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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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There have been some terrific replies. I'm still all for solo hiking and would love the chance to do more. pud's post about his wife's trip, for example, reminded me how much of the Golden Trout Wilderness I've wanted to check out. I'm up around there alot, but it's usually with the kids in tow, so I haven't been able to do that much other than a hour or two jaunt or quick overnight. It's just the sketchy off trail or heavy duty X-C I'll probably avoid in the future. I still very much intend to do off trail stuff. I look at topos and see all kind of places that I still want to go. I'll miss the sense of solitude and self reliance of going by myself, but I'm just in much better headspace and can enjoy it more if I have company nowadays.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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The Golden Trout is actually a great opportunity now. It had been basically totally neglected----the Forest no longer employs ANY trail workers for the area. However, four separate groups have each made contributions in different areas, to clean up the trails. Almost everything is now rehabilitated and passable. We're talking thousands of fallen trees.
But it had been so neglected, it had become a real ordeal to hike. So people got out of the habit. So....good trails, but few people in most areas.
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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They don't always put trails where you want 'em, it's true.....and yeah, I'm with Jody.
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Wise Acres
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Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Holee Shite Chainsaw - you weren't a Scout Counselor at Camp Old Indian by chance ?
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chainsaw
Trad climber
CA
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Sorry, Im not familliar with camp Old Indian. Where is that? I worked at Walton's Grizzly Lodge on Grizzly Road just South of Lake Davis at Grizzly Ice Pond.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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the adventures of camp kill a kid never cease to amaze me... and why didn't you guys get the hell out of there the first time you encountered the ax weilding crazy person?????
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Rexi
climber
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My approach to life and the activities i do is that everything we do is an evaluation of risk vs advantage/reward/experience.
driving a car, playing tennis, riding a bike...... all of those things are risky but most people thing the risk is acceptable considering the rewards.
Then we line all activities up somewhere on that spectum, some things are very dangerous but highly rewarding if things go right. Some people would consider regular sport climbing to be on that end of the spectrum but most of us in this forum would not agree. -so the evaluation is personal preference.
About the solo factor. I do alot of solo winter windsurfing way up north in scandinavia. In those conditions where everything is around freezing and winds around 30knots, many things can cause serious problems. Just minimal gear failure you simply canīt fix and the cold, 4 hour daylight and so on means you simply canīt and probably wonīt be rescued. -i manage risk though, with choosing specific spots with less current, donīt sail side-off wave spots no matter how tempting it is (ok i may have cheated on this once or twice) and so on. To me the risks i take are worth it due to the rewards i get.
To me it just depends where solo hiking would end up on your risk vs reward spectrum and if you find the risk accapteble. No right answer to the question.. :)
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chainsaw
Trad climber
CA
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Hi Tradman, we thought about leaving immediately but the logistics of moving the group in the dark was a daunting and problematic plan. We initially decided that keeping the group together close and keeping watch was safer than spreading out on the trail in the dark. So we hunkerred down. It was when we realized the axeman had a gun that we decided to evacuate. With a firearm he could pick us off at a distance and our circled wagons defence seemed inadequate. It was a night of difficult decisions. I am extremely proud of the way all counselors conducted themselves that night. It was terrifying and real. The adults didnt panick. Instead we were rational and thought and discussed and concensed on our plans. We cooperated. Sometimes the best action is to assess the situation, and after consideration, sometimes the best decision is not to act at all. We didnt want to act rashly and make our situation worse. All things considered, it initially seemed that staying put was the safest choice for the kids, even though it meant putting us counselors on a dangerous guard duty. When the shots were fired, we decided that we were ineffective as a shield from that and chose to bug out.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Shure it made a good story for the kids to tell the rest of their lifes.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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I went up above treeline solo on sunday.
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chainsaw
Trad climber
CA
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The kids dont really know the story. We adults decided that if we told them what was really happening that panick would ensue and we couldnt let that happen. So we made up the story about an inclement rainstorm as an excuse to leave.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Dec 18, 2016 - 02:12am PT
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hey there, say... just a bump...
please, do NOT do this... your family wants to see you
for the holidays... :)
just a ' mommy note ' from me...
*a relative recently died in south texas, and
and we loved him... he was hunting and had his nephew with him...
however, IF HE HAD been alone... no one would have found him
for days... :(
at least, someone WAS with him... :(
we are all very very sad though...
yes, no matter what, it is REALLY BEST to not go alone, :)
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Mar 23, 2017 - 08:23pm PT
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solitude taught me more than any mentor. solitude by choice is powerful, and good, IME. To be lonely and purposeless, as in the current thread on unanticipated increases in mortality of white middle class/middle age males, that is to be cursed metaphysically. A curious twist on the current supremacy of the white anglo male.
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Mar 23, 2017 - 08:41pm PT
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to be sure, the partnerships in climbing and outdoor-ism generally are a potent goodness. yet the fractious nature of human beings to this day, and the power of the solo outdoor endeavor, these things speak to an evolutionary and personal value of indifference, avoidance, and achievement as-separate-as-possible from Humanity.
no one pays the price but the loner themself, just as death is a strictly personal experience. 'sokay with me.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Mar 23, 2017 - 08:52pm PT
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And when you go on a solo trans-Cascade ski traverse you don"t have to worry about relying
on some crankloon companion to dig yer sorry azz out of an avalanche. It's so much more
fulfilling doing it yerself!
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okie
Trad climber
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Mar 23, 2017 - 09:41pm PT
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My most satisfying outings have been solo. Being alone in the mountains is a strong primal shot. Your question is rhetorical anyway. You already know the risks. You will either return or you won't.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Mar 23, 2017 - 09:52pm PT
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It's nice to have partners. But it's equally nice to do things
by oneself. Solo hiking is one of my favorite activities.
I wouldn't solo climbing--not in my genes. But hiking, even in
grizzly country by myself is truly a pleasure. (of course, with the
bruins it has a heightened awareness. . .)
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