There’s this weird moment on a solo hike when you realize you’re the only one for miles who knows where you are. At first, it’s terrifying. Then, it’s wildly freeing.

I didn’t set out to become a solo hiker. I waited for the right time, the right moment to somehow magically get other people to join me, and canceled plans when life got in the way.

After a while, I got annoyed not just with the lack of people in my life to join me, but more so with myself. What was stopping me? I had been trail running by myself, so why was hiking so different? So, I laced up anyway and went out alone. Just one mile, just one time.

That “one time” turned into something more. A “look what I can do” and a “wow this is amazing, why did I wait so long” moment. And it also became a mission to explore all the trails in Central Virginia and beyond.

Out there with only the sound of wind, birds, and my shoes on dirt, something shifted. I stopped performing. I stopped waiting. I started listening to the woods, yes, but more importantly, to myself.

There are many days when I venture out and wonder if it’s worth it, only to experience the best views, waterfalls, and trails, and fall into bed with a sense of peace.

I found that hiking alone isn’t really about being alone. It’s about choosing yourself. Giving yourself space to think, feel, breathe, and be.

So if you’ve been waiting for company, maybe this is your sign. The trail is still there. So are you. That’s enough.