travel and rhum

A few weeks ago, I went out to do a solo day hike. I drove a few miles down an empty forest service road and arrived at the TH with no other cars except for 1 car that was very clearly stolen and trashed and recently marked for towing by Rangers.

This was my first time hiking this trail and it was very seldom hiked in the winter with the last activity on all trails being > 2 weeks ago. Also, the trail led straight into a protected wilderness area with no other intersecting trails. I realized I might be the only person out there all day and would be the only person for miles.

For whatever reason, I got a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Idk if it was fear, just more so that I shouldn’t do this. I listened to my gut and decided not to hike this trail.

I couldn’t really put a finger on why I felt off. Maybe I was a little freaked out about being completely alone for miles on a new trail. I’ve done many solo hikes and always carry a garmin in-reach but that experience was a first for me. I’ve felt almost guilty about it ever since like I was being a coward but I do believe in listening to your gut.

TLDR: Got bad vibes at an empty trailhead, went home.

Maybe ITA here but I go hiking to get away from having to be responsible for others. My life right now, and for the foreseeable future, centers around taking care of others, and not always by choice. So hiking is my release, my time to only be responsible for myself and my needs.

I occasionally have a friend or two who go hiking with me. They bring their stuff and handle their needs and life is good. Then there's family members. It's always family, isn't it. And of course it's complicated and saying no to coming with me creates even more issues. Then it's a choice of do I say yes to them coming and deal the bs or do I say no and deal with the fallout from that.

Anyways, I have made it abundantly clear that anybody who wants to come with me is responsible for their own gear, snacks, water, etc. I am bringing what I need for me, not anybody else. Basically it's here's the forecast, here's the trail, here's what time I'm hiking and how far I'm going. Beyond that, not my problem. (Now reasonable questions are fine, like asking if they need a certain piece of gear that could be needed or not depending on the trail is fine or what the elevation profile looks like)

Of course somebody (family) has to be helpless. "Did you bring extra water" nope. "Did you bring a snack for me?" nope. "Do I need a coat?" it's January in Michigan. Really?! "Are we done?" you can be, go sit in the car. I'm finishing my hike.

I realize I sound like a donkey's rear end but seriously, don't ruin my hike because you wanna be helpless. I gave you the information to make the decisions, I'm not making the decisions for you nor am I going to be responsible for your needs.

I limit my hikes with this person, but also given the family dynamics I can't completely avoid doing the occasional hike with this person. So I limit it to easy, short hikes when I have to take this person and grit my teeth and trudge through it the best I can.

Anybody else have to deal with stupid stuff regarding hiking and family/friends/helpless lemmings? It is so incredibly irritating.

Hiking is really dangerous where I live due to the rugged and mountainous terrain, so I’m part of a group that organizes hikes so people don’t have to risk hiking alone.

There’s a lesser-known route I’ve been wanting to do for ages, so I created an event for it in the group. We’re going this Sunday.

I initially thought it’d be 4-7 people coming, but the event has blown up and now there’s 18 people RSVP’d. So suddenly, I’m “leading” nearly 20 people on a hike I’ve never done before. I made a few posts reiterating the difficulty level and hazards of the hike in the weeks leading up, so hopefully everyone is well aware.

Any advice?

Hello all,

I’d look some advice from those who hike with their little ones. Specifically on the age they begin taking their baby and what gear and tips they would like to share.

My little girl is only 5 weeks old but I would like to start bringing her on short hikes as soon as it’s safe and comfortable for her.

When people go hiking do they care about the surrounding plants and if so, can hiking be used as a way to help support plant conservation?