Since I released my first exclusive guide to solo hiking back in May 2025, I have completed a whopping total of 20 solo hikes. According to my handy hiking app, between May 2 2025 and April 5 2026, I hiked for a combined total 53 hours and 36 minutes, 120.6 miles, and gained 27, 201 feet of elevation.
While I've definitely learned a thing or two about solo hiking over the past year, I still stand by (most) everything I said back in May 2025. For having only ever done one (1) solo hike, I was pretty spot-on. After writing that post, I even ended up taking some of my own advice, investing in a fancy hiking backpack that maximizes breathability between back and pack and developing a habit of always bringing three water bottles.
That being said, it would be rude not to share my new solo hiking tips with you. I would hate to gatekeep such valuable information. Plus, I have to take advantage of the fact that you trust me even more now because of all the fancy numbers I shared with you in the beginning of this post. So. Are you ready for my new-and-improved solo hiking expertise? Great! Let's go.
1. I'll start with the "improved" part. Tip #4 of my first Solo Hiking Guide reassures readers that they don't need to download hiking maps ahead of time because the hiking sinage is so good in Germany. This is true...in many cases. Some hikes, however, are a little wilder and less maintained. In the winter, sections of trails can be closed due to rough conditions, meaning you would need to find a detour. Sometimes these detours are well-marked, sometimes not. Long story short, it is actually worth the $2.83 a month to upgrade to a premium subscription hiking app so you can download the maps ahead of time. For peace of mind and for emergencies.
2. Microclimates exist! If you're thinking to yourself, "Wow, the weather is gorgeous where I currently am. Let me go somewhere else with a significantly different altitude and enjoy the same weather from up there!"... you are a fool! I was this fool just yesterday, when I decided I would hike the Feldberg mountain trail. In Freiburg, it was 70 degrees and sunny, spring in full bloom. When I arrived at the base of the trail, I was greeted by rays of sunshine beaming onto heaps of ice and snow. After a moment of grappling with my surprise and frustration, I decided to do the hike anyway. This turned out to be a brave and adventurous choice, not to mention mind-boggling to hike through the remnants of a winder wonderland in shorts and a T-shirt.
3. For those who are thinking about going on a solo hike, remember that planning ahead is really important. Will your favorite ice cream shop still be open when you return? If the answer is no, consider starting your hike earlier in the day. I cannot convey to you how devastating it is to glance at your phone on your way home and realize you will arrive after 6pm.
4. If you want to avoid being called "so German" by your one and only beloved sister, don't break Passover a day early on a hike with a soft pretzel. Or at least, don't tell your sister about it.
That's all, folks, happy hiking! (And to my observant readers, happy breaking Passover under normal conditions!)
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