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How to get into camping/hiking again?
Hey there, going to keep this short: I used to love camping and hiking, but now can't quite bring myself to do it, this is partially due to the fact that I am single, and none of my (very few) local friends would ever be interested in joining.
So, does anyone around here have any tips or ideas on how to get into hiking or camping again?
I regularly hike alone, also on work trips/travelling.
For me, the interest depends a lot on my surroundings. Is this a cityscape? Time to bring my camera. Is there something special about the nature nearby?
When at home, I have two options I vary between:
For me, a lot of the joy of hiking comes from not listening to anything. No music, no podcast just me and my thoughts. I have friends who are exactly the opposite: hiking while listening is what brings them joy.
Hiking with others gives you a different type of conversation and just being in the moment that don't get with the same people sitting down, over a meal or similar. I have friends who've had success easing their friends out by first going diskgolfing and then gradually being able to drop the disks and suddenly they're going hiking together.
I used to love camping. Now that's just not for me. I have all the fancy stuff, the inflatable kayak, the super lightweight tent, a great mattress. Now I can't remember my last overnight, even just to be able to take a longer trek on a weekend.
Going to enjoy others' tips on that front in this thread.
There are always local hiking groups. Check socials for like-minded groups of all ages who are seeking to hit the trail. You might make a new friend or a new camping partner. Or you might just find a large group of people who hike at all different speeds, but provide "buddy system" so you're not out there alone.
You might also be shocked if you ask your existing friends who wants to come. I did the same, and found out that a friendly book-worm was super keen on exploring but felt like he didn't know anyone like-minded.
Hiking groups are one of the top ways for single people to meet people. Find one in your area.
My wife and I camped a few times a year for several years before we got married. Enjoyable, but it was on our wedding trip (which was camping in the BWCA with friends) where it really went to another level of enjoyment. One friend with us (the least-well-acquainted in the group of eight) packed in a yeti cooler unbeknownst to us for 3 days. On the 3rd day, it was revealed that not only had he carried in this super heavy cooler, but that it was filled with bacon-wrapped beefsteaks, cheeses, butter, heavy cream for coffee, grapes, etc. He also had in the same pack fresh veggies, root veggies, oranges...Not only that, he was an excellent fisherman and caught a handful of walleye for our wedding dinner.
And he showed us how to really cook. He had Lodge cast iron skillets and real knives. The food was so good after 3 days of paddling to a remote interior campsite. From then on, our camping trips followed the same sort of idea: get out and eat well. It means we carry much more weight than when we were bringing just dried food pouches and the lightest pots and pans. But it's so worth it.
Now we basically do one camping trip to the BWCA a year, and we alternate between going by ourselves (now with kids), and with a big group of friends. We change the friend group up as well. We have gone with people for their first time a few times, and I'm not sure we've had anyone really not like it. I'm sure there is some selection bias here. But not everyone is enjoying it for the same reasons. Sometimes you might think someone won't like it because of
x, but it turns out they would actually really like it becausey.Tie your interest in camping with another interest, too. It could be "camping + cooking", or "camping + reading", "camping + knitting", "camping + smokin' dope", "camping + fishing", "camping + astrophotography", etc. It's time spent away from distractions, so you can finally get into that other hobby without being pulled away.