Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board hiking alone

Comparing driving with hiking on Mt whitney in the winter alone.Gee I can't think of any difference.How about driving alone Vs. with someone there is no difference in accident rates.
Taken to the extreme solo hiking up Mt Everest in a storm is the same as driving the 405.Right.
I wouldn't hike alone on Whitney on July 4th much less the winter.RR

Of course there are differences. What I'm talking about is evaluation of risk.

RJ Secor enjoys mentioning to folks that the most dangerous part of Sierra mountaineering trips, statistically, was driving to the trailhead.

I think of Jim Jenkins, the author of the southern Sierra guidebooks, and a backcountry ranger.....killed on the highway. He did a heck of a lot of solo mountaineering and hiking.

And yet, we out of hand ignore that risk. But worry about the risks of hiking alone. Obviously, hiking alone involves greater risk. But is it a "great" risk? Sometimes. But always, automatically, without exception? I don't believe that.

In the INCIDENT thread Theloneus summarizes his "mistake" by calling it hubris. I guess my curiosity is whether this temptation is confined to solo hiking. I tend to think we are just as capable of committing team or group hubris - it depends on who we're hiking with. For me, the ones who sometimes call my solo hiking trips into question are not my hiking friends, but rather my non-hiking family & friends. As a result I tend to make solo trips on more populated routes (I put Whitney MT and MR in this category, non-winter), while more remote treks are done with a partner. Others may and do choose differently.

One thing that can happen in a group is that an ill-prepared person can be induced to go along with the wishes of the better-prepared majority, putting himself in danger. The majority need not even be aware of its influence. I am not using that as an argument against group hiking, just pointing out that a group situation is not automatically safer in every circumstance.

I have backpacked solo several times in the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming, as well as, a solo winter ascent of Whitney. Although the risks increase with soloing, so do the rewards. Without a doubt the best experiences I have had hiking have been without the "security blanket" of a companion.
Soloing is not for everyone, but I can clearly understand why Ted hiked Whitney alone. I also will not castigate him for doing so. I have found other solo hikers to be a respectful quiet group. My worst outdoor experiences have been the result of loud mouthed, obnoxious groups (as small as two) who feel the need to imprint the wilderness with their personna.
I, for one, will continue to winter hike Whitney solo, albeit with the added wisdom from reading of Ted's experience.

John Muir writes about going into the Sierras with only a blanket and tea kettle and people applaud him for his independence and courage. Now someone does it with cell phone, GPS, map, compass, stove, tent, etc. and the world criticizes them as reckless and careless!~

John Muir hiked in a time when there were not many people willing to go with him.He also probably didn't care if he died there,I am sure he would consider it an honor.I would rather keep alive for another 70 years (as I am only 46)as well as keep all my fingers and toes,if possible,maybe I am too careful, but I also have never been rescued in over 10,000 miles of hiking in all types of weather and places.

What's wrong with hiking on The Main Mt. Whitney Trail in the summer when the snow is gone? Nothing as far as I can see if you have some experience hiking. There are close to 200 people on the trail at any given time. The problem going solo comes when you don't plan or when you don't hike your plan. There are plenty of clueless people on this trail hiking with friends and family who are at greater risk than an experienced solo.

Theloneus aptly describes his hubris in doing this a a solo in the winter and he was lucky to survive it. I would never go on a winter backpacking trip alone. Some don't survive their hubris and arrogance on this trail.

Bill

Perhaps I should have been more specific about which part of my trip "hubris" applies. To me it was not being there alone in the winter, I might even do that again! The hubris was thinking that nothing could stop me from going 1.9 miles to the summit and back, and hence attempting it while not properly equipped.

The following is an essay I wrote about hiking solo. This summer I'm hiking solo the long way on the JMT from Glacier Point in Yosemite. The following is from my journal page at http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=66740

Hiking Solo

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Going Solo: A rationale, a philosophy, a learning experience…

