Friends cancelled the trip and you've got a free weekend? Here's why heading into the hills alone isn't a death sentence, how to do it with your brain switched on, and where to start so you're not gambling with luck.
Author: Konrad Leśniak4 min read
Sound familiar? For a month you’ve been planning an epic Tatra getaway. Two days before you leave, Marek messages that his sinuses are acting up and Kasia that her boss wouldn’t approve the leave. You’re on your own. Now what — cancel the hostel and binge Netflix for the weekend, or pack your rucksack and go solo?
💡 In a nutshell – Solo hiking in a nutshell:
- Leave a trail: Always send someone a text with your planned route and return time (e.g., “If I don’t contact you by 18:00, call TOPR”).
- Be your own voice of reason: In a group, someone will always say “let’s turn back”. Solo, you must make that decision yourself when the weather turns or you run out of strength.
- Ratunek app: Keep it on your phone along with a charged power bank.
- Where to start: Choose popular routes (Sarnia Skała, Czerwone Wierchy) where, in case of injury, someone will quickly be there to help.
Most people freak out at the thought of hiking alone. They worry they’ll twist an ankle where no one will find them, or die of boredom. The truth is, solo hiking is hands down the best way to reset your head. But it comes with iron rules.
Whenever you hike with someone, you compromise. You’re too slow because your partner’s gasping. Or you’re too fast, chasing someone with calves of steel until you collapse. You stop for shots you don’t want, and chat when all you crave is silence.
When you hike alone:
Here’s the hard part. Statistically, TOPR rescuers fly out surprisingly often for so-called ‘solo hikers’. Why? Because on your own you’re missing a voice of reason. When you’re two and the weather turns, someone usually says, ‘Listen, this is turning nasty, let’s turn back.’ Alone, ‘achievement mode’ kicks in: I’ve already come this far, I can finish. Sometimes you really can’t.
For your first outing alone, pick trails where… you aren’t entirely alone anyway. Sounds odd, but knowing someone passes every ten minutes feels surprisingly safe.
Solo hiking is something everyone should try at least once. It shows you where your limits are and sends your confidence sky high. Pack your bag, tuck in your favourite chocolate bar, and go. You’ve got the best company there is — your own.
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How to call for help in the Tatras: TOPR numbers 985 and +48 601 100 300, the Ratunek app, what to tell the dispatcher, no signal, and HZS 18 300 in Slovakia.
When to turn back in the Tatras: wind, time, conditions worse than forecast, fatigue. My two retreats – 100 m below Kasprowy in a foehn wind and Wołowiec skipped.
Night ban in Tatra National Park: 1 Dec to end of Feb 22:00–5:00, 1 Mar to 30 Nov dusk to dawn. Sunrise and sunset table for Zakopane and how to plan your day.
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