"You turn inwards and come face to face with yourself"
It's shocking how many folks are surprised at the solo outdoor adventurer. This could be due to the engrained evolutionary notion of safety in numbers. Could be due to the value that is created in sharing experiences with others. We're social beings, therefore it makes sense to have the desire to create your journey with your friends by your side. What's wrong with that you may ask?
Nothing. Not a damn thing. Sitting around the campfire with your buddies will always be a favorite past time for as long as campfires and humans coexist. Starting a new outdoor sport like whitewater kayaking at the same time as your best friend and climbing the learning curve together leads to an everlasting bond of smiles and high fives that is worth everything. Reaching the peak of Dog Mountain with a new friend literally gives you some common ground to grow from.
So what are we talking about here? What's the purpose of these words you're reading. I know a plethora of people who are such social extraverts that they're never on their own. That might just be their jam and more power to them for that. But let's not forget about balance.
Sitting alone on the coast, the vast horizon in front of you, the sound of waves crashing. Camping in your hammock alone in the middle of the night, the stars resting gently above you. Sitting on that peak that you just hiked up staring off into the vast rugged landscape before you. Standing on your SUP in the middle of the lake in the middle of nowhere. These are the places of solitude that allow you to dive inwards. These moments are important for reflection. As valuable as it is to have a meaningful conversation during a hike with your friends, you might find it equally as valuable to hike in silence with just you, the birds, the whisper of the wind through the canopy.
These moments bring you to the present. Appreciation for yourself and your surroundings are brought to the forefront of your thoughts. Breathe. Take it all in. Think about what you need to think about.
"There's a side of your character that only presents itself in the deafening silence of solitude"
In addition to self reflection, solo adventuring allows you a certain degree of freedom that is foregone when another individuals input and preferences are applied. The time spent discussing the next best option for your adventure is replaced with nothing more than your wants and that time can then be used for whatever your needs are, whatever outcome you're searching for. There's a natural feeling of awe and appreciation for how small you are in the grand scheme of things when you're out in nature by yourself. No distractions. No conversation. It's an active form of meditation.
And one we should all expose ourselves too. If solo adventures scare you, it's time to be brave. In fact, if there's a degree of fear involved then the solo trip will offer that much more value for you. You'll have overcome your fear and will have learned something grand about yourself that you might just be pushing aside while in the comfort of company. There's a side of your character that only presents itself in the deafening silence of solitude. You turn inwards and come face to face with yourself.
There's a time and a place for everything. A time to hit the road with friends, a time to hit the trail alone. Burn that firewood with your compadres, chop up that wood alone after setting up your tent. Enjoy the sunset with your lover, sit alone on the beach and realize the sun is a part of you as much as you are a part of it. And are you really a part of the sun and it you? That's why you're alone on that beach, to ponder these questions.
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