Hiking solo has been one of the most controversial topics that has brought me many lectures and stern warnings from almost everyone who I've talked to about my hike. Those who are less experienced with backpacking often ask me if I will carry a gun or at least a knife. Those who have some experience in the outdoors often remind me of the so-called #1 rule: "Never go alone." Very few actually support my decision to go it alone. The purpose of this essay is to dispel some of the myths of hiking alone and why I believe it's safer than not hiking at all. Enjoy J
For a good while I subscribed to the notion that hiking alone could get you hurt, or worse. Then as I began to read some reports of other hikers who have hiked solo, and writings from John Muir and the like, I began to change my mind. If you think about it the notion put forth by Muir, that spending time in the wilderness is much safer than time spent in our cities, makes since. What we have is a false sense of security; that the familiarity of our unsafe surroundings gives the impression of safeness. In reality, we are no safer in the city as compared to the wilderness. It's all in our minds. Living the way we do is madness, were just used to it, so it seems ok. I would argue that the wilderness is a degree safer than "civilization."
In the wilderness, the only madness is our minds. It's the fear of the unknown that worries us. The anxiety of a bear attack, or the things that go bump at night… It keeps us awake, worried, and trembling in our sleeping bags. Then at some point we realize that the animal we fear is something in our heads. We imagine what we will do in this scenario or that. Finally we give in to sleep and dream.
Being alone in the wilderness is not something to fear. If you keep a right mind about yourself you can do about anything. Of course in practice it is much more of a mental battle. Solo hikers often go through a kind of transition, or awakening in the first few days of a journey. At first they start out with planned expectations, geographic, physical, even spiritual. At first there is a euphoric rush as all these expectations and months of planning coming to fruition as you pound out the first few miles of trail.
Secondly a strange guilty feeling begins to come over you, you feel a little uneasy about what you've planned to do. You look back and see that you're getting kind of far away from the car and civilized trappings. All the negative comments you have heard people say about your plans fill your thoughts.
Your thoughts might sound like: You can't stop thinking about the fact that you're breaking the #1 law of hiking. You're Alone. You could die. You have a wife who you abandoned at home. No respectable husband would do that. You're going to die. The bear will eat your food, then he will eat you. You don't have enough gear. You're going to get soaked in the first rainstorm. Then your gonna die. Oh god you have a blister. What happens if you break an ankle, of fall off the trail, who will save you? You broke the law. Your gonna die.
After a while, if you don't give up and head home, you do come back to your senses. The logical part of you brain kicks in and you make the decision that you are going to have a good time. You start to let go to your previous expectations, as well as give the constant worrying. At this point you begin to become aware of the things that made you want to hike in the first place. Maybe a deer crosses the trail, or you come upon a beautiful vista, you see a fish in the stream, some beautiful flowers in a field, you meet a hiker from some foreign country who gives you a thumbs up. You remember why you're here. You've come home. The bear is now your fiend. All of this has been happening for a while, but you were too busy worrying to notice. You realize that all those naysayers were wrong. The rain pours, but you actually liked it and you didn't die. You see a bear and instead of running away you run after him trying hard to take his picture. Hiking can be fun; it's an emotional roller coaster for sure.
Of course hiking solo is more dangerous, but not as much as it is made out to be. I would argue that while it may be more dangerous than hiking with someone, it is much less dangerous than your average day in civilization. Every day "civilized" people are killed in automobile accidents at a rate much higher than solo hikers in the wilderness. Death is a real factor that we all risk when we get in a car. On the other hand, you seldom hear of hikers dieing in the wilderness. You can live through injuries, and I plan on having a few, but I do not believe that hiking alone will get me killed. You can plan for bad weather and natural challenges. On the other hand, you can't always plan for all the dangers of so-called civilization. So if you think about it I have a better chance surviving for 20 days alone in the wilderness than I do if I stayed home. The mountains are my safe place.
Aside from the usual safety banter, hiking alone has many benefits. The largest of these is your itinerary, planning is much much easier in this case. People are busy; planning a weekend get away is difficult enough let alone a three-week backpacking trip. Also hiking solo offers experiences that you couldn't have while hiking in a group. Often you become more alert and awake when you're alone, you experience more of nature. Our instincts put us on edge we're alone, people are social and your brain doesn't like being outside of the group. So senses that you don't usually rely on when you're around other people are heightened.
Something I've noticed while hiking solo is that I experience more wildlife encounters. On one occasion while I was hiking near Halfdome in Yosemite I hadn't seen anyone for about an hour when the following occurred: I was resting and a deer walked up. I just sat there watching it nibbling on some plants by the trail for a while. After a few minutes the deer perked up it's ears and sniffed the air, about the same time I heard shouting up the trail. The deer took off and I decided I would step off the trail as well. About a minute later a group of a dozen or so people went hiking past laughing and shouting up and down the line. Completely oblivious to me they continued past. As I was shouldering my pack to get moving again, I noticed the deer wasn't to far from where I was either.
One thing I will miss about hiking with a group is the way groups look out for one another and keep moral high. There are always those times when your feeling miserable and you want to quit, and having a partner to help lift your spirits or get your ass in gear is exactly what you need. These are the make it or break it moments for solo hikers. My first solo-backpacking trip ended this way. You learn a lot about yourself when you're alone; there is no competition, no one to prove your worth or strength to, and no immediate support. It gives independence a new meaning. Upon meeting adversity you either become self-motivated, flexible, and willing to look beyond the immediate problems, or you quit. A lot of what you learn when you meet these challenges you can apply to everyday life.

