How many back out of going?

[somers515]

I've gone on some great backpacking trips with my brother-in-law but a couple of times he's had to cancel. It's disappointing but I go anyway and I've enjoyed the solo time as well. But easy for me as I've been hiking mostly in the east. I suppose having all your hiking partners cancel when you are heading into grizzly country would be more troubling.

[Highland Goat]

It depends on whether or not you break people.

[Miner]

There is a reason I do almost all my backpacking and day hikes solo. If I didn't, I'd rarely go. I do invite people, but I make it clear I'm going no matter what. I usually only invite people I know won't require me to change my trip plans (they can do similar daily miles) unless I have no particular destination in mind and don't mind changing. Now occasionally, I do scale back my plans and invite people to do what I consider is an easier hike in order to entice them to come along. If they don't, then I fall back on my more aggressive plan B. Still only helps a little.

I have found that most people will back out once they find something else they rather do. Which often occurs at the last minute when they actually have to decide which they prefer. Meaning, while they sounded interested, it was their backup plan until something they enjoy more came along. Some people are fortunate to find hiking partners that have a similar commitment to the outdoors. Such people should be cherished.

[WTX2WY]

I lost my hiking buddy in 2013 after we finished our CDT thru-hike. He was killed in a car accident in California. In 2014, I thru-hiked the PCT for the second time with his former fiance so we could scatter his ashes at Forester Pass. I could always count on Steve and his fiance to be ready to hike on short notice.

What a bittersweet post.

Sorry you lost your friend, but glad you were able to make lifelong memories on that journey with him before the accident, and then his fiance after.

Loyalty and friendship, two of the most valued things in this life.

Thanks for the post.

[Leo L.]

For me it is a different type of hike, alone or with others. In reverse, the type of hike I'm intending to do defines whether I will do it alone or with others.

When doing the hike with others, we're doing everything to make it possible for everybody who is in the group, especially setting the pace and the rest points in a way that the slowest can follow.
This can be a big task and take lots of patience for the stronger ones among the group, but we try to never split up unplanned, but end the hike together the way it was planned from the beginning.
This is mostly dayhikes.
I have yet to find mates to do longer multiday hikes the way and style you're doing in the US, here in Austria. In lack of such, I do these alone, and am happy with this.

[peakbagger]

I have set up multiday trips to Baxter State Park for Meetup events several times. These are usually a prime group site on a prime weekend (like labor day) If I don't link the sign up to an early payment for a site, the early drop out rate is more than 50%. Even with requiring an up front payment its still around 50% but sometimes I can fill the slots.

This has always been an issue but more so when done electronically. Meetup had a "No Show" tag that could be attached to folks who didn't show up for an event but it disappeared for awhile but apparently has been restored. Unfortunately some folks still play games and cancel just before the start time so they don't get tagged. Several meetup group leaders in my group automatically dump anyone with multiple no-shows.

[BuckeyeBill]

What a bittersweet post.

Sorry you lost your friend, but glad you were able to make lifelong memories on that journey with him before the accident, and then his fiance after.

Loyalty and friendship, two of the most valued things in this life.

Thanks for the post.

Thanks. It was nice to have friends to count on who shared your love of the outdoors. We had planned to do the AT in 2014. So many people today are fair weather friends. If the weather looks to be cool or cold, rainy or snowy they back out in a hurry. I just like getting away, screw the weather. Dress and pack for it and you will really find out how great nature can be.

[LittleRock]

I try to include my friends when I hike. Some get really excited and want to go but it seems that most back out at the last moment. This has been very educational to me.
So, how many here experience the same? Ever have someone all excited to go but for some reason they just can't make it?

For day hikes, I sometimes still invite friends. Not much planning involved, if people don't show I just do the hike solo. No harm, no foul.

For multi-day hikes, all solo. Planning a solo backpacking trip is enough work already. The only way I'd consider going with friends is if they already had their own gear and were at least into it enough to do their fair share of the planning.

For anything longer than a weekend trip, I also consider personality types to be important. I prefer to be in my own head space while walking, rather than having someone 10 ft behind me jabbering the whole time. Some people understand, some don't.

[devoidapop]

It is nice to have a hiking partner that you can split the cost and carried weight of a trip with. But then, as somebody stated with shuttles, you gotta know that person isn't going to bail 2 days into a week long trip.

[ldsailor]

How about hiking partners? Does that count? Seems I lose them quite quickly. When I started the AT, I lost three within the first 40 miles (two dropped out and not sure about the third). Then I lost another (that's four), when she decided she didn't want to go through the Smokies. I'm afraid to hook up with any more partners since I'm getting a real complex about it.

[saltysack]

Yup, I sometimes will roughly plan on hiking with someone but always plan to go solo regardless of the attendance. On the flip side, I have done some longer hikes with very experienced hikers. They tend to be 100% in showing up.

The only reliable hiking partner I’ve found is my dog....


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[SWODaddy]

I have no friends so your experience is completely foreign to me...

Appropriate user name is appropriate.

[Gambit McCrae]

How about hiking partners? Does that count? Seems I lose them quite quickly. When I started the AT, I lost three within the first 40 miles (two dropped out and not sure about the third). Then I lost another (that's four), when she decided she didn't want to go through the Smokies. I'm afraid to hook up with any more partners since I'm getting a real complex about it.

Not sure if by hiking partner you mean someone you have met on the trail, or someone that comes to the trail with you for a hike. I have hiked with people I meet on the trail for a good distance, several days to a week, but I don't change my plans once I meet them. I will change things like deciding to stay at a hostel etc but if it falls too far out of my plan that is okay, and I will keep it movin

[BuckeyeBill]

Not sure if by hiking partner you mean someone you have met on the trail, or someone that comes to the trail with you for a hike. I have hiked with people I meet on the trail for a good distance, several days to a week, but I don't change my plans once I meet them. I will change things like deciding to stay at a hostel etc but if it falls too far out of my plan that is okay, and I will keep it movin

I consider a hiking buddy as someone you have known for awhile and can call up a few weeks ahead of time and is ready to get away for a few days or weeks. Hiking partners are those that you meet up with on the trail and hang with for awhile. You may not be with them all the time, but you meet up at the end of the day at a predetermined spot. If you don't meet up it's no big deal.