Walking Alone.....

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

....17 summits this year
17 (15 Marilyns, 2 Sweats, 2 Wainwrights)
0 repeats

I do, and I don't tell anyone where I'm going either. To me the whole
point of getting away from it all is just that, getting away.

Solo adventuring is great, you can make all your own decisions and are
responsible to no-one except yourself.

However, I used to be a first aid instructor and I do my research very
carefully. I haven't any qualifications in mountain leading etc but I
feel confident of my own abilities. I carry everything I consider
necessary including a mobile phone and I have recently bought a
satellite phone, which is fantastic. If things go wrong I know I can
rely on myself and if it is curtains, well, at least I’ll die looking
over some fantastic scenery! (BTW, I am single and have no kids!).

I do recommend solo walking/climbing/traveling but you must know your
own limits. I used to be involved with groups but to be honest I don’t
want the responsibility of having to think for other people. Probably a
selfish attitude, but I’m harming no one else.

Get out there and do it!

A

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

I'd say about 95% of my walks are solo and most of them are in the Lake
District. I have recently started getting into mountain biking and all but
one of the rides so far have also been solo. Riding the bike is probably a
little more dodgy because of the higher speeds / downhills and risk of
coming off etc.

--
Regards, Paul (R)
My Lake District walking site:
www.lakelandwalker.co.uk

* The air of uk.rec.walking was filled with the delicate perfume
* of violets, as [email hidden] <[email hidden]> descended on a shaft
* of golden sunlight, and announced:

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

Some consider it so.

Quoted message said:

How many others walk alone?

I _always_ walk alone!

Jim Ford

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from
the wonderful person "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

Only if you are stupid. In which case, go let evolution take its course
without involving innocent 3rd parties.

Quoted message said:

How many others walk alone?

Me. And I meet several solo walkers most days (but more duos). You
ideally need a first aid kit, mobile phone, and someone who'll miss you
eventually. Maps, compass, GPS, proper clothing, etc.

And enough sanity to know what not to do, and when to turn back.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
SC recommends the use of Firefox; Get smart, or get assimilated.

email hidden said:

How many others walk alone?

I do, most of the time.

What's the choice? Sit at home (probably descending into depression)
or just get out there and do it?

I take the point of view that I am solely responsible for my actions
and their outcomes ...... so if I get into trouble I have to get
myself out of it. Perhaps that makes me quite a cautious walker
....... but at least I'm out doing it rather than sitting at home
worrying about it.

Judith

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

....17 summits this year
17 (15 Marilyns, 2 Sweats, 2 Wainwrights)
0 repeats

I've often walked alone and often walked in small groups. So long as you
know hat you're doing and carry the necessary equipment I can't see a
problem with it. When you walk alone at least you can go at exactly the
pace you want and exactly where you want. The worst thing is hen you're
happily walking along lettign your mind wander when you cath up with
soemone else who insists on talking to you. :-). I did the Snowdon
horsehoe alone on Good Friday and althought the weather was murky it was
a great day. Then I treated myself to a new rucksack afterwards to
finish the day off.

--
regards

Bill

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

I'm with you on that one. 99% of my miles over the past 30 years have been
alone.

email hidden said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

Me.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

On 26 Mar 2005 12:43:11 -0800, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

| Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
| however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

IMO this is just risk aversion gone mad.

The real problem here is what are the real risks of hiking?
So I have changed the question to:
How many times would you not have made it back without the help of a
*companion*? You are allowed help from passers by and anyone you can
summon up via a whistle or mobile phone etc.

In my case never, and I have not even come close to such an emergency.

--
Dave F

Never as well.
I did help a family group once who were slightly lost, miserable and wearing
training shoes on wet rock. They asked if they were on the right track to a
particular spot. I said I would show them on their map where they
were......reply "oh we didn't think we needed one"

"Dave Fawthrop" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 26 Mar 2005 12:43:11 -0800, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

| Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
| however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

IMO this is just risk aversion gone mad.

The real problem here is what are the real risks of hiking?
So I have changed the question to:
How many times would you not have made it back without the help of a
*companion*? You are allowed help from passers by and anyone you can
summon up via a whistle or mobile phone etc.

In my case never, and I have not even come close to such an emergency.

--
Dave F

Quoted post said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Quoted message said:

Is this stupidity?

It's stupid to walk alone if you're stupid, and research has shown
that many stupid people are too stupid to realise that they're stupid.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 651 3445 DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Peewiglet contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How many others walk alone?

Me.

I've never tried walking alone, though most of my walks are just me and
my dog. I like to walk with others, but you have more freedom on your
own.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

I walk with my Old English sheepdog!