I hope this somehow helps you understand my rationale for hiking alone. Hiking solo or hiking in a group are both enjoyable experiences with unique qualities. While I enjoy doing both, I'm excited to hike the John Muir Trail solo this summer. I don't expect to be alone all of the time as there are many travelers who will be out there too, but when I am alone I know I will be safe and having the time of my life. And to answer the question of whether or not I will carry a gun or knife, yes I will carry a small penknife, and no I have never owned a gun and I couldn't justify carrying one into the safest place on earth.

Thinair

Theloneus,

You apply hubris to only one section of your trip. However, this is all it takes to get you into trouble.

Anyone who has been on this trail in the middle of the summer in illusory perfect conditions has seen the lack of respect of the casual hiker has for the well publicized Sierra weather.

I will not go through a laundry list of personal experiences with these people but it surprising more people don't die on this mountain.

Bill

Nice essay, Thinair! Most of my friends don't backpack, so I get a lot of the "dangers of hiking alone" lectures, but I know that I'm safer up in the mountains than I am in the Safeway parking lot. But I don't go out with a cavalier attitude, either. When I'm hiking by myself I am constantly watching and listening... my first solo I had thought that I would be deep in thought, sorting out my life and the world's problems, but I seldom allow my thoughts to wonder; I stay totally in the present.

One thing that I do miss when hiking solo and coming up to something wonderful, beautiful, etc. is to be able to turn to someone and say "look at that!! Isn't that beautiful". But, after a long day, to set up camp in a meadow all by myself and have that quiet time to reflect... well, I just love that.

I would certainly hike Whitney solo again in the summer. And I know my personal limitations and comfort levels, so I wouldn't hike it solo in winter conditions.

The focus on safety in numbers is at best, misplaced...

Last weekend I did a solo carryover on the Mountaineer's Route with all my gear (45-50 pounds). My route choice was snow up to the notch and then the class 4 rock in the chute as the snow up there was no good at that time of day.

Upon topping out (late) the only people on the summit were two boy scouts from a 'group' of 6 people. After taking a couple of pics for me they started down...I spent perhaps a half hour on the summit and even thought about camping there. Decided against this though and started down, catching up with the scouts and their 'leaders' at Trail Crest.

When I got there they were trying to figure out how to glissade (at 6:30 PM) the slope down to Trail Camp. After watching one kid almost lose it on the icy corner there, I stopped to help two older kids put on their REI hiking gaiters and talk to them a little about their plan. They swore up and down that they had practiced gilssading before...Hope I was a better liar at that age!

The first man to go was one of the 'leaders'...Boom, instant yard sale! Head over heels down the slope and his pack literally EXPLODED showering the slope with all his crap. At this point I asked the two if they wanted to continue down with me on the trail or bivy for the night (I had my XGK, fuel, food etc.) which they declined.

After giving them one last chance I started the descent which was a little tough at times because it was getting dark and the trail was covered in many places by snow/ice. The section where the cables normally are was particularly interesting for the exposure.

Long story short I beat them all to Trail Camp and had my tent set up before the 'leaders' showed up. The two older scouts ended up spending the night shivering on a ledge and the 'leaders' had no care for them other that to bum some food and batteries off of me (for themselves) and just left them up there until the next morning. If the weather had been different this could have been a really bad situation.

So for me it is more about being competent and self-reliant even when among other people. If you decide to solo you must fully accept that there will be no help to count on when you need it. The important lesson the two scouts learned last weekend is that they can't count on anyone other than themselves, even adults, 100% of the time.

May I first say to Theloneous, glad you made it back and are recovering. Thank you for the courage to tell your story.

Second to Thinair, you accurately captured the essence of solo hiking and the rewards it offers to those willing to invest in that unique experience.

