10 Essential Tips to survive a long solo road trip and hiking adventures. You can download a FREE road trip checklist here.
1) Ahead of your Trip, Check Car Condition: Repair and Maintenance
A couple days before your long road trip, inspect your car to make sure everything is is in good order and well maintained. Check: oil, tire pressure, including your spare tire, assuming you are driving rather than taking public transportation. Pro Trip: Fill up gas the night before the trip.
2) Start Early
How early? Ideally right after sunrise! My hope is that you don’t get lost but just in case you do, you would have enough daylight to find your way back. Or at least see someone who might assist for directions. Another reason to start early is to beat the crowd and enjoy some solitude.
3) Pack lots of food
And I mean LOTS of food. You’ll be surprised how much food you will eat during long hikes or road trips. To be cost effective and avoid stopping to buy groceries at a store, which is often junk food, I prepare all my food and snacks at home. If you are curious, here is my list and of course it changes depending on how long the hike is!
At least 2-4 hardboiled eggs
2 bananas
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich
And lots of fruit! Depending on what’s in season, I bring several oranges, peaches, plums, avocado, grapes and sometimes I will precut a watermelon for the road. Pretty much any kind of fruit.
4) Bring Lots of Water
Not just an 8oz bottle. Nah, you’ll probably need much more than that. I bring 2L of water (more than 2 quarts) with me on a hike and I also have about 5L in my car just in case. You always want to have a backup plan!
Check out my blog post on THINGS TO DO BEFORE A ROAD TRIP OR HIKING ADVENTURE.
5) Tell Someone Where You Are Going / Share The Plan with a Friend
For safety’s sake, tell someone where you are going. Have a plan and stick to it. Of course, plans might change because you discover other things you want to explore on a long hike or road trip. But at a minimum, I highly suggest having a game plan, including the location of the hike, name of the trail, estimated start time and finish time. After you’ve taken several hikes, you’ll get to know your average speed and how long it takes to complete a certain distance. Of course, elevation is a factor. What I like to do is, have a two-hour allowance time for exploration and driving from the trailhead to a place where there is phone reception. Remember safety is key when on a solo road trip.
So, let’s say I am going to start a hike at 7am and I estimate I will be done by 2pm. 4pm is when I tell my family if they don’t hear from me, they should be concerned.
6) Bring a Map or a Printed Description of Your Hike
Even if you don’t currently know how to read a map, don’t let that stop you from hiking. Eventually, it will start to make sense. Even though I’ve been hiking a long time, I often still struggle with directions. Having a map helps, sometimes you just need to see the layout to be well oriented with an area or to know what to expect.
7) Bring Bug Repellant Spray & Bring Sun Block
Bugs and mosquitos can ruin your hiking experience if you are not prepared. You are better off bringing a bug spray and not use it than need it and not have it. You will likely be exposed to the sun for a long time so make sure you apply and reapply sun block often to avoid sunburn.
8) Bring a Bandana
This can serve as a sweat towel or if you develop a running nose.
9) Bring Trekking Poles
These help with balance and support and can keep you from falling.
10) Hiking Essentials (I’ve already mentioned several items here but please be sure you bring all 10 hiking essentials.)
Hiking Boots preferably waterproof are best, I use On Running boots.
Check out my solo road trip adventure from Seattle, Washington to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.
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