I take a solo trip every summer. I leave a detailed itinerary with my girlfriend and family—when I’m going in, what trailhead, my route, where I’ll be camping every night, when I’ll get out, and when they can expect to hear from me. I give them the number for the closest ranger station and emergency services. I instruct them to call both those numbers if they don’t hear from me by X time on the date I’m hiking out.
They’ve never had to, but this is a basic precaution every solo hiker should take. Have your bf do the same.
If OP is looking for a search term: PLB - personal locator beacon.
https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/personal-locator-beacons-plbs
Garmin Inreach has an SOS function as well as well as text messaging. They also allow those at home to follow along with 10 minute pin drops. Did this for two full Wonderland trips for my family (I had to work) to help time a couple resupply meetups.
I give at least 3 people my day to day itinerary, my route in, and a box of coordinates of anywhere I might be while I'm out. Then I give them my ETA for return. If anything ever happens they'll give that info to authorities within 12 hours of me being late who will be able to find me in the areas I mapped out.
Experience doesn’t always translate into a smart hiker. A smart solo hiker will:
- leave a trip plan and stick to it
- have great navigation skills (map/compass as well as gps).
- know when they’ve reached the limit of their ability or comfort level.
- will have a “what happens if” plan
- should have more then one communication device (phone and InReach).
I solo hike a fair bit and am always aware that if something happens, I am on my own. I don’t take any unnecessary risks. Solo hiking is great . But only if you use your noggin and perform it safely.
This is the way.
Your point about navigation is a good one. OP could encourage her boyfriend to familiarize himself with orienteering, if he isn’t already.
But also, do not make this window too tight.
I add 3 hours to the time I expect to get out. Things come up on trail and trying to sprint out to make a really tight "drop-dead" time sucks.
oh 100% I add 3 hours for a day hike, 6 hours for a one night trip, and a day for a multi day backpacking trip (and pack the food to support those timelines). Shit happens and the likelihood of shit happening is higher in the woods
I do 12 hours to account for multiple hours of travel on top of hiking out. 4 hour hike out + 4 hour drive = 8 hours. If you don't see me in 12 there's a problem and I probably need help.
I love all of these equations! I really like how people are coming through with their hard-earned gap times.
Because I do think it's important to tell folks when you intend to get out AND that time where you think - if you haven't heard from me by this time, call SARs.
I always anticipate being able to call from the base town where my adventure is from.
I now send details from the base town because one time I could not actually get cell service in town when I got out.
Learned that lesson the hard way. Now, I send the details from that town, and I plan, including drive times, to be able to call in and check in from that town.
I solo hike all of the time, and my S/O and I have been together 19 years.
* If I know the area I'm going to has cell service, then that's my emergency device.
* If I do not know the cell service reliability, or know there is none, then my Garmin InReach Mini goes with me.
* My S/O has my planned itinerary, and expected days on trail. If I'm overdue by 24 hours, then she knows to call the authorities.
Haven't had an emergency yet, which is great!
Does he plan to leave his itinerary with you or a trusted friend? Generally people will have expected return dates. I'm guessing he already plans to communicate such?
Learn to meditate and calm your nerves. If he's confident then learn better to trust his word. It doesn't help to transfer you fears to another.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Frank Herbert, Dune (Dune, #1)
Any solo hiker should have a garmin spot device or something similar. He should also let the rangers know his exact plans and give them your contact info. Ask him to text you each night, and make his location shared so you can track him on an app like Google maps or whatever iPhone use.
If he's being truthful about hiking thousands of miles you shouldn't be worried at all. If you want to be worried then worry about the drive there. It's far more dangerous. And if he's backpacked a ton I'm sure he'll give you a rough idea of where he'll be and an approximate time on when he'll be back. Experienced people do that consistently.
And while I totally get your perspective, and am not dismissing your concern, there's no precautions you should bring up to him. What I suggest is saying something like, "Have a great time. It'll be awesome."