I have solo hiked about 6 times over the past 15 years and have had both good and bad experiences. I once thought I would freeze to death on a snowshoe excursion into Bridalveil Campground in February but was rewarded with magnificent views and memories of the west face of the Tetons along the Teton Crest Trail one August. On all my solo efforts I thought in the beginning I was well prepared and willing to face any challenges thrown my way. I started a Southbound effort of the JMT in 2003 only to stop 3 days in after experiencing some of the worst three days of Sierra storms. I have a good feel for my limitations.

I am sure hubris was part of what motivated me each time to engage in these adventures as well as every time I wander away from pavement. What strikes me reading this string of messages and Theloneous’ original posting is the lack of recognition by most of the respondents of their own motivations. Hubris drives all of who venture past the safety of our fabricated world.

I read with interest the SAR report and was shocked and impressed to see that Theloneous is 63 years old. I am assuming this was not the first time he had strapped on a pair of boots or downed an energy bar. I feeel certain he has evaluated his own limitations prior to this most recent trip.

I am also reminded that in every great tragedy there are stories of people who risked more rescuing someone than the person injured. Every time we strike out on a new adventure, we call upon a wealth of personal traits and human emotions to motivate us. If you have not examined your own strengths and weaknesses, you have been irresponsible to those you may call upon in your time of need.

Belittle Theloneous if you will but think about this, “ Egotism is the one thing nobody will forgive in others, and which everybody forgives in himself.”

The point of the last story I assume is that a group does not assure that collectively you don't act like a fool. I agree. Obviously not what I am talking about. I don't hike with idiots or future winners of the Darwin award. Having an intelligent and prepared hiking partner can help,for example if one of you becomes seriously injured.Alternative,"never mind my two broken legs I can still hike 10 more miles".
P.S.I don't carry a cell phone in LA despite being a "professional" so why carry one to the summit of a mountain as some sort of rescue device?
P.P.S. As was saying before John Muir did many things that are not even possible today,as our wilderness is slowly disappearing.Also just because someone can do something dosn't mean it is desirable to do the same.Care to ride a bicycle to Mt. Everest(from Sweden) then solo summit without sherpas?,it's has been done before,Care to try? RR

There are some great stories in here and many thought-provoking comments. I've heard this conversation repeated many times in many different settings. I've heard rock climbres say that solo climbing is too risky, while the solo climbers talk about how it is the next level of the sport. In a somewhat more conservative setting, I've heard businessmen discuss how a project that some entreprenuers are starting up is foolishly risky. At the end of the day, we each have our own risk tolerance and skill set. What I consider safe and within my skill level may look suicidal to you. You never really know who is right until after the fact, and even then could still just chalk it up to luck.

I think we are all better off for those brave (or foolish) risk takers who push the envelop. Otherwise, we would still not have climbed the highest mountains, gone to the moon, developed what were once cutting edge technologies that we all use now every day, etc., etc. Every time that one of us set foot on a big mountain like Whitney, we take some calculated risk about weather, rock fall, AMS, bears, and so on. It is that challenge in the face of risks that adds to the experience, in my view, and makes mountaineering the satisfying experience that it is. At the end of the day, it is not so much us against the mountain as it is us against ourselves - overcoming the internal challenges: fatigue, fear, exhaustion, hunger... So if solo hiking does it for you, I wish you all the best on your quest.

Hiking solo has been on my mind since I have permits to hike over Kearsarge Pass in mid-July but no partners. Knowing no friends were lined up, I selected the Rae Lakes Loop because it's so well travelled. I requested 3 permits with hopes of recruiting pals, but all my self-sufficient friends have conflicts. It's hard for me to want to go on a 6-day trip with friends who need help setting up their tents or who can only hike about 4 miles per day; I want more out of a long getaway!

I did a 4-day, solo trip in the Grand Canyon in early May. Solo didn't mean alone since I was on a busy trail. I was surprised to find myself alone in a campsite one night. They only people to question my solo status were some little old ladies in flowered pantsuits up on the south rim who asked where the rest of my party was. This happened in two separate instances. In both cases I received ominous warnings and overtly disapproving facial expresions indicating the dangers of hiking alone (especially a woman!). Here's some hubris: my feeling was that these people were parroting something they read in a brochure, and they weren't even capable of car camping on their own!

I am aware of extra dangers on my own. I don't go off exploring side canyons. I deliberately hang around the trail. While going alone can be exhillerating, my feeling that I need to be extra conservative takes some fun out of it as well. Overall, though, I'm more concerned about the 1300 mile round trip solo drive to the trailhead than I am about hiking solo.

