Hi Reader!

To be honest, I've had this email written and sitting in my drafts for weeks now. Quite a bit has been going on in the background here that I'll touch on more in the coming weeks.

Some good news is that my local trails in Los Angeles have reopened sooner than expected after the recent fires! I made my first return trip to my closest trail this week and it was a lovely escape from the hustle and bustle.

I've missed sending this newsletter and am happy to be back in your inbox. Let's dive in!

Adventures

I never intended to be a "solo hiker" or "solo backpacker." To me, hiking was always a social activity, but my adventures went through a massive change when the pandemic hit. Rather than risking get-togethers with people outside my bubble, I decided to hit the trail alone. And boy, was it liberating!

Although my first solo treks were born out of necessity, I'm glad I now feel confident heading out by myself. It removes the need to wait for others to be available to go out and do something I love.

Today, I'm sharing a few tips for getting out there, even on days when you don't have a hiking buddy. 😌

First, the best thing you can do to prepare for solo hiking is to hike with other people! It might sound counterintuitive, but the more time you spend on the trail, the more comfortable you'll be going out alone. If it isn't an option for you to do more non-solo hiking, the rest of these tips will help you overcome any fear you may have around hiking alone.

🗣️ Share Your Plans

You might not have anyone able to join you on the trail, but that doesn't mean you should keep it completely to yourself. Always send a message to a trusted friend that includes the details of your trip: trail head, route, destination, expected return time, and who they should contact if they don't hear back from you.

🤏🏻 Start Small

Choose a trail that is well within your comfort zone physically. Well-marked and popular trails are good choices because you won't have to worry about wandering off trail and getting lost.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Stay Mindful of Your Surroundings

It can be tempting to fill the silence by popping on headphones and listening to your favorite music when you're out by yourself, but you should try to resist. It's super important to stay unplugged so you can listen to the sounds around you on the trail.

Not only is this a safety measure, you'll be able to take in more of the wonderful nature that surround you. Isn't that why we head out from the city in the first place?

🐻 Prepare for Wildlife Encounters

You're more likely to see wild critters on solo hikes because you'll be less obvious to the wildlife than a large group of hikers. It's a good idea to have an understanding of the potential animal encounters you'll have and how to respond to each one.

For example, when I started hiking around Los Angeles, I did a little research around rattlesnakes and what to do if I see one (which I have several times!). Even if you never encounter a bear on the trail, you'll feel more confident equipped with the knowledge of how to respond to those unlikely scenarios.

I share further explanations and a bunch more tips in this blog post if you're interested :)

I still prefer to enjoy the outdoors with my partner or friends, but sometimes I crave the personal quality time with mother nature that only a solo hike allows.

& S'more

Do you ever find yourself in a perpetual state of waiting? Waiting for the right moment, the perfect conditions, or perhaps for someone else to be available? Lately, I've been caught in this cycle, using it as an excuse to hold back on my personal goals and creative projects. It's a trap that leads to procrastination, especially in my content creation journey.

Just this morning as I'm writing this, I finally uploaded a new YouTube video after a long hiatus. It's a bit different from my usual content, and while I'm not 100% satisfied, I'm proud to have completed it. If you're curious, feel free to check it out here.

This experience reminded me of the importance of pushing through uncertainty and embracing the process, even when it's not perfect.

In the past month, I've been waiting for various things: friends visiting, the right moment to be productive, and days without dog-sitting duties (which have become few and far between). These distractions, while enjoyable, have taught me that waiting for ideal circumstances is rarely helpful. Life is full of distractions, and it's up to us to find the discipline and desire to keep moving forward.

Working from home adds another layer of complexity. The lines between work and home life blur, making it easy to get sidetracked by household chores or other "side quests." It's crucial to treat work hours as sacred, just as if I were in an office. This mindset helps me focus on my goals, like writing blog posts or editing videos, without succumbing to the waiting game.

Reflecting on my solo hiking adventures, I remember the empowerment I felt when I first ventured out alone. That sense of independence and determination is something I'm striving to channel into my daily life. Just as I plan a hike with a specific trail or destination in mind, I need clear goals for my day-to-day tasks, whether it's completing a video or sending out this newsletter on a weekly basis.

Recently, I paused my newsletter to focus on video editing, which was my top priority. I realized putting this email together had become a distraction (albeit a productive one) from the main platform I want to find consistency on.

This decision helped me realize the importance of setting boundaries and avoiding procrastination. I'm hopeful that in the coming months, I'll find a better rhythm to balance my work priorities and stay consistent here and on YouTube.

On a side note, I'm experimenting with a voice memo app to write this section of my newsletter today! It's transcribing these words from my speech instead of me typing it out, which I hope will save time and allow me to focus more on idea generation and connecting with all of you :)

Thank you for sticking with me through the ebbs and flows of my journey. With the weather warming up here in Los Angeles, I'm excited to start hitting the trails again in earnest and share new spots with you all.

Happy adventuring,

💚A