Lessons I’ve Learned from Going on Solo Adventures as a Woman

When I speak about going on solo adventures, I’m often met with questions:

“Is that safe?” 

“Aren’t you scared?”

“I could never do that”

I grew up in the Midwest and while we played outside growing up, my family wasn’t into hiking or camping. We vacationed in Colorado every summer, but my family only went fishing. I’m not sure why we only went fishing in Meeker, but that’s just what we did. 

In my 20’s, I moved to Dallas, and I lived there for 7 years. If you’ve ever lived in Dallas you know that there isn’t much to do outside. Sorry, but the Katy Trail and White Rock Lake are very different from nature in Colorado. So, when I moved to Denver in 2019, it was a steep learning curve. 

I didn’t actually start getting outdoors until COVID hit. I couldn’t go to the gym, or hot yoga, and I needed to move my body. Insert the great outdoors. I was in some hiking groups on Facebook and watched the posts for months. I saved some hikes, but I was scared. My mom lives in the Denver metro so I made her go with me on the first few hikes. I was wildly unprepared and ignorant, but I was hooked. Over the last 6 years, I’ve learned a lot. 

I primarily solo hike and absolutely love it. I love going with friends/family, too, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Here are some lessons that I’ve learned: 

• Sometimes there will be no one to go with you. Go anyway. Take (calculated) risks. You will regret not going. Live a lift that future you will be proud of. I have seen some of the most incredible places - solo. If I waited around for someone to go with me, I would still be sitting at home. 

• You can trust yourself. That little voice inside of you that’s telling you to go for it? To go on the adventure? To do something new? Believe it. Research, plan, and go for it. 

• Always, always trust your gut. If something feels off - it is. Even if there isn’t any “proof” you can believe it. I’ve turned around on multiple hikes because I had a gut feeling I couldn’t shake. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

• Aren’t you scared? Overall, no. Do I sometimes still feel fear? Of course. I’m human. There is a difference in trying something new, and not being fully confident, vs having a bad gut feeling that you can’t shake. 

• Be overprepared. I feel more confident when I’m prepared. I know that I can rely on myself and trust myself to get myself out of a situation if I need to. This looks like: the 10 essentials, carrying a Garmin InReach, communicating where I’ll be to family or friends, and not doing activities outside of my skill set. I’m okay learning and growing (ex: becoming a better skier) but I’m cautious and take calculated risks.

• It’s safer than being outdoors than in most downtown metros. Don’t come at me for this. If you feel perfectly safe walking around in a busy downtown area, vs in the outdoors, then that’s great (truly). I do not. Statistically there is more crime with an increased number of humans. I think it’s riskier to be alone and drunk at a club than alone outdoors. There are potentially “bad” people everywhere, and you likely can’t stop someone who has ill intent, but I feel safer in nature (even with all of the wildlife we have here in Colorado). I always have bear spray clipped to the front of my pack. 

• You’re more capable than you give yourself credit for. Being outdoors has increased my confidence and makes me feel pretty badass at times. It’s such a good feeling to look up at a mountain you just hiked knowing you just accomplished something that took a lot of time and effort. 

• Solo adventures will make you more self reliant. I’ve learned to trust myself in ways that I’m not sure I would have been able to, if I hadn’t started getting outside solo. I think it has weirdly also made me put up with less BS, even in my personal life. Women are statistically less likely to have Search & Rescue related calls and they’re less likely to die in the backcountry than men are. 

• Being outdoors improves your physical, emotional, and mental well being. It helps me destress and tune out all of the craziness of life. Walking is also great for your health. Being in nature helps lower cortisol, increases gratitude, boosts your immune system, and enhances Vitamin D production. Being in nature has also helped me navigate challenges on my own and learn how to problem solve in unique ways.

• I actually like my own company and love myself. I think too many people have low self esteem and don’t genuinely like themselves. If that’s the case, it’s very hard to do things on your own, because the only person you’re with is yourself. That can be confronting. 

• Solo adventures have helped me learn new skills. I think an important part of life, and a personal value of mine, is to always learn and want to grow. When you are learning new skills, hobbies, and exploring new places, it’s great for your brain. 

• I love going on solo adventures because of the freedom it offers me. I never feel like I’m going “too slow” or stopping too much because I want to take photos. I have a non-traditional schedule so it’s easier to get out on my own. Not everyone wants to get up early to go on adventures, but I would rather go early (and sometimes need to go early for safety ex: lightning danger in the summer). 

What questions do you have about solo adventures? What’s something you’ve learned from your own adventures? Drop it in the comments, below.