My First Solo Backpacking Trip
I’ve talked about going on a solo backpacking trip for years now. Every time I would start planning, though, I’d just end up turning the trip into something bigger with friends or just abandoning it altogether because the timing wasn’t right or whatever.
This time, I’ve done next to no planning. I haven’t made a (really) big deal of it to myself. I just took off a few days from work and told my wife Ashley I’m going. Now, I’m going. Neat!
But, now that I’m going, I’m wondering why I wanted to do this so bad. Why run off by myself into the woods? Seems kind of odd. But is it? Isn’t it? Eh, it’s all relative.
But Really, Why Take a Solo Trip?
I remember my first time planning a trip on my own — like an actual trip. It was a post high school graduation trip to the Porkies with a few buddies. I started doing a bit of research, borrowed some gear, bought some gear, and was ready. I’d check in with them every so often to keep the hype alive.
“You ready?!” turned into “You ready?,” which turned into “You coming?”
All that eventually turned into disappointing looks exchanged at work and awkward silences whenever the topic broke like glass into conversation. Whatever it happens, right? Right. But how many times does that have to happen before you can actually go on a trip?
At some point, I just got sick and tired of relying on others to go do something gnarly — or just do something at all. I think that’s when the seed was planted. It’s not because I want to be alone or that I’m anti-social or anything like that.
I just couldn’t stand the idea of going on a trip, finally going on an adventure only for it to slip from my grasp because my friends bailed or didn’t get off of work or they just didn’t have it together. Like, why rely on others to go see and experience these places?
Granted, I think backpacking, camping, climbing, cycling, whatever is way more fun with people than without. I’ve been lucky enough to marry a person who values traveling as much as I do, which means I pretty much always have somebody to go abroad with. And if she’s not willing to go backpacking, I have a few friends who actually enjoy roughin’ it. But even then, my friends have schedules of their own. My wife can’t always get off of work, and she’s not really a backcountry backpacker either.
Sometimes flying solo doesn’t seem so bad. Plus, I like the idea of going at my own pace, being able to see whatever it is I want to see, and enjoying the solitude of the wilderness without interruption.
While I’m thankful for the moments I’ve had with my friends and family, I also like the idea of challenging myself to go out into the woods alone and come back to blog about it. Part of the reason why I haven’t been more apt to run off and go backpacking alone is because of the increased risk of stuff hitting the fan. Man, it’s intimidating going out there all by yourself. Even seasoned backpackers run into a snag every now and then. It just happens. The wild is the wild, and that’s all there is to it.
But the wild can still be enjoyed, and it should. That’s why I’m headed out there. The wild places draw me in, fascinate and excite me. I love getting onto the trail and spending mile after mile taking it all in. Even a soul-crushing pack can’t take away from all the beauty and significance of the wilderness. With friends or flying solo, I plan to enjoy and experience it.
My First Solo Backpacking Trip
I took a few days off of work because I’m getting squirrely now that the weather is warming up. I’m headed up north to put in some miles on the Superior Hiking Trail. It’s undoubtedly one of my favorite places to be in Minnesota and where better to take my first solo backpacking trip?
Why Here?
Whenever I decide to go backpacking, the Superior Hiking Trail is among the top routes that I consider — especially if I’m staying in Minnesota.
The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) offers superb views of Lake Superior and this northern landscape. It’s also rugged with challenging areas that offer great hiking and camping. What’s more, the trail weaves in and out of many state parks and Superior National Forest, with dozens of campsites that are usable on a first come, first served basis — for free. Plus, parking is free and there a few seasonal shuttle services that aren’t too costly.
The trail is also relatively close to many towns, with Duluth being the main city in the area. If worse comes to worst or I found myself in some trouble (knock on wood), I have an fairly easy out, which makes me feel better too.
I’ve done a couple handfuls of sections on this trail, and it only gets better each time I visit. By now, it has that lovely nostalgia attached to it that makes me yearn for more time spent in the area. It always feels like too soon when I leave. When I decided on doing this trip, it was the first place I thought of.
Superior Hiking Trail Resources
The Superior Hiking Trail Association is a non-profit that’s committed to maintaining and promoting the Superior Hiking Trail with a network of over 4,500 members. On its website, the association reports updates from the trail, offers up a bunch of really great resources, including maps, and keeps backpackers in the know about all things SHT. The association is an incredibly helpful resource that makes this trail super accessible to everybody from casual day-hikers to burly thru-hikers.
If you’re planning a trip on the SHT, you’ve got to check the association out. Follow them on social media too. They post neat stuff.
Have you ever gone on a solo backpacking trip before? If so, where and why? Leave a comment below.