Hiking Alone or in Groups?
One of the basic rules in Hiking is to never walk alone. However, many of the most fervent walkers choose to walk alone. Solo walking guarantees the greatest freedom as you are free to go where you want and do not have to adapt to other people’s wishes or walking tempo. Many people also enjoy the total silence and solitude of walking alone.
On the other hand, there are some definite benefits of walking in a group:
- One important thing to remember is that Hiking in a group is much safer. If something happens to you then your Hiking mates can help you out. In general, a group of at least three is safest: in case of an accident, one person can stay with the victim while the other goes for help.
- You can learn from your more experienced fellow hikers. Especially if you are generally less fit or skilled as our Hiking mates, you will soon find yourself doing all you can to keep up with their tempo and do what they do. Your fellow hikers provide a safe training environment for increasing your Hiking skills.
- Hiking responsibilities can be shared. In a Hiking party, different people could be made responsible for first aid, cooking the food, preparing camp, navigation, etc.
- Group hikes provide the perfect conditions to either meet new people or deepen your knowledge of the people you already know. More extreme conditions can make you discover what people can really do. Furthermore, Hiking in a group gives you an increased feeling of security.
If you do persist to go hiking alone:
- Make the best possible preparations and make sure you know everything about the Hiking conditions and what you may encounter on the chosen trail.
- Inform the people around you about your plans. Give them a copy of the map and the route you are planning to take. If you have no relatives or friends near your location then make sure to inform local authorities about your plans. Never leave without anyone knowing about your trip!
- Contact those who stay at home whenever possible and at regular intervals. If possible, use your mobile phone to call up and report in. Text messages often arrive with a delay so when sending text messages make sure to mention your location and the time you reached it.
These are some things to think about when deciding whether to hike alone or in a group. It is really up to you. Hike alone if you want some sort of solitude and silence. Otherwise, you can enjoy the company of other hikers.
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