Three things I learned while hiking alone

The snapping turtle sat solidly in the middle of the pathway, head tilted toward me, like he meant business. He was the size of a small dog, covered in mud, small squinty eyes unblinking, watching carefully from a very wrinkly head. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you,” I told him, and got as close as I dared to snap a picture on my phone. I actually imagined him extending his neck far beyond what is reasonable, to snap off the tip of my finger. I silently wondered how fast turtles could move. I gave him a wide berth, and walked on. He side-eyed me as I passed.

It’s a Sunday morning after a rain. I’d planned to do this rail trail on my bicycle with a few friends, but the rain in the early morning stopped them. It almost stopped me, too; I am much more adventurous with friends. I’m not a joiner, but I do love company. I’m training to walk a Camino in Spain in September and October, and I am doing the trip on my own. I will have to walk in all weather, at least 20k a day, every day for six weeks. It will be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

So, this day, I decided, I needed to walk on my own. Despite that, several times before I left the house, I found myself picking up my phone to text one of my friends to come with me — it had, after all, stopped raining. Each time, I stopped myself. I really needed to do this alone.

After considering a few other trails in the vicinity, I decided I would do our originally planned trail — the Cambridge to Paris rail trail, starting in Glen Morris, a 10k hike into Paris. I spent the first five kilometres wondering if I’d make it all the way. I learned a few things about myself in the rather haphazard, half-hearted on-again-off-again way I executed this hike.

First, be prepared.

Once I’d made up my mind to do the hike, I threw things together and headed out the door. Now, since I’m training for the Camino, I took my full pack (without clothes, which means I didn’t have the extra pair of socks I always carry with me on a hike) — about 5.5kg — threw in my Hoka walking shoes at the last minute, filled up a water bottle, grabbed a granola bar, and off I went. Halfway to the expressway, I realized I’d only had a light carb-filled breakfast. I hadn’t packed lunch or even snacks beyond the granola bar. I expected to hike…

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