Going solo.... risk aversion?

[peregrinator]

A suggestion regarding the issue of a change of plans mentioned by several posters. When notifying others (including AMSA if you have a PLB) of your trip itinerary before you depart, state clearly that the plan can be varied if conditions demand. List the alternative locations you may consider visiting instead. Its a big country, so they may be hundreds of kilometres away from your original location/s!

Note also, if you have not been aware of this change, Telstra phone boxes in country towns and in some remote places are free to use. For example, Balcanoona rangers HQ in Vulkathunha, and Arkaroola, both in SA.

[Allchin09]

You can set a SPOT to automatically update your position. A plb you have to set it off. If you have a catastrophic fall you won't be doing that.

Maybe true but to me a catastrophic failure means being dead anyway.

That's exactly why I activate tracking whenever I go solo off-track. If I die from a stroke (or a fall) my body can be recovered with a minimum of fuss. Otherwise an extensive search would be needed, and if my body wasn't found it could cause years of uncertainty and anguish for my family.

My InReach Mini, set to a two-hourly tracking interval, works for this purpose.

Yep - this was the main reason for the tracking, for the benefit of those at home.

I just had one of the earlier SPOTs which had tracking and a few buttons with preset messages to push. Couldn't justify the $ for something more expensive which allowed you to sends texts but those costs are now reducing (somewhat).

It's useful as well when you need to change plans and you want to let others know. Eg, you might be an extra day or two because of the conditions and a minor injury, and don't want a search party to be sent out. Or you might have to change where you finish to a completely new area and want to give someone a heads up that you might need a lift from a different spot!

I'm hardly walking these days so no longer have a spot subscription as the monthly subscription cost isn't trivial. But (per other threads) I'm hoping that costs will come down in future for these communication methods, particularly with StarLink offering SMS via satellites to mobiles!

[Warin]

Note also, if you have not been aware of this change, Telstra phone boxes in country towns and in some remote places are free to use.

Some of these phone boxes have free wifi too. You can find out where they are on the telstra website.

[rcaffin]

In all this, the thing to remember is that you are not going to get out of this life alive.

Cheers
Roger

[Last]

Sometimes I just want to be alone. A week alone in the bush is fabulous. I do try to take a bit more care. These days I carry a PLB.

[beardless]

You can't walk solo if you're a Liverpool FC supporter*

*Because "You'll Never Walk Alone".

[north-north-west]

You can't walk solo if you're a Liverpool FC supporter*
*Because "You'll Never Walk Alone".

This is why I support Manly Sea Eagles.
"Everybody hates us; We. Don't. Care!"

[freehorizon]

Note also, if you have not been aware of this change, Telstra phone boxes in country towns and in some remote places are free to use. For example, Balcanoona rangers HQ in Vulkathunha, and Arkaroola, both in SA.

As someone who likes doing stupid and ends up in places where i have to use telstra phone booths i don't think i have ever seen one where you need to pay, at train stations, next to random shopping centers, in random towns out of major cities and at national parks. now this is in QLD but i would imagine it wouldn't be that different in other states.

[peregrinator]

About ten years ago it was necessary to pay. Back then, I didn't have a mobile phone, so I did need to know where phone boxes were located. In any case, when I did eventually get a phone recently, as often as not there is no signal.

[Allchin09]

I believe Telstra "pay phones" are now free, Australia wide. Introduced initially around covid. https://www.telstra.com.au/exchange/pay ... -australia

[Jasmine]

Unless I'm with my landcare group, I pretty much exclusively go solo. Time in the bush is time for me to focus on my own wellbeing and to seek communion with the rest of Nature...a load of chattering others in a group is detrimental to that aim. Also, I tend to travel slowly. I don't aim to meet any personal record for elevation gained or kms covered. I am a big fan of Slow Hikingk taking my time to commune, to bathe in the environment, to focus on both the landscape as a whole and the details of her smallest plants and insects.

I have my Inreach Mini with me. I don't do anything spectacularly stupid. But, in the end... I'm not going to give up on something meaningful and life giving to me just because I'm afraid of not living. That's no way to exist.

[Eremophila]

Unless I'm with my landcare group, I pretty much exclusively go solo. Time in the bush is time for me to focus on my own wellbeing and to seek communion with the rest of Nature...a load of chattering others in a group is detrimental to that aim. Also, I tend to travel slowly. I don't aim to meet any personal record for elevation gained or kms covered. I am a big fan of Slow Hikingk taking my time to commune, to bathe in the environment, to focus on both the landscape as a whole and the details of her smallest plants and insects.

I have my Inreach Mini with me. I don't do anything spectacularly stupid. But, in the end... I'm not going to give up on something meaningful and life giving to me just because I'm afraid of not living. That's no way to exist.

Well said.

[mountainhigh]

I started solo trips because I couldn't convince friends to join me with longer or more adventurous plans.

After some tentative initial trips, I developed a genuine love for extended solo adventures. I particularly enjoy addressing issues or problems, fixing gear with what is available in the landscape, and making each decision knowing that nobody else is going to bail me out. Having a rather stoic mindset is also useful.

Being able to travel only as far and as fast as I choose is another great benefit when compared to group trips, but meeting other travellers here and there along the way is another joy.

I take two forms of PLB device, first aid and safety gear, but I always remember to tell loved ones that, should something happen to me on one of these trips, please know that it happened while doing something that I truly love.