Field Notes

Confident solo hikers don’t usually look dramatic from the outside. They don’t rush.They don’t posture.They don’t need to announce what they’re doing. Their confidence is quiet, and it’s built through skills most people never talk about. Skill #1: Decision-Making Without Guilt Confident solo hikers decide without apologizing to themselves or anyone else. They turn back…

There’s a moment many would-be hikers and campers know well. You love the idea of being outside.You crave quiet trails, fresh air, and the feeling of moving through nature on your own terms.And yet, when it comes time to actually go alone, hesitation creeps in. Not because you’re incapable.Not because you don’t belong out there.But…

If you hike with a reactive or sensitive dog, you already know the math. Every encounter costs energy. Another dog.A runner.A bike.A voice around a bend. By the time you reach the halfway point, you’re managing not just your dog, but your own nervous system too. The problem isn’t that you’re doing it wrong.The problem…

There’s a quiet pressure that shows up when you hike with a dog. Not always from other people, but from inside your own head. Will my dog react?What if we run into someone on a narrow trail?What if today is the day everything goes sideways? For many women who hike solo with dogs, the goal…

If you’ve ever stood at a trailhead convincing yourself to “just go already,” you’re not alone. Solo hiking can bring up a lot of internal noise, especially if you’re responsible, thoughtful, and aware of risk. The problem isn’t that you’re thinking too much. It’s that your thoughts don’t have anywhere to land. Overthinking thrives in…

There’s a narrative floating around the internet that solo hiking requires a certain personality type. Fearless. Brave. Unshakable.The kind of person who never hesitates and never turns back. That narrative is nonsense. Most women who hike solo aren’t fearless. They’re thoughtful. They plan. They notice things. They make decisions based on context, not ego. They…

Hiking with dogs is one of the best things on earth. Period. Fresh air, shared miles, muddy paws, quiet companionship that doesn’t need small talk. But here’s the part nobody likes to say out loud: A lot of people hiking with dogs are winging it.And the trail is not the place to wing it. Most…

There’s a romantic idea floating around that hiking is all vibes: boots on dirt, sun through trees, problems left at the trailhead. And yes is of course the magic. But here’s the truth nobody puts on the inspirational posters: the trail doesn’t care about your intentions. Weather flips. Trails disappear. Ankles roll. Phones die dramatic…

Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker A woman bought a Wayfinder bracelet at a market. Two months later, she messaged me this: “I haven’t taken it off since the day I finally left.” She had been in a stagnant, soul-draining relationship for years. When she saw the bracelet engraved with mountain ridges, she told me it felt…

Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker If you ever worry about getting lost, this free app is your new best friend. I use AllTrails+ for offline maps, but even the free version is helpful. It can be off on mileage a but so be ware. It lets you: Preview elevation and trail conditions Read recent hiker reviews…

Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker I always carry three things in my backpack — even on short hikes. Two are obvious. One might surprise you. The obvious ones: water and snacks (because trail hangry is real). The surprising one? A burned wooden token with the word steady carved into it. It’s part ritual, part reminder. When…

Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker Solo hikes get all the glory — but they’re not the only way to reconnect. I love hiking alone. But I’ve also cried-laughed my way through muddy trails with a friend, shared silence with a stranger, and found healing in shared steps, not just solo ones. The myth that healing must…