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Quick Guide to Trails in the Falls Creek Area in Durango, Colorado

We’ve outlined some of our favorite hiking trails in the Falls Creek area to make it easier for you to pick a trail that’s right for you!

Hiking In Sedona: What You Should Know

To get you prepped for your hike in Sedona, we’ve compiled advice into a detailed guide on what to expect when going for a hike in Sedona.

Snowshoeing in Durango: Our 7 Favorite Trails

Snowshoeing in Durango, Colorado this season? Here’s a few of our favorite snowshoeing trails for your next Microadventure in Durango!

Our 10 Favorite Places to Hike in Tucson, AZ

As you’re planning you Tucson, Arizona trip, here are our 10 favorite places to hike with trails around Tucson.

Snowshoeing in Boulder: Our 7 Favorite Trails

Snowshoeing in Boulder, CO this Winter? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite snowshoeing trails to explore in and around the Boulder area.

5 Best Portable Induction Cookers For RVs and Vans

To aid you in your next Microdventure, we have compiled a list of the 5 best portable Induction Cookers for your RV or van.

Our 10 Favorite Family-Friendly Hikes in the Grand Canyon

If you’re considering hiking with your family in the Grand Canyon, here are our 10 favorite family-friendly hiking trails.

What is Car Camping?

Trying to figure out what car camping is and why so many people are doing it? Here we define car camping for you in a simple way.

Car Camping Packing List for Your Microadventure

To aid in getting you set for your next car camping trip, here’s a list of essential and luxury things to pack.

Payson, AZ Free Dispersed Camping Areas

In order to help you narrow down where to camp, here’s a list of our favorite free, dispersed camping spots and areas around Payson, Arizona.

Flagstaff Free Dispersed Camping Map

To help make a decision on where to camp around Flagstaff, AZ, here’s a map of our favorite free, dispersed camping areas and spots.

Our 10 Favorite Hiking Trails in Flagstaff

Looking to go hiking in Flagstaff? Here’s a brief list of our favorite hikes and hiking trails in Flagstaff, Arizona.

A Guide to Camping in Sedona

The famous Red Rock Country city that is Sedona, Arizona. For those who haven’t visited, Sedona is a mecca for Microadventures. With miles of hiking and biking trails, climbing, and towering red sandstone views, you could spend a lifetime exploring Sedona and not see...

Sedona Free Dispersed Camping and Campgrounds Map

Trying to figure out where to camp around Sedona, AZ? We built a map of our favorite established campgrounds and dispersed camping areas.

Our 10 Favorite Hiking Trails in Sedona

With over 200 miles of trails, there’s a lot to choose from in Sedona, Arizona! Here’s a brief list of our favorite hikes in Sedona.

Traveling Alone: the Positives and Negatives

The Positives and Negatives to Being a One-Man Wolf Pack

 

I talk with my close family or friends about upcoming adventures, the first thing I am asked is, “Who are you going with next weekend?” or “You’re not going alone right?” If my response differs from anything other than “Yeah, my girlfriend,” or “Yeah I’m going with a couple of guys from the office,” a look of worry, confusion, or frustration (or all three) seems to flush their face. While it seems strange to want to travel alone, lots of people do it every year. Some of my close adventure buddies have traveled long stretches of the country by themselves. Of course, traveling alone isn’t always glamourous- or practical. There are issues with safety and increased expenses that are by-products of solo adventuring.

Over the last few years living in northern Arizona, I’ve visited some incredible places- sometimes flying solo, sometimes with a close friend. I’ve learned a lot about the positives and negatives for traveling solo.

The Good

 

1) Freedom

 

You are not on anyone’s schedule but your own – which means, you are free to do what you want, when you want. You are in charge of your own destiny and it’s completely up to you on what you see, do, or eat. For me, that means I can be as lazy or adventurous as I want to be- and there’s no one there to judge! The freedom is a refreshing treat from everyday existence, deadlines, and having people depend on you being on time. So if you are traveling alone, don’t feel guilty about sleeping past 8!

 

2) Self reflection

 

Being alone in the woods, tent, kayak, or something similar allows you to experience inner peace. Another way of putting it: whatever you end up doing, there’s no one there to talk to. In my experience, I’m more in tune with my feelings and emotions because I’m not worrying about the thoughts or feelings of others. In addition to the peace of mind, letting my thoughts run free is great way to ignite the spark of creativity. I’ve come up with many ideas for both personal and professional projects while traveling alone- including this blog!