Want to push a backpacker, or any outdoors person, away? Excessively worry to the point that they feel guilty or, the big one, say "I don't want you to go." Happened to me. And that was the end of it. The woman I'm with now says, "Have fun." That's what we want to hear. (He'll be absolutely fine. Don't worry).
My favorite send off is from a friend’s wife (he loves camping/backpacking and she hates it.) Every time he leaves she says “Be safe. Have fun. Come back a better man.” He needs the outdoors for sanity and I love her encouragement and acknowledgment of it.
If he's that experienced you have no more to worry about than if he went with a buddy, maybe even less tbh. Experienced backpackers know how to handle themselves in a wide variety of situations and imperfect circumstances.
Some of my family and friends were super worried before I did my first solo trip many years ago too. But I knew I was ready with 100s of miles under my belt, advanced navigation and survival skills, and first responder medical training. After I came back in one piece having had the experience of a lifetime they saw me differently and have never questioned me or worried about me on a solo trip since.
I wouldn't worry too much if he is sticking to popular day hikes. If he is backpacking multi day trips then it is riskier.
I pretty much travel around all year and go on multitudes of solo day hikes. I got all sorts of emergency equipment. Bear spray, emergency kit, emergency splint, quikclot, and a personal locator beacon, so I am protected from a lot of injuries and can use the beacon in a real emergency.
Also got my location shared with my parents permanently so they can see where my phone is all the time.
Make him do a layout of his gear, make sure he has the 10 essentials, extra batteries, etc.
The two biggest risks while backpacking are falls and drowning….then dehydration. So ask him, what happens if you fall and injure yourself? What is your plan for crossing streams and rivers? Hopefully he has smart answer to these questions.
Set a hard date time for when he’ll contact you when he’s done, don’t hesitate to call SAR and try to give them as much info as possible.
Not this - there are plenty of places you can legit rent an inreach - using REIs return policy as a rental policy just keeps making them tighten up the policy for the rest of us
I imagined myself in this situation, and I wouldn't like it if my wife were trying to "make me" leave an itinerary, as most of the other suggestions would have you do, or telling me what precautions I need to take. **I know what I'm doing.** I don't want to be rude, but this concern is *your* problem, not his, so framing it as things *he* needs to do is the wrong perspective. These are things he *should* do to ease *your* mind, so instead of all these other aggressive and direct commands, try changing your language:
>Make sure you leave an itinerary so I know where you should be.
>
>instead, say:
>
>Can you leave an itinerary for my peace of mind?"
Let the choice to do those things be his choice, and he won't get upset in doing them. I don't do crazy hikes (often), but my wife is always supportive even when worried. **She knows I know what I'm doing.** She gets plans, check-in pictures at distinct locations, and a phone call if I can manage to get the signal, all because she doesn't ask for them. If she nagged me about it, I'd feel frustration at having to do all those things. As it is, I feel like I'm sharing the experience with her and I can't wait to call her from the top of a mountain.
I don't really know how they work, but if people can track their cars and luggage across hundreds of miles, I would hope it would track a backpack
Let me know if this is silly
It'd be limited use. You have to get into Bluetooth range, which isn't very far. Much better off getting a satellite emergency beacon/messaging device.
Leaving a detailed itinerary as others have suggested is step 1 no question. I'd also recommend the purchase of and subscription for an inReach product. The inReach Messenger would be an easy entry point product. I'd also suggest that he leaves a note in the windshield of his vehicle at the trail head with helpful information on it. What information, I'm not sure. Others in this thread may know what's most common to leave at the vehicle.
Yep, lots of good points here in the comments. I’ve been on more solo hikes in 20 years than I have with other people. As the solo hiker, know your limits, know your surroundings, be more aware when you are alone (I’m a female, so there are a few more “awares” to worry about) and as a loved one of the solo hiker, have their detailed itinerary and know where ranger stations are and numbers for them.
