Stifled by the Silence

Advice for extroverts on solo trips

Welcome back to Between A Mossy Rock And A Hard Place, the fortnightly advice column for all your outdoorsy conundrums!

Thanks to Extroverted Hiker for submitting this week's question:

How do I go on a solo backpacking trip without losing my mind? I don’t think I can handle five days without talking to another person!

First off, don’t start with a five day trip! Try an overnight or a weekend—if you’re worried about lack of social interaction, don’t commit to anything longer than that unless you’re planning to bring a volleyball along for company. Just like it takes a few tries to get comfortable pitching a new tent, going solo is a skill to hone.

I’m an extrovert that never planned to be a solo backpacker. I didn’t even really love being a solo day hiker, but that at least felt manageable. My solo backpacking trips started out of necessity during the great social distancing summer of 2020 and only through repetition did I begin to look forward to spending nights alone in the woods.

At the trailhead before setting off on my first solo backpacking trip (August 2020)

My first trip was short—an 11 mile overnight on a loop with a backpacking campground at the 8 mile mark. It was comforting to know that I had the option to hike the entire trail in a single day if I made it to camp and decided that going solo was not for me. Even so, I stayed up half the night reading because I was on high alert every time there was a noise outside my tent. If you aren’t a reader, download podcasts or pack a deck of cards to occupy your mind once the sun goes down. I always find it harder to settle down when there isn’t someone else in a tent a few feet away.

Always bring a book on a solo trip…but not this heavy of a book!

However, it’s not just nighttime that is hard for an extrovert. Hiking in silence can be a demoralizing experience, especially if you’re used to conversation to motivate you up the next hill.¹ Here are my tips for making it more enjoyable: