The hazards of solo hiking

[dave54]

I cannot recall any serious injury. Cuts and scrapes mostly. One time I was sick for 2 days, attributed to a suspect water source.

A friend broke an ankle once. He splinted himself up real secure, hobbled about a mile cross country to a trail, and made camp awaiting a samaritan to come by. One did, summoned help, and the story has a happy ending from there, although the ankle still bothers him after a long day of hiking.

Like others have posted, I tend to get real cautious when solo, and circuitously avoid stream crossings and rock scrambles I would not hesitate when with someone.

[RoguePhotonic]

One time I did a complete flip at high speed and fell on a rock on my back

That reminds me of when I was climbing down the glacier on the East side of Mt. Ritter & Banner and I tripped and did a complete front flip into the snow. It did not hurt and I laughed more than anything.

On the way up Banner I was walking on a steep scree slope with it to my right side and slipped and rolled completely over to the left and onto my stomach before I hit the ground.

[Cross Country]

But true to this thread - were you solo?

[RoguePhotonic]

Yep. My dad was along on that trip but he stayed at camp while I climbed banner solo.

[calipidder]

I think a lot of these injuries occur on so-called 'good' trail because we become more complacent when the terrain isn't as challenging as an off-trail route. I always seem to get what I call 'stupid feet' when I get close to a trailhead after a long hike. When I'm off trail or deep in the wilderness I tend to be more aware of where I am putting my feet, etc, since the consequences of a misstep can be so catastrophic. But I fall into this mode of laziness when I'm back on those last few miles of trail getting back to the trailhead and that's when i trip over roots, slide on wet rocks, or generally make stupid missteps. As Luke Skywalker once told the Emperor, "your overconfidence is your biggest weakness" and I think we all tend to fall into that overconfident comfort zone when we're on less challenging terrain.

[Lumbergh21]

I came across this entertaining thread as part of a different search and thought I would resurrect it. What injuries have you had while hiking, particularly solo hiking? I've never had anything but overuse type injuries and sprained ankles (and, I really hope it stays that way). Probably the most embarrassing was when I slipped and fell climbing up from Bear Creek, going from Sandpiper Lake to VVR. I was feeling pretty good as I was making good time and thinking about hot food at VVR the next day. The trail was muddy in places, as this was 2017, and as I stepped onto a rock along the edge of the trail to avoid a muddy section, my feet slipped out from beneath me. I landed on my right side in the mud, cutting my thumb on a rock and covering myself in mud. Seeing as how I was headed north on the JMT several people got to stare at me until I got to a small side stream where I took off my clothes and shoes and rinsed them out before redressing and continuing on. As I said to a few people who asked if I was ok, nothing hurt except my pride.

[wildhiker]

My worst hiking injury was on a solo backpacking trip in Yosemite in 1974, when I was a (over)confident college student. I was hiking cross-country from Ireland Lake over the pass southeast of Parsons Peak and then down to Bernice Lake. Had no problems on the talus of the pass and was then merrily strolling down slanted granite slabs along the lakes below it when my left foot slipped out from under me - on those little "ball bearings" of eroded granite gravel, I think - while I was lifting my right foot to take the next step. All my weight, including about 40 pound pack, came down hard on my right foot and my right ankle twisted. The pain was terrible! Probably worst of my life. I just sat there about 2 hours and then very gingerly hobbled down to Bernice Lake. Hiking poles (not yet common) would have been a big help, but I didn't have any kind of pole or staff. I abandoned the rest of my planned loop (down to Merced Lake and around) and camped two nights at Bernice Lake. Then I hobbled up the trail over Vogelsang Pass - not too painful going uphill - and camped a night at Fletcher Lake. The last day going downhill out to Tuolumne Meadows had pain shooting up my right ankle with every step. Being a poor student with no insurance I never consulted a doctor. Could have been a bad sprain, or even a hairline fracture. Surprisingly, it had healed enough a month later that I did another long backpack trip in Yosemite that year.

-Phil

[commonloon]

@wildhiker I know what that feels like

My hiking injury nemesis is my ankles. As a kid I was a pretty hard core skateboarder, and sprained my ankle multiple times. Every so often it reminds me that I should have taken it a little easier when I was younger.

I had slipped in this case crossing a very small muddy feeder stream. I soaked it in Minaret creek, took advil and was able to hike out some 30 miles plus.

I've been lucky or good otherwise.

Near Minaret lakes:

[balzaccom]

...
Had some x-rays yesterday and nothing is broken, just badly sprained. I have been sitting here in my recliner ever since with ice on it. ...

I highly recommend the two cold beer cure. Put one cold beer on your ankle. Put another one in your belly. Repeat as needed...

[MountainMinstrel]

I think a lot of these injuries occur on so-called 'good' trail because we become more complacent when the terrain isn't as challenging as an off-trail route. I always seem to get what I call 'stupid feet' when I get close to a trailhead after a long hike. When I'm off trail or deep in the wilderness I tend to be more aware of where I am putting my feet, etc, since the consequences of a misstep can be so catastrophic. But I fall into this mode of laziness when I'm back on those last few miles of trail getting back to the trailhead and that's when i trip over roots, slide on wet rocks, or generally make stupid missteps. As Luke Skywalker once told the Emperor, "your overconfidence is your biggest weakness" and I think we all tend to fall into that overconfident comfort zone when we're on less challenging terrain.

This. I was solo going off trail to Hyatt lake. I had just finished scrambling up a ridge above the lake and was cruising across a dead flat stretch of granite. Next thing I knew I was playing super man landing mostly on my right knee. Tore a big chunk out of it and bled seemingly forever. I completely soaked my handkerchief but eventually got it slowed down enough to continue on. looked around for what I might have tripped over but came to the conclusion that it was just my own feet. I carried that stained handkerchief for a few years to remind me to always pay attention.