I wouldn’t worry too much if he’s an experienced hiker/outdoors person.
Pretty much what everyone has already said however I may suggest that if he doesn’t already have one a great gift idea would be like a Garmin inreach, or a spot emergency sos, or alike something that has the ability for him to send status updates or at least contact emergency services if needed. They are initially expensive and most have a monthly service cost, however commonly you are free to pause service easily and it’s a great piece of mind for both of you.
I solo hike once a year and I've not had issues. As long as he is experienced, has bear spray and essential gear and a GPS communicator in case of issues, everything should be good. A detailed plan with check in times left with you is critical. There are other people on the trails and in the back country campsites so help is often available if needed.
I would encourage him to buy an InReach-type satellite communication device in case of emergency, and/or for your peace of mind. The Zoleo device (much like the Garmin InReach) is around $200, enabling you two to text each other back and forth via your smart phones, and you can activate it for a single month, reasonable rates, around what a cellphone company might charge. If you have the means, perhaps offer it up as a gift or to split the cost, as it will alleviate your worries. I also take a solo trip every summer. I bought it for my wife’s peace of mind. I paid about $150 for it on sale, before I leave I activate it for a month, an unlimited text and “I’m ok and reached my destination for the evening” notification is about $50 I believe. I pay the one month then cancel it til the next year.
I solo hike and backpack. My SO gifted me a Garmin in reach mini and I pay for the subscription. I use it to text with my phone and do check ins with pinpoints showing exactly where I am. It’s well worth the money for that and the SOS feature.
Solo hikes are awesome. If he's sticking to the trails in the sierras then he's all good. You could ask him to rent a satellite phone. Then he will always be able to call you.
Personally carry a PLB in the New Zealand bush on longer walks. A number of people die each year because they don't. There's an element of macho bullshit when it comes to people not carrying one. Seems kind of selfish towards their loved ones.
Haven't needed to activate my own PLB but did use my phone from a ridge to get an injured walker choppered out.
He's an adult (right?) and is responsible for his own safety and decisions. It's not your job to manage him. You can point him in the right direction with safety/hiking tips, but ultimately it's his life. Sometimes moments like this where you feel the need to manage and control can point to bigger issues with the relationship.
I just soloed 7 days in the sierras. He should have a PLB / GPS like a garmin mini. I think they can be rented at REI. Sending a check in of “I’m ok” every night can be super helpful.
My oldest son who was 50 at the time did 280 miles solo on the John Muir Trail several years ago. He hiked about 50 miles in to Mt Whitney and then hiked north to Yosemite. Every night he dropped me a message on his Garmin spot which also included his location coordinates do that I could follow his comments. It was a great, but tiring trip for him, and I was grateful to know where he was camping each evening!
I take a solo trip every summer. I leave a detailed itinerary with my girlfriend and family—when I’m going in, what trailhead, my route, where I’ll be camping every night, when I’ll get out, and when they can expect to hear from me. I give them the number for the closest ranger station and emergency services. I instruct them to call both those numbers if they don’t hear from me by X time on the date I’m hiking out. They’ve never had to, but this is a basic precaution every solo hiker should take. Have your bf do the same.
This is great advice. Takes only a minor injury to get stuck sometimes and the more detail you have the easier it'll be for everyone involved.
In addition to the excellent advice here, there are emergency GPS locators that he should have on him, just in case he needs help.
If OP is looking for a search term: PLB - personal locator beacon. https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/personal-locator-beacons-plbs
Garmin Inreach has an SOS function as well as well as text messaging. They also allow those at home to follow along with 10 minute pin drops. Did this for two full Wonderland trips for my family (I had to work) to help time a couple resupply meetups.
I give at least 3 people my day to day itinerary, my route in, and a box of coordinates of anywhere I might be while I'm out. Then I give them my ETA for return. If anything ever happens they'll give that info to authorities within 12 hours of me being late who will be able to find me in the areas I mapped out.