Like Sipako, I tire easily of always having to help or teach new hikers how, or I just can't find others who share my same passion, so instead, I often hike alone. Maybe I don't take as many risks as when I am with someone else, but I least I get to go, and that seems more important than staying home and wishing I was up somewhere high. After all the years of acquiring the right equipment, learning how to use it, and figuring out what not to do, I find that being self-sufficient and confident in my abilities and equipment enables me to still get out and explore, even if I am alone. It does bother me a bit that someone could not find his way from the summit to Trail Crest without help. It bothers me even more that a solo hiker was not aware enough to turn around when weather conditions turned sour, and why was he not properly equipped for this possibility? I would have sympathy for him if this incident was totally not his fault but he could have prevented most of it by being aware and by being prepared. Having spent 3 days alone in a make-shift snow cave during a whiteout, I learned how to rely on myself, my gear, stayed dry, warm, hydrated, and rode things out. You would expect the same of anybody who knew what they were doing- alone or with someone.
BTW. When are you going over the pass, and do you have room for another solo hiker/ fisherman to tag along?

On the side note by the last two posters, that of hiking alone because of the inability to find partners amongst our aquaintences.....this is all too common, and unfortunately is the reason that many stop their activities. I was in the same boat, and often went by myself.

In 2000, I ran across www.outdoorsclub.org, which is a free internet-based "bulletin boad" designed to put like-minded people together. Since then, I've organized about 180 trips with others, and gone on another 100 or so, that others organized.

While many trips posted there are not serious-level trips, some trips have included Shasta, Orizaba, JMT, Sierra High Route, and there is one leaving for Russia to climb Elbrus in ten days, among many others...including many Whitney trips! I've also met some awesome people in the 5,000 members.

This has kind of solved the solo problem for me, unless that is how I want to go.

(I start out by admitting a prejudicial point of view. I had parents that were overly protective and controlling, and I resented those efforts, and that caused me to make a greater effort to do things independently once I grew up).

I think one should approach this as is done in the business world – evaluate and manage risk:
1. Compare the risks to the benefits.
2. Compare the risks of doing something to the risks of not doing it.
3. If you do it, aim to identify and manage the risks.

Decisions to do a trip either solo or group each add their own risks. Risks can be managed by such things as gathering beta, making a checklist for proper equipment, checking weather forecasts, obtaining proper maps, etc. Being attentive to risks on the trail can significantly reduce them, as many dangerous situations unfold more slowly in walking, as compared to other sports, leaving time to take evasive action.

I think that for myself personally, doing it reduces some risks that I would face by not doing it. Before I began to hike every week, I was overweight, with cases of hypertension, stroke and diabetes in my family background.

It’s convenient for the authors and land managers to say, “don’t hike alone” (hey it makes their jobs easier), but in the real world that’s often impractical. We have different work schedules (I often like to hike on Mondays), skill levels (there’s a shortage of available and qualified attractive female companions for the more difficult trips), and preferences (I like to hike later in the day, but most like to do it earlier in the day).

Each potential wilderness traveler must weigh the risks, and decide what is acceptable, and this process is itself one of the most valuable backcountry skills. If I were doing something technical, or under winter conditions, I would probably do it only with groups or companions because my skills and experience are limited in those areas. And doing some group activities, even when the risk is low, is beneficial for the learning process through collaboration.

I’m of the opinion that “you’re not a pilot but still a student until you’ve successfully soloed a number of times”, because until you do you’ve never fully shouldered the decision-making responsibility without someone looking over your shoulder. And it’s interesting that much of the “don’t advice” comes from folks who have not done it themselves (I prefer to do most of my learning from people who have DONE something successfully). But some people don’t feel comfortable doing things solo, be it going to lunch or going to the store, so if the group option works for them, more power to them. And there but for the grace of God go I – I may take a 100-foot fall next weekend.

FWIW:
I’ll be day hiking Whitney on July 5, my 12th year in a row. On the only one of the previous trips that I did it with a group, one member of our party summited late in the day, ignoring our advice to turn around when we passed her as we were going down. She made the wrong turn coming down (for anyone reading this who is unfamiliar with the trail, there’s only one point that you could do that…), and wound up being rescued by the Crabtree ranger. (That’s the only major incident I’ve experienced in 30 years of hiking, the past 17 years every weekend, 90% of them solo, 100% of them cell phoneless...).