У цій статті ми розповімо вам, чим насправді є соло-походи.
Solo hiking trips hold a special place in tourism
The image of the steadfast lone wolf, bravely overcoming obstacles, meditating on mountain peaks, spending evenings by the fire with a cup of strong tea, looks very appealing and romantic, but often has little to do with real life. In this article (and possibly in a few subsequent ones), we will tell you what solo hikes really are, what skills you need to possess for them, and what equipment you should prepare.
Every person who sets off on a hiking trip does so for different reasons. Some just want to relax and unwind, some want to discover new interesting places, while others want to test their physical skills and learn the basics of survival in the wild. However, all these goals can be achieved quite comfortably and even should be pursued in company. Hiking in a group is much more fun, comfortable, and safer. So why do some individuals so persistently strive for solo travel?
The answer to this question exists, and it lies in the realm of metaphysics
Since ancient times, solitude has been considered the strongest means of influencing a person's personality. That is why many peoples had rituals associated with this practice. For example, some Native American tribes sent a future warrior on a long hunt, and only the successful completion of it marked the transition of the young man into the ranks of adult men, while in many African villages, offenders are still sent alone into the jungle "for re-education." It is also worth mentioning the experiences of hermits and monks who sought truth alone with themselves. Thus, it is the psychological component of solo travel that represents value and interest for us primarily.
The impact of solo hiking trips on a person can be quite diverse and hardly predictable in each specific case. Some find unprecedented inspiration and, upon returning home, throw themselves into work. Others realize the futility of their existence and understand the need for radical changes in their lives. For others, it is simply an excellent opportunity to completely escape the hustle and bustle and experience the greatest adventure of their lives. Solo hiking trips will definitely change you, but no one knows how and to what extent.
And although, as just mentioned, it is quite difficult to predict the final result of your adventure, it is still worth discussing some characteristic feelings that arise in a person during a solo hike.
- You will feel an incomparable sense of freedom. In everyday life, we are bound by a thousand threads to the surrounding society, which sometimes visibly and sometimes invisibly compel us to take certain actions. Even in a group hike, certain restrictions will be imposed on you: kitchen duty, route coordination, the need to endure silly jokes from companions, waiting on the trail for laggards, or catching up with stragglers. In a solo hike, you are completely and solely dependent on yourself. This feeling of freedom is so complete, so unusual, that it can even scare some.
- You will learn what responsibility is. Ordinary life teaches us that there are no irreparable mistakes. Any task can be started and abandoned, in a difficult moment you can ask for help and immediately receive it, and any mistake can always be corrected. In a solo hike, you will have to get used to the idea that everything depends solely on you, and every mistake you make can lead to irreparable consequences.
- You will discover solitude. You can dress up as much as you want in the clothes of an introvert and dig into your inner world, but it is in a solo hike that you will truly learn what it means to be devoted to yourself. Even the most hardened, whole, and psychologically stable individuals start having imaginary dialogues with themselves on the second day, and after a couple or three days, they catch themselves commenting and discussing their actions out loud. Some even end up talking to trees and stones, and this is absolutely not funny, believe me. It is in a solo hike that you begin to clearly understand that a person is primarily a social being.
- You will find confidence in yourself. After several nights in the forest, when you listen to every rustle and flinch at every shadow; after several days in the rain, when you, soaked to the last thread, will be splashing along a muddy path; after climbing a mountain from the top of which it is perfectly visible that for tens of kilometers around there is not a single living soul; after a dozen extraordinary situations that you will overcome, you will finally learn your true capabilities and begin to respect yourself.
In conclusion of this short article, we want to emphasize its main point once again.
There is no valid reason why you should prefer solo hikes, except for your troubled mind. Yes, solo travel will undoubtedly affect it, but it is by no means certain that it will be in a positive direction. Perhaps, on the road, you will have an epiphany and discover the meaning of life. But it is also possible that another option will occur, in which the bugs in your head will grow to even larger sizes. In any case, this experience will leave a mark on your life.
На цій оптимістичній ноті закінчимо, а в наступній статті поговоримо про більш практичні речі. Я розповім вам про те, які вміння знадобляться вам на одинці з природою.
References used: https://lifehacker.ru/2014/09/06/odin...