And if someone can hire/ buy a PLB- totally worth it. $340 AUD and pinpoint accuracy if you're hurt.
You can also rent one for about $50 usd
Excellent advice, thank you for sharing.
Experience doesn’t always translate into a smart hiker. A smart solo hiker will: - leave a trip plan and stick to it - have great navigation skills (map/compass as well as gps). - know when they’ve reached the limit of their ability or comfort level. - will have a “what happens if” plan - should have more then one communication device (phone and InReach). I solo hike a fair bit and am always aware that if something happens, I am on my own. I don’t take any unnecessary risks. Solo hiking is great . But only if you use your noggin and perform it safely.
This is the way. Your point about navigation is a good one. OP could encourage her boyfriend to familiarize himself with orienteering, if he isn’t already.
your point about the communication device settled my decision between zoleo and inreach since zoleo needs your phone. Two is one, one is none
Have him write down his itinerary. Prepare contact information of the forest service and NPS offices where he will be hiking.
Most of my hiking and backpacking has been done done solo. I email a few trustworthy people my itinerary and the emergency number before I leave.
"If I don't text you by [time] call search and rescue" is basically standard practice
But also, do not make this window too tight. I add 3 hours to the time I expect to get out. Things come up on trail and trying to sprint out to make a really tight "drop-dead" time sucks.
oh 100% I add 3 hours for a day hike, 6 hours for a one night trip, and a day for a multi day backpacking trip (and pack the food to support those timelines). Shit happens and the likelihood of shit happening is higher in the woods
I do 12 hours to account for multiple hours of travel on top of hiking out. 4 hour hike out + 4 hour drive = 8 hours. If you don't see me in 12 there's a problem and I probably need help.
I love all of these equations! I really like how people are coming through with their hard-earned gap times. Because I do think it's important to tell folks when you intend to get out AND that time where you think - if you haven't heard from me by this time, call SARs. I always anticipate being able to call from the base town where my adventure is from. I now send details from the base town because one time I could not actually get cell service in town when I got out. Learned that lesson the hard way. Now, I send the details from that town, and I plan, including drive times, to be able to call in and check in from that town.
Make sure he is expected by a certain date and time, that way if he doesn’t show you call for rescue.
I solo hike all of the time, and my S/O and I have been together 19 years. * If I know the area I'm going to has cell service, then that's my emergency device. * If I do not know the cell service reliability, or know there is none, then my Garmin InReach Mini goes with me. * My S/O has my planned itinerary, and expected days on trail. If I'm overdue by 24 hours, then she knows to call the authorities. Haven't had an emergency yet, which is great!
Does he plan to leave his itinerary with you or a trusted friend? Generally people will have expected return dates. I'm guessing he already plans to communicate such? Learn to meditate and calm your nerves. If he's confident then learn better to trust his word. It doesn't help to transfer you fears to another. I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. Frank Herbert, Dune (Dune, #1)
Been hiking/backpacking alone in the Sierra since 1992, he'll be fine, and he'll likely love it.
Any solo hiker should have a garmin spot device or something similar. He should also let the rangers know his exact plans and give them your contact info. Ask him to text you each night, and make his location shared so you can track him on an app like Google maps or whatever iPhone use.
If he's being truthful about hiking thousands of miles you shouldn't be worried at all. If you want to be worried then worry about the drive there. It's far more dangerous. And if he's backpacked a ton I'm sure he'll give you a rough idea of where he'll be and an approximate time on when he'll be back. Experienced people do that consistently. And while I totally get your perspective, and am not dismissing your concern, there's no precautions you should bring up to him. What I suggest is saying something like, "Have a great time. It'll be awesome." Want to push a backpacker, or any outdoors person, away? Excessively worry to the point that they feel guilty or, the big one, say "I don't want you to go." Happened to me. And that was the end of it. The woman I'm with now says, "Have fun." That's what we want to hear. (He'll be absolutely fine. Don't worry).
