TRAVEL

I Realize I Could Have Died but I Love Hiking Solo

Goat Peak Trail in Massachusetts called my name and I listened

After I recovered from the red-eye flight a few days ago, I got straight back into what I love to do when I vacation anywhere.

Hiking or walking out in nature.

Since I am close to the forest in the middle of Massachusetts, it’s the perfect place for a hike.

The need to explore comes out of me when I’m not at home.

I’ll look up a few places, pick one at random, and usually drag my husband or kids with me.

But, I love going solo. A good podcast and nature are my cup of tea. I also love going early in the morning because I’d rather not even see anyone.

Just me and nature. There’s nothing else like it.

Yesterday morning, I found a hike and set out around 7:30 am. The trail is described as going through a forest up to a lookout point that showcased the surrounding areas.

I was giddy inside and as I drove up to the gate, I noticed that the park was closed.

Well, closed for cars to come in. So, I thought.

Disappointment set in.

Since I drove 20 minutes, I just wanted to go in and check it out anyway. I wasn’t sure why it wasn’t open but decided to park outside and sneak in.

I am not a runner but I desperately needed to see what was inside this beautiful park. I jogged past the entrance and to my surprise, right past the bend was this gorgeous lake. Since I didn’t research anything, I wasn’t aware of what was going to be on the path to the reward lookout at the end.

Past the lake, there was a fork in the road. Take the marked “Do Not Enter” path or the open path.

Of course, the peak I wanted to climb was off the “Do Not Enter” road.

Since I’ve yet to see anyone inside the park, what would it hurt to walk up the road to see what it was like?

Well, I got about halfway up and started to panic. What if my car got towed and I was stuck?? But, I was almost to the peak so I kept going.

I decide to run up the slanted hill. Running is difficult enough on its own, you don’t need a 4+ incline.

Sweating profusely, I finally get to the trail that reads:

1.1 miles to Goat Peak.

What the heck? Another 1.1 miles? I couldn’t do it. My anxiety was running high thinking about my car and if I was going to be able to make it home.

So, I start sprinting back down the hill. Running downhill is no joke and guess what, you don’t use those muscles very much so I knew I had it in for me.

Standing up and sitting down was going to be a struggle for the next week.

Whatever. I would make it to my car and get back to the hotel. I can deal with some sore muscles.

Racing down the steep hill, past the fork in the road and the lake, I was approaching the entrance where cars start streaming in.

Ok, the park is open, it just didn’t open until 8 am. My car definitely has a ticket then.

Huffing and puffing, I pass the ticket booth and there is no one inside. The booth has a sign that says “No fee today”.

Interesting.

Thank goodness my rental car is around the bend and I made it out without a ticket but I vowed to return the following day.

Arriving at 8 am the following day, the gate was open for me to easily drive my car inside. There were two other hikers with their dogs but going on a different route.

There was no one trekking up to Goat Peak. This time, I stroll leisurely up to the trailhead because my legs are so tight and sore.

I won’t let that stop me from getting to Goat Peak. Once at the trailhead, I feel empowered. I can do this solo hike. Looking into the forest, there is definitely no one around.

Follow the marked trees and I will be ok, I tell myself. Even though some parts didn’t even resemble a trail, I remained calm and collected.

Halfway through, I see something in the distance. I take an earbud out, but can’t make it out. Am I hallucinating or is it an animal?

I hear my husband’s voice in my head, “You can’t hike out among the bears without bear spray.” This is what he told me when we were in Canada a few months ago.

“You are not invincible when a bear is present.”

I think to myself, shit, I wonder if that was a bear. I don’t see anything anymore. Are there bears out here in Massachusetts? I have no idea.

I asked trusted Google and there are in fact an increasing number of bears in Massachusetts.

Great.

I decide to keep going and this is the longest 1.1-mile hike I’ve been on. Through all the twists, turns, steep inclines, and rocky terrain, I make it to a paved road.

My legs are killing me.

Just up ahead is the sign to goat peak. I climb another set of stairs that takes me to this lookout tower.

If you read the book Where the Crawdads Sing, you’ll get a kick out of this. It looks exactly like the tower in the book.

I didn’t hike all this way to be intimidated by the tower. I stuff my phone and keys in my pants and manage to make it to the top of the tower.

It was sketchy and being alone doing amplifies it but I am so glad I made it because the views were spectacular. I spent a good 20 minutes up there resting and taking in the area. Getting down was a bit of a struggle, but I made it and felt empowered.

That is what solo hiking does for me, it gives me a sense of empowerment. I felt alive, even though I could have been attacked by anything or anyone.

The hike back was equally as worrisome because I got lost a few times and couldn’t find the marked trees. I panicked some at times but was eventually led back to the paved road where I knew I was almost back at the car.

Hiking solo is an adventure but next time I need to be prepared. If you are ever in Southern Massachusetts, check out Goat Peak either prepared and solo or with a buddy.

You won’t be disappointed. You might have trouble walking for days following like I am, but it will be worth it.

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Thanks for reading!

Much love, Michele