Life

Going Solo

Dear Bubbles:
I’m interested in learning how to travel by myself. I’m getting older, and there are places I want to see and photograph. I’m just tired of waiting for other people to go with me. I’m running out of time! But I’m scared to go alone. Do you have any tips to make this easier on me?
~A Fraidy Cat

Dear A Fraidy Cat:

We’re all getting older and running out of time…but neither means we have to give up on the things we want to do. Also, we shouldn’t have to wait on others to make our dreams happen. To echo sentiments from my January 1st post, “Your time on this Earth is not guaranteed. The time to do what you love is now. The time to live your dreams is now.”

Now, I don’t care how old you are, one of the most courageous things you can do is not only acknowledge your fears, but also recognize how they limit you in your life. By writing in this question, you’ve done just that. I commend you for your honesty, bravery, and willingness to try something new.

Fears such as this one are rooted in past experiences and uncertainty in the unknown. In other words, they are fears for good reason. Your subconscious is trying to protect you and keep you alive. Which is great, until you realize, in most cases—not all—our brains are overreacting to situations that may never come to fruition. It’s fears like these that we need to stare down, develop the necessary skills and plans to address them, and then plow right through them. Smartly and safely, though.

I remember the first time I went for a hike by myself. It was 2004. My ex-husband and I had temporarily relocated to Oregon to support his job. I was so thrilled to explore this new place, which mind you, was so different than our home in Arizona. We had nine months. I wanted to see it all! He had to work 24×7. So I had a choice, sit at home and wait for him to have time to go with me or go by myself. I chose the latter. I was terrified, though!

I picked a trail in Silver Falls State Park, one that was little more than a half-mile round-trip to get to a waterfall, one we had been on once together. When I arrived at the empty trailhead and was just about to start my hike alone, I saw a yellow sign tacked to the information board. It warned of a recent mountain lion sighting in the area. I got back in my car and started shaking. I thought to myself, “I can’t do this. I’ll get eaten by a mountain lion!” (Talk about a fraidy cat…)

It was a silly thought when you consider just how elusive mountain lions are and how infrequently humans get attacked by them. I calmed myself down and got out of the car. I extended the legs on my tripod (one can never be too careful…) and ran the whole trail, through the forest, down the steps, around the cliffs before reaching a protected amphitheater behind a waterfall (see photo above). I was so excited I made it! Until I realized I was only halfway through the ordeal. I had to hike back to my car eventually. I started shaking again. After only a few minutes, I ran uphill as fast as I could back to the parking lot. I never did see a mountain lion. I’m not sure I saw much of anything, come to think of it!

(Funny enough, I spotted a mountain lion—only my second in the wild—at a distance in a different location within Silver Falls State Park while hiking alone there in 2019. I can only describe the encounter as unbelievably magical, almost surreal. It was such a beautiful creature. But important public service announcement: do NOT run in mountain lion country. You’ll look like prey…)

In any case, I’m much calmer and more confident now not only hiking, but also traveling in general on my own. I love having the freedom to do what I want when and how I want. I follow my own bliss. I can blend in or stand out. I can engage or unplug. I can eat the whole bag of white cheddar popcorn if I want to. And I sure do sometimes!

When I’m alone, my awareness of my surroundings heightens. I tend to live fully in the present moment in my independence. As my skills and sensibilities are tested in various situations, I learn much about how the world works and how I respond to it. For me, it’s educational and liberating.

For me, I am a more creative photographer when it’s a solitary endeavor. It’s not that I can’t make images when I’m with other people. It’s just that I tend to worry about things like becoming a burden on other people, trying to get out of other people’s way, making sure they’re fed and having fun, and the like. In a group, caring about others’ well-being rises above the importance of making an image. By myself, however, my brain instead shifts its limited resources on being mindful, connecting with the landscape, and creating self-expressions. I couldn’t care less if I starve in the process. HA! Ok, that’s not entirely true, but you catch my drift.

It’s taken almost 16 years for me to build up to that point, though, from freaking out on a well-traveled trail. If you’ve never ventured out solo, start out with smaller, shorter jaunts. Head to your local park and walk around for 15 minutes. See how that feels. If all goes well, next time, go a little farther out and for a longer period of time.

