is solo hiking really worth all the hassle?
I keep seeing these gorgeous hiking reels on Instagram and TikTok—endless mountain views, fancy gear, and people looking so happy. It all looks amazing, but every time I think about actually doing it, I get stuck on the details. For starters, I’d have to drive hours just to start walking in the woods by myself. That already sounds exhausting, and honestly, I’m not sure if the payoff is worth all that effort when I’m alone.
Then there’s the gear. Every list I see makes it look like you need to be a part-time weightlifter just to carry your backpack. I’m not exactly out of shape, but I’d probably need to hit the gym for a month just to feel comfortable lugging all that stuff around. And let’s be real, I’m not sure I want to add more chores to my life just to enjoy a walk in the woods.
Safety is another thing. I’m a woman, and my sense of direction is terrible. I once joined a running club, and everyone left me in the dust—I was the slowest by far. If I go hiking with a group, I’ll just slow everyone down, but if I go alone, I worry about getting lost or something worse. It feels like a lose-lose situation.
And what about the boredom? Once I’m out there, it’s just me and the trees. No one to chat with, no one to tell me what kind of bird I’m looking at. I could listen to music, but cell service is spotty in the mountains, so I’d probably just end up listening to my own heavy breathing. Sometimes I wonder if the silence would drive me nuts.
I want to like hiking, but it feels like there are so many obstacles. Is it really as fun as people make it look online, or am I missing something?
#hikingstruggles #solohiking #outdooradventures #Travel