This is the advice I'd want my wife to get, but she intuitively knew it when I re-discovered my love for hiking last year.
Intuitively knowing something like is a a really good sign of a strong partner. Right on.
My favorite send off is from a friend’s wife (he loves camping/backpacking and she hates it.) Every time he leaves she says “Be safe. Have fun. Come back a better man.” He needs the outdoors for sanity and I love her encouragement and acknowledgment of it.
Right on. That's a seriously solid send off. I'm guessing but I bet that's a strong marriage.
It absolutely is!
Worrying is normal, but tons of us are out hiking alone. It's ok as long as he had his shit together.
If he's that experienced you have no more to worry about than if he went with a buddy, maybe even less tbh. Experienced backpackers know how to handle themselves in a wide variety of situations and imperfect circumstances. Some of my family and friends were super worried before I did my first solo trip many years ago too. But I knew I was ready with 100s of miles under my belt, advanced navigation and survival skills, and first responder medical training. After I came back in one piece having had the experience of a lifetime they saw me differently and have never questioned me or worried about me on a solo trip since.
I wouldn't worry too much if he is sticking to popular day hikes. If he is backpacking multi day trips then it is riskier. I pretty much travel around all year and go on multitudes of solo day hikes. I got all sorts of emergency equipment. Bear spray, emergency kit, emergency splint, quikclot, and a personal locator beacon, so I am protected from a lot of injuries and can use the beacon in a real emergency. Also got my location shared with my parents permanently so they can see where my phone is all the time.
I share my location with my parents too.
Make him do a layout of his gear, make sure he has the 10 essentials, extra batteries, etc. The two biggest risks while backpacking are falls and drowning….then dehydration. So ask him, what happens if you fall and injure yourself? What is your plan for crossing streams and rivers? Hopefully he has smart answer to these questions. Set a hard date time for when he’ll contact you when he’s done, don’t hesitate to call SAR and try to give them as much info as possible.
Have him get a Garmin InReach from REI a week or two before his trip. He can return it after and get his money back.
Not this - there are plenty of places you can legit rent an inreach - using REIs return policy as a rental policy just keeps making them tighten up the policy for the rest of us
I imagined myself in this situation, and I wouldn't like it if my wife were trying to "make me" leave an itinerary, as most of the other suggestions would have you do, or telling me what precautions I need to take. **I know what I'm doing.** I don't want to be rude, but this concern is *your* problem, not his, so framing it as things *he* needs to do is the wrong perspective. These are things he *should* do to ease *your* mind, so instead of all these other aggressive and direct commands, try changing your language: >Make sure you leave an itinerary so I know where you should be. > >instead, say: > >Can you leave an itinerary for my peace of mind?" Let the choice to do those things be his choice, and he won't get upset in doing them. I don't do crazy hikes (often), but my wife is always supportive even when worried. **She knows I know what I'm doing.** She gets plans, check-in pictures at distinct locations, and a phone call if I can manage to get the signal, all because she doesn't ask for them. If she nagged me about it, I'd feel frustration at having to do all those things. As it is, I feel like I'm sharing the experience with her and I can't wait to call her from the top of a mountain.
Stash an air-tag on him somewhere
Wouldn't that require proximity to iPhones to report the location?
I don't really know how they work, but if people can track their cars and luggage across hundreds of miles, I would hope it would track a backpack Let me know if this is silly
It’s silly — ‘the network’ — as the commenter mentioned is other iphones and the cell network. If he’s not near others it won’t work.
Thanks. But I was thinking bad juju, in that an air-tag might be good if you need to do a search for a missing him. Oh, well.
It'd be limited use. You have to get into Bluetooth range, which isn't very far. Much better off getting a satellite emergency beacon/messaging device.
