Latest posts > [Walking and Climbing]

I like to walk on my own. It clears my head and is a chance to destress. I relish my independence and enjoy going off with my tent, food and cooker and not descending to civilisation for at least a couple of days.  Despite sharing my routes and likely bail outs, together with a list of what equipment I have to keep me safe - dry clothes to change, first aid, extra food, decent waterproofs, spare map and compass, torch and the like. However any route I leave is likely to change once I've been out for more than a couple of days. This is fine if there's mobile coverage but as we know mobile coverage isn't universal particularly in more remote spots.

If like me you don't want to sacrifice the pleasure of walking solo, what do you do to stop significant others fretting? A bit of context: I have been hill walking for 30 years both in the UK and further afield. I am a competent navigator and have done several winter skills courses.  When I am on my own, I tend to be more conservative in my choice of route -walking round a scrambly ridge, particularly if it's icey, similarly I will walk several miles upstream rather than cross a dodgy stream crossing. I carry a barometer as well as checking as many different weather forecasts I can before I set off. 

I'd be interested to hear how others handle this particularly when partners either don't understand the appeal of the hills or what steps you do take to reduce risks. 

My age and experience do go some way to calming fears at home, but I also carry a SPoT tracker these days and send pings home so my 2 1/2 years old daughter can see where dad is camping.
My wife is also a hill-goer so doesn't fret at all, my dad's has had his share of adventuring, so my mum is the only one who really worries. So she's on my SPoT subscripion list and gets the links emailed to see where I am as well.

I never plan a route either, never give a return time, just the day I'll be back. Not sticking to a plan is enough to get nervous relatives dilaing 999.

I suppose you just have to keep proving yourself, there's nothing else you can do, and just hope for some understanding. But understanding how they feel is important too, it must be hard for folk who can't place themselves in your shoes.

After 25 years, senior management has sort of got used to me disappearing, but

I never give her a route (cos I alter plans as I go along) but do give a broad location (Helvellyn etc) and never give a return time (as delay causes fretting) but

I do send txts during the day as and when possible - leaving car, having 2nd breccy, having lunch, back at car, in coffee shop - that sort of thing.

Works for us.

Can't be done. If you manage to get them relaxed enough about going walking they'll only worry about something else.

Some years ago I spent a useless half hour trying to persuade the wife that hill walking was far safer than driving to the hills (which it is). Now I get "Drive Safely" everytime I go anywhere.

I reckon she doesn't think I'm old enough to be let out on my own.

I normally tell the Mem Sahib where I'm going but not in much detail - e.g. Dartmoor or Brecon Beacons but she doesn't seem that concerned.

Steve has already mentioned the problem of patchy mobile coverage and I saw the following method to compensate in a recent issue of TGO. 

Basically, you phone your other half each evening.  If they don't hear from you (i.e. no network coverage at your campsite) they send you a text asking if you're OK and the next morning, you leave your mobile on and carry it where you can hear it.  When you receive the text, you know you're back in an area of coverage and can either text back or call.

OK, it won't work for those who spend more than one day at a time outside network coverage but for trips nearer civilisation, at least the MRT guys will not be more than 24 hours behind you if something does happen.

Parky Again wrote (see)

what did people do before mobile phones?

You can also (I'll shut up soon) use the Nokia/Viewranger Buddy Beacon option (think SPOT)...

Or more appositely this if you are in the dog house. Sorry

Parky Again wrote (see)

what did people do before mobile phones?

Got along just fine I'll warrant.

Still don't have em where I live. Mobile communication is handheld VHF or nothing (unless you're rich and can afford an Iridium)

Thanks for the responses. I resent the reliance on gizmos - it's as though people want a magic wand to get them out of a fix anytime anywhere. I fully share the moans about mobiles, but it doesn't help the fretting any.

My argument is I could slip on a dog turd in a London street and I'd be just as dead as I would be if I went arse over tit somewhere like Suilven. The cost of the gadget plus the subs seems a bit steep. As someone based in the flat and boring south I count myself lucky if I manage to get away somewhere properly remote for more than 24 hours at a time more than once a month. Take that back, not lucky, truly blessed. Uncluttered sky, wildlife and no cars... I could go on.

It is not a reliance - it is an option (and perhaps a succour - faux or otherwise to a n other); likely that if you had an accident that serious you could not even reach your £200 gizmo as you would be...incapacitated...or dead; perhaps best not to share that thought with a SO though

A PLB is cheaper than a SPOT system if you do the math.

just asked senior management what would stop her worrying.

Increase your life insurance to £10M....then I couldnt care less came the answer

ed h wrote (see)

A PLB is cheaper than a SPOT system if you do the math.

But the question was 'how do you stop others worrying?' A PLB will get you out of the poo though the first your SO will know about it is when they are informed by the rozzers.

The upside of the SPOT is you can send 'I'm as sound as a pound' messages when in darkest Peru (well the far reaches of the Arrochar Alps anyway) as well as 'I'm really, really, really in the sh1t and need a big yellow taxi' messages when mobiles don't work.

The only reason I bought a SPOT was for the check in messaging when out solo for longish periods without any phone signal. In fact, I've stopped carrying a phone due to the patchy reception, I don't imagine using the SPOT to get rescued, I'd never live that down with my climbing chums...