By Mariah Cannon

First off, I want to start by saying; solo travel is not for everyone. It’s hard to be alone with your thoughts and the world criticizing you for doing that, BUT it is the most freeing feeling & you learn so much about yourself & gain skills you never thought possible. It challenges you, it hurts you, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it frustrates you, and it makes you appreciate your life and everything you get to do.

Now that that’s out of the way… Buckle up because we’re going there. Oh yeah.

How I Started Traveling Alone

I think when a lot of people hear “solo travel”, their first thoughts go something along the lines of this… “You’re crazy for doing that by yourself” or “How are you not scared?”. Well, I think yeah maybe it is crazy, but so is not seeing what you dream to see!

I got big into hiking and I come from a very rural town and friend group, hiking did not really fit in to the lifestyle I come from. At first, I would always ask friends to go here and hike that and see this, but after a while of getting “no’s” I was feeling burnt out from not seeing the places I wanted to.

Insert when Instagram can read your mind and solo female travel pages started popping up on my explore page and my first though was definitely something along the lines of, “That sounds absolutely crazy, but amazing”.

In comes the trip planning and going on my own timeline, amazing. Here are some things that help ease my mind and keep me confident in my ability to navigate around!

Start Small

For some of my first out of town adventures and hikes, I started pretty small. I went to places I felt comfortable in and knew my way around in case something went South. It’s important to revisit these places frequently when beginning solo adventures so you can have places that you know well to not only be confident, but to also build your navigational skills on your own.

My go to hiking area was Smith Rock State Park, it’s a super comfortable setting for me. There was a few months where I was hiking a trail there almost weekly to build my confidence up.

Biggest take away go somewhere close to home & somewhere you feel comfortable.

Do It Scared

I was and sometimes still am scared to travel by myself and hike alone, but the one thing that always runs through my mind while out is, “Do things scared and gain the confidence after”. That is so true, you feel sort of a sense of accomplishment after doing something that made you hold your breath to hear what was just a bird (birds are the worst scares). It feels so good.

It can be super intimidating, especially when people you know and even people you don’t (the internet) say it’s a bad idea and don’t support it. I try to just stay positive and appreciate their genuine concern, but also not let the fear hold me back from doing what I want.

I fear the regret of not doing what I want, more than the fear of going alone!

Have Some Sort of Self Defense Mechanism

This is usually a tricky subject in today’s world, but I do not leave the house to go on an adventure without multiple forms of self defense!

If you have a dog, obviously that makes things a little more comfortable. My Maverick is one of the best protectors for me, he knows when someone’s vibe is off or when an animal is nearby and he’s usually pretty good about warning me in advance. If you’ve got a fur baby, bring them along on the adventures!

I also always keep a pocket knife and bear spray with me where they’re easily accessible. Truthfully, the bear spray is more for a human predator than an actual bear, because that can definitely do some damage in order to get away. Here in Oregon, we’ve only got smaller black bears and they typically mind their own business.

If you’re comfortable with it, know how to use one, and go through the proper training and certifications for your state, you can conceal carry.

Always Let Somebody Know

Always have at least 2 people you share your location with and make sure to let them know when you should be returning and what your plan is so they can take action if you’re not back within the time frame you gave them.

Be Prepared!

Now this goes hand in hand with carrying protection, but you should most definitely always have your 10 essentials

1. Navigation; map, alltrails, compass
2. Sun protection; sun shirt, hat, sunscreen
3. Insulation; puffy jacket, rain jacket
4. Illumination; headlamp, flashlight, etc…
5. First aid; I always say first aid is subjective – but bring the basics! (Bandages, gauze, tape, ibuprofen, etc…)
6. Fire; matches, lighter, fire starter
7. Repair kit; duct tape, small scissors, patches
8. Nutrition; high protein and calorie foods
9. Hydration; water, electrolytes
10. Emergency shelter; bivy, space blanket, or small tarp

Being prepared also means knowing your terrain and wilderness area. Do your research before heading out and check any recent reviews of the trail. People are really eager to help when it comes to letting you know what happened during their experience on the trail!

Expect the unexpected, but don’t let it hinder you! I always prepare myself for if I were to encounter a bear, a cougar, or an unfriendly human. Thankfully I have Maverick and he’s a big deterrent for most predators, but I still like to keep my guard up just in case.

Conclusion & Encouragement

Girl, get adventuring!! But truthfully, if you’re considering it and have that bit of fear, do it scared and conquer your fears! My biggest motivation is the people around me telling me they wish they would’ve done more with their lives and lived it how they chose, not how others chose for them. Don’t let that be you.

Psalms 23:4 👇🏼

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..”

Regardless of religion, this verse from the Bible lays it all out! Be courageous and have no fear, but be aware of the things around you.

Let’s Get Adventuring!

Mariah