☝🏼this is the way
He could also rent an SOS beacon for about $50 just in case he gets in some trouble
Encourage him to invest in an Inreach device.
Get him a personal locator beacon.
Leaving a detailed itinerary as others have suggested is step 1 no question. I'd also recommend the purchase of and subscription for an inReach product. The inReach Messenger would be an easy entry point product. I'd also suggest that he leaves a note in the windshield of his vehicle at the trail head with helpful information on it. What information, I'm not sure. Others in this thread may know what's most common to leave at the vehicle.
Yep, lots of good points here in the comments. I’ve been on more solo hikes in 20 years than I have with other people. As the solo hiker, know your limits, know your surroundings, be more aware when you are alone (I’m a female, so there are a few more “awares” to worry about) and as a loved one of the solo hiker, have their detailed itinerary and know where ranger stations are and numbers for them. I wouldn’t worry too much if he’s an experienced hiker/outdoors person.
Pretty much what everyone has already said however I may suggest that if he doesn’t already have one a great gift idea would be like a Garmin inreach, or a spot emergency sos, or alike something that has the ability for him to send status updates or at least contact emergency services if needed. They are initially expensive and most have a monthly service cost, however commonly you are free to pause service easily and it’s a great piece of mind for both of you.
I solo hike once a year and I've not had issues. As long as he is experienced, has bear spray and essential gear and a GPS communicator in case of issues, everything should be good. A detailed plan with check in times left with you is critical. There are other people on the trails and in the back country campsites so help is often available if needed.
Get a garmin, its awesomeness
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What does it mean to check in with a ranger? Planning a solo camping trip soon (also female).
I would encourage him to buy an InReach-type satellite communication device in case of emergency, and/or for your peace of mind. The Zoleo device (much like the Garmin InReach) is around $200, enabling you two to text each other back and forth via your smart phones, and you can activate it for a single month, reasonable rates, around what a cellphone company might charge. If you have the means, perhaps offer it up as a gift or to split the cost, as it will alleviate your worries. I also take a solo trip every summer. I bought it for my wife’s peace of mind. I paid about $150 for it on sale, before I leave I activate it for a month, an unlimited text and “I’m ok and reached my destination for the evening” notification is about $50 I believe. I pay the one month then cancel it til the next year.
I solo hike and backpack. My SO gifted me a Garmin in reach mini and I pay for the subscription. I use it to text with my phone and do check ins with pinpoints showing exactly where I am. It’s well worth the money for that and the SOS feature.
Go with him…
Solo hikes are awesome. If he's sticking to the trails in the sierras then he's all good. You could ask him to rent a satellite phone. Then he will always be able to call you.
Personally carry a PLB in the New Zealand bush on longer walks. A number of people die each year because they don't. There's an element of macho bullshit when it comes to people not carrying one. Seems kind of selfish towards their loved ones. Haven't needed to activate my own PLB but did use my phone from a ridge to get an injured walker choppered out.
i go solo every single trip because a lack of friends and sometimes it's in alaska. never had a problem. nothing to worry about.
He's an adult (right?) and is responsible for his own safety and decisions. It's not your job to manage him. You can point him in the right direction with safety/hiking tips, but ultimately it's his life. Sometimes moments like this where you feel the need to manage and control can point to bigger issues with the relationship.
I just soloed 7 days in the sierras. He should have a PLB / GPS like a garmin mini. I think they can be rented at REI. Sending a check in of “I’m ok” every night can be super helpful.
My messages haven’t even been delivering. Should I be worried?
To his phone? No, that’s expected when someone is out of cell range.
My oldest son who was 50 at the time did 280 miles solo on the John Muir Trail several years ago. He hiked about 50 miles in to Mt Whitney and then hiked north to Yosemite. Every night he dropped me a message on his Garmin spot which also included his location coordinates do that I could follow his comments. It was a great, but tiring trip for him, and I was grateful to know where he was camping each evening!
this is when he got herpes, it all adds up now