Is it possible to go fully ‘’Into The Wild’’ solo style or should you bring that annoying mate of yours? Mountaineering is an awesome way to explore the outdoors. It’s also a potentially dangerous sport, so dangerous that some medical aid schemes don’t cover it. So, what’s the verdict on solo mountaineering?

The short answer is, no, you can’t safely solo climb, even though there are people that do just that. Many mountains, due to the technicality of the climbs, are impossible to climb without a team. In this article, we’ll unpack this topic a bit, explaining why solo climbing/hiking/mountaineering is a bad idea.

1. Getting hurt when alone in the mountains

This one is obvious. If you get hurt while climbing in a group, there’s usually somebody who can help you if you get hurt, or that can at least go get help. If you’re alone, a minor injury can become a big problem.

Spraining your ankle sucks big time when you’re out in the mountains, but, if it’s a small sprain, you can usually manage it. Your crew would help you carry some of your gear and could even physically support you until you get to a place where you can sort out the sprain.

When you’re hiking alone, you’ll have to continue with all your gear on your back and without support, which could turn a minor sprain into a serious injury.

2. Alone in a crevasse

I get chills just thinking about it. Climbing solo and falling into a crevasse, being unable to call for help or climbing out yourself. Crevasses are one of the biggest dangers when hiking in the mountains, especially when mountaineering over glaciers. Many times they are hidden by snow, so you don’t see them until it’s too late.

If you get seriously hurt or stuck, falling down a crevasse, you’d be in deep trouble with no one to help you out.

3. Getting Lost

With the latest technology on your side, it’s much harder to get lost out in the mountains. You have GPS, smart watches and all sorts of cool gadgets. Getting lost still happens, though. You forget to pack a powerbank, the rain catches you off guard and sends you on a detour or there’s some flooding blocking your way.

If you’re not prepared, ready with a good map and passable knowledge of the possible routes you could take, you could get badly lost.

If you’re hiking with other people, you could still get lost, but at least you have company while you’re wandering around, trying to find your way. They could also help navigate, getting you back on track.

On your own, getting lost is even worse than it is with a crew. You need a lot of mental fortitude and will to survive to drive you forward. When you are together with a team, a lot of the mental stress is divided and shared in the group.

4. Getting Attacked

Depending on where you’re trekking, you could encounter wild animals or people out on hitting the soft target that is hikers. If you’re in a group, you’re more likely to scare off wild animals and discourage people aiming to attack you. It’s just safer to travel in a group.

5. Challenging Terrain

Sometimes, the trail is more challenging than you anticipated. Some trails are fine to go alone, consisting of nice, open tracks and gentle slopes. Others require a team to get you over the obstacles.

If you’re alone and you encounter some obstacle, like a high rock face that you can’t overcome on your own, you’re stuck. If you’re lucky, you could turn around and retrace your steps to the starting point, or you could be on a part of the route where you really can’t make your way back over the previous obstacle. Either one sucks big time.

If you are going alone, just make sure to do thorough research of the climb/trail before you go. This is always important, but even more so when going alone.

The Pros of Having Company

If you have company, you have someone to talk to, someone to motivate you when the going gets tough and just plain companionship, all of which is great. Besides, who will take the pictures of you in this glorious landscape if you’re all alone? It could get pretty lonely if you’re trekking alone.

Budget

Travelling in a group allows you to split transport costs. When you’re going solo, all of that comes out of your own budget. If you’re like most of us and have a limited budget, that means fewer trips.

Precautions if You Do Go Alone

If, after having read all of this, you still want to go alone, there are some precautions you should take to make things a tiny bit safer:

• Know the area. This way, if you do get lost or have to take a detour, you’re less likely to get lost.
• Know how to navigate using a map. Your GPS could run flat, leaving you stranded.
• Tell someone where and when you’re going and when you’ll be back. Let them know once you’re back.
• Don’t go too far. Take shorter day hikes. That way, if anything goes wrong, people are more likely to find you and to know in time that something went wrong.
• Know the terrain. Ask around to make sure that you’ll actually be able to handle all the obstacles on your own. Even better, take a route that you’ve travelled before.
• Avoid areas known for animal and human attacks.

Conclusion

Solo mountaineering is not the best idea, but people have done it before and some really enjoy it. If you do decide to go solo, be safe about it and take all the necessary precautions. Happy adventures!