When you go out into the wilderness alone, you will find a new kind of serenity. You’ll discover more about yourself because you will be confronted with who you are, what you are really made of, what you really want in life. But before you go headlong into the wild, you should be aware that you are not the only living thing sharing the forest and mountains. You will be surrounded by wildlife, although you may not see it. Bears, wolves, eagles, mountain lions and all kinds of little creatures like hares and vowels, will be walking all around you. You don’t want to get on their bad side and you also don’t want to fall prey to the forest either. So here are some helpful solo hiker tips.
Personal first aid kit
Compared to your backpack, hiking boots, and GPS tracker, a first aid kit costs nothing. In reality, they cost little more than about $20 for a good one. A personal first aid kit might cost even less. However, if you want to keep it dry and out of trouble, you’ll put it in it’s own little pouch bag which needs to be waterproof and able to hang off your waist. Never put your first aid kit in your backpack. If you fall and break an arm or leg, maybe even both, you won’t be able to reach for your first aid kit, without serious discomfort or more loss of blood. So always strap it onto your belt or waist somehow. Attaching Velcro strips to your backpack straps is a good idea, so it remains always within reach.
A hiking flashlight
We do not recommend you get your household flashlight out for your hiking trip. They are much weaker than hiking flashlights. They are made for use in homes because there isn’t a lot of distance the light needs to travel to fully illuminate an area. But when you are out in the wilderness, with zero light apart from the moon, you will need a powerful yet compact hiking flashlight. Go see the E300 flashlight on ECOGEAR FX, which is, as you can tell from the name, 300 lumens. A household flashlight is about 100 lumens in comparison. It’s lightweight and can easily fit onto your waist.
Learn to read the night sky
Ever wonder how the navigators of sail ships got across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans? They used the stars to help them. When you go out hiking, you will see the stars in all their glory as no light pollution will cloud you from their gaze. Learn how to use the North Star to navigate or find your bearings if you were to lose your compass or GPS tracker. It’s not that difficult and it can really help you get to help if you ever become lost.
Solo hiking is exciting but it’s fraught with dangers too. These tips should keep you safe and help to make your journey far more interesting.
