Last weekend started out pretty typical: the mister and I made the four-hour drive to Yosemite for a few days of climbing with friends. But what I wasn’t counting on was sleeping in and missing my chance to climb on the first day. Left alone, I figured I might as well go for a hike. My original plan was to do a two-mile hike to the base of Vernal Falls – ha! Eleven hours and 17 miles later, I had endured one of the most difficult treks of my life.
To be clear, I think it’s a good idea to face a long distance challenge with a friend, especially for safety reasons. But if you’ve ever stopped yourself from going on a long run, hike, or bike ride because you were alone, I say go for it. I can’t remember the last time I felt so completely gratified and accomplished. Just make sure you don’t do it blindly, and please be smart about it. Here are the things that helped me endure the trek.

Do your research. While I wasn’t expecting to go beyond Vernal Falls via the Mist Trail and then take on Half Dome, I was prepared. It’s a hike I’ve always wanted to do so I knew what to expect. I also studied it enough in my past to know the route and trail conditions with confidence.
Be prepared. I didn’t expect to go on a epic hike, but I did expect to be away from my camp until sundown, so I packed appropriately. In my pack I had enough food and water to last me beyond a full day. I also had extra layers of clothing, a headlamp, map, sunscreen, and a compass.

Find out what other tips helped me on my trek, and share your own stories with me when you read more.

Practice safety. Luckily, in Yosemite you can get cell phone reception. I made a point to send text messages to my guy letting him know where I was going and when to expect me back. I always keep my ID on me, and when hiking or climbing, I carry a whistle. It’s a surefire way to get the attention of people from a distance in case you need help.
Know your limits. I saw many people of the trail struggling who had to turn back. Don’t push yourself beyond your limit of safety, and make sure to rest. I definitely took the time to let my body regain strength before trekking up another difficult push. I also made a point to take in the beauty of my surroundings. On the other hand, don’t give up if you know you can make it. Enduring a long distance hike or ride alone can be challenging and lonely – I made a point to motivate myself with little mantras throughout the day.
Talk to people. On the trail I tried to speak to people and it paid off in multiple ways. It helped combat the solitude, and I was able to pick up on some knowledge from those more familiar than I was.

Again, I want to stress that if I could have done this with a partner, I would have. While I definitely don’t recommend doing the hike to Half Dome alone to everyone, I think it is very liberating to try and meet some physical challenge on your own. I’d love to know what you’ve done, or would like to do on your own one day . . .

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