I hate hikking with my husband

@CrazyMusicLover I agree, but they don't not understand the way an artistic person's mind works. My wife gets angry when we walk when I stop to take a photo, particularly, when I try to 🤙 compose and set a good exposure. I am starting to carry 2 cameras, each way the a different lens, to save that time.

@samueltyler2 Exactly!

@CrazyMusicLover To toss it out there, as one who hikes a ton and most always alone, that's definitely something to consider. There are some things you need to be aware of when you're solo but the freedom is what it's about.

@Ynotisay but, the potential dangers are bad.

@samueltyler2 It makes total sense to think that way but it's actually safer hiking alone than it is with others. A lot of that is due to experience. Which most solo hikers and backpackers have. The risks are different when hiking in groups unless the person leading the group really knows what they're doing.

@Ynotisay what if you fall, cut yourself, and can't summon aide?

@samueltyler2 It's a good point but the trick is to not put yourself in situations that are extra risky when you're alone. "What if?" is the mantra. That goes from gear and weather to getting too close to the edge for a view. But even that's subjective. What's risky to someone without experience is different than those who have it. Accidents can happen to anyone. No matter the skill level. But the more you know, which usually comes from being in sketchy situations, the better prepared you are if things go south. And while I've only used them a few times, satellite devices have made rescues a whole lot easier. I learned how to hike and backpack on my own before all the tools we have today. And I made a lot of mistakes that I paid for. I don't suggest that but for those who feel they're ready to go solo I'm all in with that. It's a different experience that can become addictive.

@Ynotisay I don't call them accidents,.but, unintentional.injuries. i was taught in the scouts to always buddy up, and let the trailmaster know where you are going.

@samueltyler2 I guess it's how you look at it. What I know is the majority of rescues that take place come from those in groups. The mix is typically over-confidence, lack of experience and arrogance. And leaving inexperienced partners on their own happens a ton. The next story you run across where someone dies in the wilderness I bet there's a very good chance that person was a part of a group. And the Scouts should teach partnering up. They're working with kids. But just because people are together doesn't mean anyone knows what they're doing. It's a false sense of safety.
I've run in to Scouts on backpacking trips and, in my small handful of experiences, the level of expertise by the leaders is terrible. It's awesome that they're getting out there and turning kids on to it. I have a lot of respect for that. But just being an adult doesn't mean much. I've literally taught leaders how to hang bear bags and even got their fires going. That shouldn't happen.
What they do get right is always telling someone where you're going and when you expect to get back. I'm usually out four or five times a week, most typically at night, and always do that. Every time. But the idea that going alone is inherently dangerous just isn't true. It depends on who's alone. A whole lot of people do it safely. And, IMO, it's SO much more fun than going with a partner. It's freedom and self-reliance. 👍

@Ynotisay @samueltyler2 I really like your discussion here. I've found in hiking that I need to be in the right mindset for hiking alone vs. hiking with a buddy or a group. Because those are all very different hiking experiences.

@Scribbles i suppose we all have our moments we'd prefer to be alone. If in a remote area though, it could be dangerous.

@samueltyler2 True. I don't think I'd ever hike alone in a remote area. I'm not that experienced of a hiker, and it just doesn't seem safe to do so. If I'm alone, I play it smart and generally stay on a easy well marked, and fairly well trafficked trail. I've run harder trails alone and decided to stop that because it's just not smart...even if it's a trail you've done 50 times before, it doesn't take much to slip on a dirt track on a steep hill. I've learned that more then once. Thankfully I never got hurt.

I've had more weird creepy encounters running on an open athletic track at a school, then hiking trails so far. I've turned around a couple times when something looked really weird just to be safe. Maybe I've just gotten lucky?

One thing I've never figured out is what to do when there's a guy 15 feet in front you who just stops and unzips and pees in front of you, on the grass right next to the trail. They don't even try to go behind a nearby tree. That happens alot, actually. Maybe that's just normal male hiking etiquette now? idk.

I always find it awkward because I feel it's polite to look away to give them privacy but I also want to keep half an eye on them as I pass them because I don't know them. Lol.

@Scribbles To toss it out there, and while it sounds a little counter-intuitive, the farther you are from a trailhead the safer it becomes. That's where backpacking comes in. There's no concern with wild animals unless you're serious Grizzly territory and backpackers don't screw with other backpackers. I've seen a bunch of solo ladies backpacking and I don't think they're seen as anything but another backpacker. I see them the same way if they're just hiking. Really technical, tougher trails deliver that too. So can night hiking.