Mostly, when I go walking or hiking, I go alone. I am often asked about that: whether it is a preference, do I feel safe being out on the mountains on my own, and so on. So for this posting, I thought I would do a little analysis of the various factors involved.
First of all, let’s take the question of preference. No, it is not a preference to walk alone, and I have enjoyed many walks in good company. The difficulty is to find someone who sets the same kinds of objectives for their walking, and who walks at the same pace. I will readily admit to being impatient, and I find it difficult to slow my pace or regularly spend time waiting for someone who is slower than me. But neither am I a speed merchant, and I do not run, so someone who is looking to see how fast they can go would not be my ideal companion either. Also, I try to make sure that my hikes are sufficiently long to take up the full day and test my stamina. A short stroll is not what I am after. In fact there was a time when I separated hikers into walkers and strollers, the latter being those who would only do an easy walk that they knew was well within their capabilities. So my criteria for a walking companion are that they must walk at a pace close to my own, and they must have the stamina for the length of walk that I like. As I mentioned, I have occasionally had some great walks in pleasant company, but most times that I go hiking it is on my own purely for that reason that my suitable companions are not available on the day. So it is not a preference, but really just the way things work out.
Then there is the topic of whether it is dangerous or not. I usually counter that question by asking what dangers are to be foreseen in hiking in the mountains. The most common answer to that is that I might be attacked, though when I question what might attack me, the answers vary. Some people seem to think that the mountains of Switzerland and other places are infested with people lying in wait to ambush hikers and take their belongings. In practice, my experience is that it is the cities of the world that are the natural environment for such people. In the mountains, I have rarely found anything other than fellowship and goodwill, be it from the residents or other hikers. When the discussion gets to this point, I am sometimes asked about the risk of bears or wolves. In some 40 years of hiking, I have never met a bear or a wolf. Unfortunately, the history of contact between humans and wild animals in Europe is not a happy one and the bears and wolves have learned to avoid humans. On the other hand I have seen an occasional ibex or marmot here in Switzerland. In Ireland I have been fortunate enough to see a fox now and then, and on very rare occasions a badger. I have never felt threatened by the animals I have seen.
On the other hand I do worry about accidents. When hiking alone, it would only take a minor accident to put me out of action and in need of medical assistance. So I take extra care. I push myself, but without doing anything stupid. And I make sure that my mobile phone is fully charged up before starting out in case I have to call for assistance at some point. Thankfully, that has never been necessary, and I hope it never will.
There are some advantages to hiking alone. I have never seen a cuckoo, but this summer I have heard their call many times. Being alone has made me more alert to the sounds and sights around me. My attention is not diverted.
So on balance, I will continue to hike to the places I want to go. And if people join me, that is great, but if they don’t, then I will go alone as before. Fate has been kind to me, and I will continue as long as fate allows.
Walkingman 