self . . .
so far Ive only had to crawl out once .
One wake up call
The Phone coverage that I enjoy is of little comfort .
Im always off beyond "bubba's" ability to reach me before dark.
or some times before sunrise( NoT any more, That Wake up call)
I weigh the risks, I am seriously in touch with my abilities and play on the edge.
the risks are real and I'm careful, focused but I find it is better not to dwell
better not to project ... I've been going top down for years now unlike Joe .
but like JH I've talked to my wife and it is what i love most and Need to do.
I don't actually, say any of this in as boastful way. Ive tried to cultivate pre-dawn climbing partners
There are Two Drunken Sots Ive dragged with me, It ends up being More risky.
Smooth fast and Light by myself Im sure that most of us know and do some of this.
So the way that many have felt about The Lost Hiker
Who had a rescue "spot" locator device and is still lost Hits none to far from home for me too.
EDIT: YES , TheBRAVECowboy , JH - IS !
and to add, you are no slouch in the full on, on the edge game, hats off to you...
Tragedy
MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. — A Greeley man died on Longs Peak on Saturday after falling 100 to 150 feet, according to Rocky Mountain National Park officials.
The 61-year-old man apparently slipped on ice along the Narrows section on the Keyhole Route, according to park officials.
Visitors in the area called park rangers at about 10 a.m. Rangers used a helicopter to get to the summit and were able to recover his body a little before 6 p.m.
The man’s name will be released after his family has been notified.
Apparently ~ Jim Detterline
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Oct 27, 2016 - 03:09pm PT
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When I was in my early 20s, I wandered all over the southern Sierra solo - Kings Kern, Brewer Basin, Lucy's Foot Pass... About 8 years ago, after I became a dad, I got a week off while the wife was visiting her mother in law and hiked back toward Lake Reflection, thinking I would cross country over Harrison Pass, hit Mt. Stanford, chug down toward Milestone, maybe hit Table, tag Milestone and across Milestone Basin back over Sphinx Pass and out. Long story short, I missed the drainage leading up to Harrison and walked to Lake Reflection, thinking I could hit Lucy's Foot instead. I started up into all that talus and I just thought, 'nope, not by myself'. It was pretty chill, but I just kept thinking of all the things that could happen, whether I planned it or not. Still had a great trip chilling by the lake and checking out the great scenery (much better than hanging at the mother in law's). I would love to go back and do my original itinerary, but with some company instead.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
Boise, ID
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Oct 27, 2016 - 03:14pm PT
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Yer gonna die, anyway. Might as well get on with it.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Oct 27, 2016 - 08:29pm PT
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Got a text from my wife today.
She camped above 8k ft last night in the southern sierra. High/mid 20's at night.
She's dropping down to lower elevations for the passing storm then back to her planned route.
Hiking alone should be encouraged for those that wish to do so.
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ladyscarlett
Trad climber
SF Bay Area, California
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Oct 27, 2016 - 08:51pm PT
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Also I have a partner now, a partner who likes doing as I do. So while I still feel the call of solitude, I enjoy more partner time than I have in the past.
I still don't tell her where I am going though, when I do head out. She understands.... sort of.
Don't be fooled, Dingus put that partner bit in for someone else's sake. From what I can tell, on occasion, he'll relent if someone asks to come along and shows up at the trailhead, just like most of us. And will still do get all the Solitude he wants just the way he wants it.
Dingus I believe all your partners understand when you head out with nary a word, and are glad when you come back to journey another day. Your selfie trip reports are always, and continue to be, a pleasure.
I don’t often go out solo, mostly because more often than not, there's someone willing to show up at the trailhead. But though it doesn't happen often in my life, I understand it, value it, understand and accept the desire in others.
It does surprise me when I hear "I never thought it could happen to me." When I'm solo hiking, I have the same attitude as I do with the rest of my Life. Anything and Everything can happen to me. It's simply a matter of when and the level of pain I'll be in when it does happen.
So far so good...
Thanks for sharing folks!
Cheers
LS
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Oct 27, 2016 - 08:52pm PT
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Where I don't like hiking, my wife does and has enjoyed trying to put up fast solo car-to-car times on all the difficult Gorge hikes. I wasn't in much position to tell her she shouldn't do it given I rope solo all the time; but it did make me a bit uneasy even though I could track her via cell phone most of the time. Definitely a to each his own sort of deal.
P.S. Excerpt from link in the 'lucky base jumper' thread:
Interviewer: "I couldn’t help notice that you were rolling solo in Chamonix. Is that normal on BASE trips for you?"
Lucky Base Jumper: "Yeah, it actually seems to be a theme for me."
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