The Hike Was Quiet. I Wasn’t Alone.

I didn’t expect to meet anyone on Millard Canyon Falls Trail. I’d gone early, hoping for silence—just the crunch of gravel, the cold air biting my hands. Halfway up, a stray dog started following me. No collar, just cautious eyes and a tail that wagged when I offered a piece of my granola bar. We walked together, not talking, obviously, but I felt less invisible. Sometimes you don’t need words or plans or even people who know your name. Sometimes you just need something breathing beside you to remind you you’re still here. I never saw the dog again after the falls. But I think about him every time I walk alone, and it feels a little less lonely. #Travel #SoloHikingTruth #UnexpectedCompany