 

3) Forced interaction

 

Traveling alone, unless you’re in the middle of nowhere, eventually you will need communicate with people on your own. There’s no “Honey, go in and ask them for recommendations on what to do in this town.” There’s also no close buddy or partner to share laughs and swap stories with at the bar. Traveling solo forces you to interact with people that you don’t know. In my opinion, I see this as a chance to develop confidence and comfort through having to talk to complete strangers.

 

4) More relaxing

 

The adventures that I choose when traveling alone tend to be on the safer side. Selecting high-risk activities when alone is never a smart move. For me, every activity is more-or-less “watered down.” When I’m alone, I spend more time on low intensity hikes, reading in a coffee shop, or lounging at camp in my hammock. As a result, I tend to spend most of my solo ventures being well rested, full, and comfortable. Summarizing: solo venturing produces a more relaxed state of mind.

The Bad

 

1) Worry

 

I’ve had some scary experiences while alone. Although my negative experiences were caused by animal encounters, there are lots of things to worry about. Weather, inappropriate human encounters, injuries, and animals are all part of the traveling experience and can be negative one if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time. Although traveling solo is relaxing (as mentioned above), there are reminders that things can turn sour quickly. All it takes is for a poor weather pattern to come into the forecast or some equipment failure that can make things interesting in a hurry. All of the speculation and “what-ifs” can cause worry to flood your mind if you are not careful. Fortunately, there are usually a lot of precautions or actions that can preemptively remediate a bad situation or prevent it altogether.

 

2) More Expensive

 

This may be fairly obvious, but not splitting the cost of things between other person is a real factor of traveling solo. Everything costs more- from gas to breakfast. In addition, driving become longer and packs become heavier. Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done besides buying supplies in bulk, not traveling as far from home, and adopting a more minimalistic traveling style to lessen the load of your campsite and pack.

The Ugly

 

Safety and accessibility of help

 

As mentioned before, I had some scary experiences while traveling alone. If you do get yourself into a bad situation, you won’t be able to rely on a travel partner for support or to fetch help. For example, if you break your leg in the wilderness, it’s up to you to call for aid or crawl to the nearest car. There are ways to curtail this! Remember the three “ps:” Planning, Preparation, and People:

 

A) Planning

Do your research and figure out what specific towns, roads, or trails you will be on and analyze your ability to get there. In addition, think about the resources or equipment you’ll need for your selected activity. For example, if you drive a Ford Focus, you won’t be able to get to a campsite that requires a 4×4 or four-wheel drive vehicle. Choose another spot or rent a 4×4. If you are visiting a canyon system, ask yourself if you have the physical ability to scramble large boulders or through tight spaces. If not, choose a different spot.

 

B) Preparation

Prepare for the worst. If I’m going somewhere remote, my jumper pack needs to be charged, spare tire full, and my reserve water container full. If going outside, make sure you check the weather and bring a multitude of different clothing options with you. You can always take off layers or put layers on- but you need to have them available!

 

C) People

Always, always, always tell someone where you are going and when you are expected back. If traveling in the wilderness, let them know your exact coordinates, what trails you’ll be on, and where you are camping. In addition, provide exact instructions on what organizations to contact if they do not hear from you within a certain amount of time. It’s not unusual for me to give my parents the phone numbers of local Search and Rescue groups when I’m out in the wilderness.

Although things can (and will) go wrong when you travel, by staying proactive you can potentially curtail some bad situations or lessen the blow of disasters that could happen.

In Summary

Traveling alone is a great way to get to know your inner self. I’ve learned the most about myself while disconnecting from the everyday chaos and reconnecting with nature. Worry is your greatest internal battle and can be alleviated by staying alert, knowing your limits, and having a plan if something does happen to you.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and have a safe, smart, and spectacular solo adventure!

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Nick The Rambling Man

Nick The Rambling Man

Nick is the owner and regular content writer for Southwest Microadventures. When he’s not writing, you can find him rock climbing, peak bagging, mountain biking, backpacking, or drinking strong coffee.

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