Posted By auntie on November 13, 2016

7 miles; Exeter and West Greenwich, RI

I hadn’t been to Arcadia in ages, and I was kind of “jonesing” for this hike. As I walked, I did a lot of thinking about hiking alone.

Just One Shadow

I actually prefer solo hiking most of the time to hiking with groups, large or small. Not that I don’t like people (okay, most people), but I find solo hiking very satisfying. I can hike as fast or as slowly as I like and stop when I want, or not. And it gives me lots of time (like today) for reflection.

Old CCC Water Tower

I’ve had lots of people ask me if I’m scared to hike alone as a woman. And while I’ll admit to being a bit nervous the first couple of times I did it, I quickly got over that. Almost all my encounters in the woods with other hikers or hunters have been quite pleasant. That’s not to say I haven’t run into more than my share of weirdness (see here and here for example), but I wasn’t scared during these encounters. Amused, bemused, puzzled, and maybe a little angry, but not scared.

Plenty of Signage

“But what if you get lost?” is another thing some folks ask. Well, been there, done that, briefly. It ended fine. And I got a hiking gps immediately afterwards. Now I carry my trusty iPhone and use an app called “gaiagps.” And I always make sure to carry a paper map and a real compass with me as well. You never know when technology can fail you! Not only that, but I also make sure my husband knows where I’m going to be hiking and when to expect me back approximately.

Last of the Autumn Color

Another thing a lot of people ask is “What if something happens to you, like a fall?” Hm. You mean like a broken bone? Been there, done that too. It wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t a total catastrophe either. I was hiking alone and I had a functional cellphone and cellphone coverage. Having survived that, I no longer have that fear, either.

Witch Hazel Blossoms

I understand that solo hiking isn’t for everyone, and I’d never want to insist it is. It’s not even for me all the time. But if you love being in the woods and you can’t find someone to go with, you might want to give it a try. Pick a trail you’re familiar with that’s close to home. Take a paper map, a compass, and a fully charged cellphone and go for it. You never know what you might discover about yourself.

Categories: Rhode Island, Walks and Hikes
Tags: 5–7 miles, Exeter RI, West Greenwich RI