Traveling alone should be enjoyable and enlightening experience, not a scary one. You have to be smart and safe about it, though. To help make solo adventuring more comfortable, here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way from experience and other solo travelers:

  • Communicate your plans: Leave a detailed itinerary with a trusted family member or friend. Consistently check in with them via phone or email during your trip. Use a Garmin InReach (which I prefer over SPOT) or satellite phone if you venture to areas without cell phone and internet services.
  • Be aware of your surroundings: Know the areas of travel very well—where to go and where not to go—by researching and planning your itinerary before you go. Select well-lit routes over dark, unlit areas. Inquire about road terrain and conditions, checking for hazards and closures, before you drive them. Actively observe your environment and use common sense to avoid compromising situations. Keep a list of local emergency phone numbers in your pocket; do not be afraid to ask for help if you feel concerned. Use bathrooms at fast-food restaurants instead of rest areas, where you can conspicuously blend into a busy, family-friendly place.
  • Know how to take care of yourself: Take a first aid class from the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org). If you spend time in the backcountry alone, consider the NOLS Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder class instead (www.nols.edu).
  • Stay safe in hotels: Ask for a different room if the check-in clerk verbalizes your room number and ensure they know you are not expecting any visitors. Instead of hanging the breakfast room service card on your door overnight, call room service directly. Wedge a plastic doorstop behind the door while inside.
  • Protect yourself while camping: Do not overtly advertise you are traveling alone—especially on social media—but let park rangers, camp hosts, and other authorities know you are by yourself. Ask for their after-hours contact information in case of emergency. If you’re female, select a campsite near a family or other women. Keep your car keys with you at all times and use your vehicle’s panic alarm if in danger. Sleep in your vehicle with the doors locked if needed. Put a pair of men’s hiking boots outside your tent and set up two chairs. Consider traveling with a dog who will raise a ruckus if someone invades your space.
  • Tread smartly while hiking and/or backpacking: Secure necessary permits and sign in at trail registries. Be well versed in wildlife behavior and safety. Carry bear spray and wear bear bells in bear country (check local/park restrictions, as group sizes in grizzly bear country frequently require a minimum of 2-3 people for safety). Avoid using headphones and listening to your music storage device while on the trail. Understand how to use a GPS, compass, and map. State-based Becoming an Outdoor Woman camps (www.azwildlife.org) often offer classes in navigation.
  • Get help on the road: Sign up for an AAA membership (www.aaa.com), which provides 24/7 roadside assistance. Memorize their help number (1-800-AAA-HELP). Avoid driving long stretches at night in remote places.
  • Do not bring valuables with you: Leave fancy jewelry in a safe place at home. Store money in your underclothes, socks, or travel purse carried close to your body. Make multiple copies of your travel documents, leaving one set with family and friends, storing a copy in each of your bags, and carrying one set on you.
  • Trust your intuition: Don’t second guess yourself or brush off that odd feeling in your gut. There’s no harm in leaving a situation if it doesn’t feel right.
  • As a last resort, defend yourself: Look for local organizations within your community that offer self-defense classes. Carry a taser, mace, and/or bear spray. If you are willing to educate yourself, use it responsibly and safely, and can handle the potential consequences, decide whether to carry a firearm. Check and abide by local and federal laws and take a firearm safety class first.
  • Travel with other singles: Join singles groups, clubs, meetups, etc., which help men and women traveling alone come together. (Shameless self-promotion: join one of my co-ed or all-women’s workshops! I get lots of single travelers on my trips who gain confidence in traveling on their own and/or meet other soloists to adventure with together.)

Do readers have any additional tips and tricks that work for them? If so, please add them to the Comments section below. Let’s help our friend “A Fraidy Cat” out!

Then let’s all hit the road together! But separately. Alone. With our own really big bag of white cheddar popcorn…

As Suzy Strutner, the Associate Lifestyle Editor for HuffPost Travel, said, “Solo travel not only pushes you out of your comfort zone, it also pushes you out of the zone of others expectations.” To build on that, as Neale Donald Walsh said, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Be well, BE SAFE, be wild,
~Bubbles

Have a question about photography, art, and/or the creative life? Need some advice? Send your question to Dear Bubbles at [email protected] to be possibly featured in a future column post. (If you’d prefer a different display name than your real first name, please include your preferred nickname in your note.)

11 Comments

  • Ray

    Never trust your vehicle GPS on backcountry roads. Carry paper maps to confirm GPS route and consult the paper map when the GPS is telling you something that looks dicey.

    And NEVER run in mountain lion country. You look like food when you do. Walk softly and hope you catch a glimpse of big cat.

