Welcome to泭Tough Love. Were answering your questions about dating, breakups, and everything in between. Our advice giver is泭Blair Braverman, dogsled racer and author of泭. Have a question of your own? Write to us at泭toughlove@outsideim.com.
During the COVID shutdowns, I have become highly motivated to get outdoors.泭In particular, my heart is set on a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon.泭I have minimal outdoor experience, but I have been doing my research (I am a nerd by trade), and have plans to start with smaller day hikes and overnight trips to build up endurance and experience.泭I dont have any friends or family who would want to go with me, and everyone I have floated the idea by reacts like Ive told them Im skydiving without a parachute.泭 None of them are outdoorsy either,泭so I dont know how much weight to give their criticism.泭I feel nervous, due to inexperience, but Im not particularly afraid of the goal. 泭
So my question is this:泭Just how dumb is it for a small, twenty-something泭woman to hike alone?泭Is it really as stupid as my family makes it out to be?泭What advice should I absolutely know before I get out there?
I cant promise you that its safe to hike alone. But I can tell you that I enjoy itand I know a lot of other female hikers do, too. As long as you consider the dangers of a particular adventure, do what you can to minimize them, train appropriately, and make backup plans for if things go wrong, then youre not being foolish; youre being true to yourself. 泭
Danger and safety in the outdoors are, in many ways, subjective and variable. For instance, Id feel comfortable heading out on a multi-week trek in the northern climates I know best, but if you asked me to walk five miles alone in the Arizona summer, Id probably opt out, because I know that Im sensitive to heat. Its not that one trip is inherently safer than the other; its just safer for泭鳥梗.泭It all comes down to your skills, your body, and how well you know the environment.
In order to hike the Grand Canyon in a way thats泭relatively泭safe, you should aim to reach levels of competence in those three categories. Youll want to build your hiking and camping skills in general, mainly by practicingwhich it sounds like youre already doing. You should train your body to complete a steep 20-odd-mile hike with a heavy pack. And you can study the Grand Canyon itselfroutes, plants and wildlife, terrain. (Optional homework for a self-professed nerd: learn about the regions history and geology, and learn to identify a few plants by name. That knowledge isnt strictly necessary for this adventure, but it can bring depth泭to your experience.)
The last factor in your question is that youre female, which means your safety concerns may be less about nature and more about other泭people. Personally, when Im outdoors alone, Im most comfortable in places where there are either frequent passersby or basically nobody (I prefer the latter). You might consider planning your trip for a time when there will be more or fewer people on the trail, depending on your preferences. You could also buy or rent a satellite tracker for emergency communication.
If you do decide that youd feel better with a partner, or just have more fun that way, Id turn to the internet: check out hiking forums, hashtags, and social-media groups. You dont need to convince someone you know to undertake a wild adventureyou can find someone who dreams of the same adventure, and make friends that way.
And whatever you do, whoever you go with, Im excited for you. Youre泭planning something extraordinary, and youre definitely not going to be inexperienced for long.
How can I get excited about planning a solo outdoor adventure this fall or winter? Ive been dutifully isolated in my studio apartment since March. Over the last six months, Ive completed an advanced degree, bought a car to expand the radius I can explore safely, signed a lease on a one-bedroom apartment since it appears Ill be isolated at home for the foreseeable future, and studied for a professional licensure exam. All of those have been exciting, and Im so grateful for the opportunities and privileges that they represent, but its also been very hard to do all of that alone. Now, the biggest exam of my life is almost here and I desperately need something to look forward to afterwards. Usually, Im happy to plan an adventure on my own and have gone on many solo vacations, hikes, and camping trips with just my dog. A couple of years ago I even flew to the west coast on my own to go downhill skiing for the first time. I truly dont mind taking a solo adventure, but the last thing I want to do right now is schedule more time to be alone. Ive asked friends if theyd like to plan a safe weekend trip together this fall, but none of them have been particularly interested. Im the only one of my friends who lives alone, doesnt have a significant other, and isnt close with their family. I know spending time outside will be good for my mental health and be a welcome respite after the last few months, but Im having a hard time getting excited about any plans. Im worried Ill end up cold and miserable, sitting alone in the woods and unable to enjoy the experience. Am I looking at this totally wrong? Are there outdoor activities Im not considering that I could try out safely on my own?
How do you feel about finding a partner to hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim, at least once its safe to do so? Tough Love has never been a matchmaking service before, but just saying, I have both your email addresses. Hit me up.
It sounds like youve spent the past months as an absolute model of pandemic productivity and self-awareness, and your sense of adventure and can-do attitude are freaking awesome. And also,泭wow,泭this time is hard. Im amazed by you, and Im also sorry that youve had to do all this alone.
As for something to look forward to this winter: you mentioned having a dog, and you mentioned being cold, and I think you should lean into both those things. You should go mushing.
Depending on where you live, it might not look like the kind of mushing most people picture, with huskies and a wooden sled (although dogsled tours are actually a fairly viable option for social distancing). But if your dog likes to pull their leash, you can get them a harness and teach them to pull on cuewhether theyre pulling you on a scooter, bike, cross-country skis, or even on foot. And if your dog doesnt like to pull, you can still plan a trip based on what you and your dog would have fun doing together. Im not saying you should plan an extravagant outdoor adventure泭for your dog,泭and then bring yourself along for the ride, but Im not泭not泭saying that, either.
Whatever you end up planning, Id recommend finding a way to document it. Keeping a journal, taking photos or videos, or making art about your adventure can make it less lonely, even if no ones with you at the time. And someday youll be able to share those records with whoever you wantwhether its friends, family, or your future self.泭