--
Regards, Kenneth.
www.kmiles.co.uk

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

....17 summits this year
17 (15 Marilyns, 2 Sweats, 2 Wainwrights)
0 repeats

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from
Pete G contained the following:

Quoted message said:

I did help a family group once who were slightly lost, miserable and wearing
training shoes on wet rock. They asked if they were on the right track to a
particular spot. I said I would show them on their map where they
were......reply "oh we didn't think we needed one"

Being a relative newcomer to walking, I didn't at first either. (well
it's hard to get lost walking around Tittesworth reservoir or Rudyard
lake). Later I was using guides from books etc. It became clear very
soon though, that if you made a mistake, then the instructions would
make no sense and at least one walk that was meant to be circular ended
up being linear. I always take a map now even if it's 'just in case'.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

I prefer to walk alone as it's the best way for me to unwind and escape the
stress of modern life and work. It's been said that 'Hell is other people',
I don't know the context of that original statement but I can certainly
relate it to my life and I'm sure others can to theirs! Plus it saves hassle
on trying to arrange a party to walk with.

However, I do let people know where I'm going and the rough route I've
planned so that if I'm not back someone will be looking for me in the right
area.

Nick

"Peewiglet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

email hidden said:

Most published safety literature on hiking frowns upon walking alone,
however the majority of my walks are undertaken uncompanied.

Is this stupidity?

How many others walk alone?

Me.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

At the risk of incurring the wrath of others, I believe that(with some
notable exceptions) much of the safety advice in some of the popular
magazines is merely the reiteration of established procedures by self
appointed "experts". These people seem revel in and gain a bit of self
glorification in pontificating to others on matters which should really be
common sense.

Personally I have probably spent more time walking alone than I have with
others. When I do walk in company it is invariably with ONE other perso
only - he being one whose ability and characteristics I know and who I know
that I can rely on. I believe that to walk in a group of more than two or,
at the very most, three invites too much conflict.

One must always rely on common sense and I think it is worth remembering
that "rules are made for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise
men"

Nick Pedley said:

I prefer to walk alone as it's the best way for me to unwind and

escape the

Quoted message said:

stress of modern life and work. It's been said that 'Hell is other

people',

Quoted message said:

I don't know the context of that original statement but I can

certainly

Quoted message said:

relate it to my life and I'm sure others can to theirs! Plus it saves

hassle

Quoted message said:

on trying to arrange a party to walk with.

However, I do let people know where I'm going and the rough route

I've

Quoted message said:

planned so that if I'm not back someone will be looking for me in the

right

Quoted message said:

area.

Nick

Thanks to all for the responses, it confirms my own thoughts!

Furthermore, in my very short walking career I've already turned back
twice; once on the way up to Skiddaw when the clouds came in; the other
on Bowfell. Both times I felt if had kept going I was going beyond my
own abilities....

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 10:17:10 +0100, "Nick Pedley"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| However, I do let people know where I'm going and the rough route I've
| planned so that if I'm not back someone will be looking for me in the right
| area.

I never know exactly where I am going or where I will end up, because the
weather might change or I might see/hear of something interesting.
However I ring June saying "I am ????" at dinner time, or when I can get a
signal on the d*mn mobile. If I don't turn up finding my car "with a
Yorkshire flag on the aerial" should give an indication of where I am.

--
Dave F

If only they had chosen to walk round a lake. To give a bit more detail,
they were heading to Adam and Eve at the top of Tryfan. They were told
follow the Heather Terrace turn right at the end and its at the top. I met
them on a narrow stretch and as they were on the way up I moved to one side
to let them pass, the lady at the front was crawling on her hands and knees
and only noticed I was there when she put her hand on my boot. She couldn't
see me as she had to take her glasses off because the rain was making it
hard to see through them. During the conversation the lady said "I suppose
you must think we are mad", I made a suggestion that it might be wise to
turn round and come back another day when it was better weather. They said
we have come this far and carried on. I never did find out if they made it.

"Geoff Berrow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from
Pete G contained the following:

Quoted message said:

I did help a family group once who were slightly lost, miserable and
wearing
training shoes on wet rock. They asked if they were on the right track to
a
particular spot. I said I would show them on their map where they
were......reply "oh we didn't think we needed one"

Being a relative newcomer to walking, I didn't at first either. (well
it's hard to get lost walking around Tittesworth reservoir or Rudyard
lake). Later I was using guides from books etc. It became clear very
soon though, that if you made a mistake, then the instructions would
make no sense and at least one walk that was meant to be circular ended
up being linear. I always take a map now even if it's 'just in case'.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/