    • Bubbles

      Great points, Ray! Except are you saying I looked like a hot dog running down that Silver Falls trail?! Hahaha! Yeah, I know better (and more) now…I just try to avoid running in general…

  • Laurie

    What great timing, have been contemplating all day what I want to do this year, with or without a traveling buddy! All great tips that I may just need to print out and keep handy for when the time comes.

  • Marcia

    I agree 100% with Colleen’s advice. I’m a seasoned single traveler, having taken several road trips from my Midwest home to both coasts. Before retirement, I was fortunate to have traveled frequently for my job which helped me gain confidence navigating through airports, unfamiliar cities and unexpected challenges. The best advice is to always be aware of your environment and have a plan to retreat quickly, whether it’s in the city or hiking alone on a waterfall trail. Full disclosure: I’m still reluctant to travel alone out of the US, but I’m working on that! Thanks, Colleen, for sharing your experiences!

  • Deborah Nielsen

    All good points and many of them I have used myself as a solo traveler.
    In addition to carrying a roadside service plan, I learned how to change a tire and fix a flat and other basic auto repairs. I hope I never have to do them but I feel more confident just knowing that I can.
    Many what-ifs used to stop me from doing a lot of solo things but those what-ifs, I found, mainly happened in my head. After going on a few excursions where nothing happened, I was able to poke that bug-a-boo back in its hole and shut the lid.
    Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and jump in to get started. It’s scary at first but will become easier the more you do it.

    • Bubbles

      Great comments, Deborah. Being self-sufficient “out there” is a must for any traveler, but especially a solo one.

  • Mary Brisson

    Recently I’ve come to realize that in some places prime seasons for photography coincide with those for hunting. In any given location, there may be several different open seasons throughout the year. It’s good to contact state wildlife authorities and area public lands agencies. But, still, it can be complicated to keep track.

    My new plan is to add a hunter orange vest to the outdoor wardrobe I keep in the car (it already includes a hunter orange hat), and wear it any time I’m not sure whether I’m in an area that’s open for hunting. (If you travel with a dog, you can get a lightweight hunter orange vest for your pal, too.)

    That’s the end of my practical contribution to the conversation. The rest is more personal, for Bubbles.

    Bubbles, I watched your OOC LIve presentation, Human Perceptions in Composition. It was extraordinarily informative, and very timely for me at what I hope is going to be a turning point.

    During Q&A, I was interested to learn that you prefer to photograph alone when you’re not teaching. It’s a solo undertaking for me, too. I can’t tell what I feel when other people are in my space.

    The OOC host had mentioned you had an advice column, and I came here to see whether it had ever touched on the matter of being out in the field alone as a woman (not a young one, in my case). My trepidation has been a blocking issue for me, the big obstacle in front of that turning point I mentioned. I’m sure the sequence of events that led me to this post was no coincidence. When the student is ready, the teacher appears, right? Your candor here about your own fears and your generous advice are going be very helpful–even though it means I have to get past my resistance to learning how to change a tire. Thank you for both your presentation and your column. (And your books.)

    I raise my Prosecco glass to you.

    • Bubbles

      Thanks so much, Mary, for stopping by when you did. And for such lovely compliments. I’m so glad you found the OOC Live presentation and the Dear Bubbles and that the ideas may have use to you in your journey. I appreciate you expanding the discussion–I’m going to have to add the hunter’s orange vest to my solo travel arsenal. Thanks for that great idea! Better to learn how to change a tire in your own driveway than 60-plus miles away from anywhere (here’s the story of how I learned: http://youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/my-281-and-four-beer-trip-to-toroweap/). You got this, Mary! And if I can help in any way, you know where to find me. Raising my Prosecco glass to meet yours.

  • Kaylyn Franks

    Awesome article!!! I have been a longtime solo adventurer, particularly when photographing!! The time alone allows me to tap into my creativity like no other. I have also grown to know ME at a much more intimate level. I have gained insight to a couple of items I will add to my safe travel plans after reading your article and the comments.

    In addition to your list, I live in the Northwest and often travel during winter, so I make sure I have a heavy sleeping bag, durable winter clothing, boots, snow shoes, cross country skis, candle, Propane heater, food and cat litter or sand in my vehicle. I have several weather apps I use and review them closely prior to and during travels, particularly for the photograph I am pursuing and being prepared for the travel.