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Original poster

DS plans to walk 32 miles on his own this weekend.

202 replies

Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:16

He's in his first couple of weeks at University. Seems to be really enjoying the course, but not socialising at all. This is not any great surprise, as he's a real introvert and happy in his own company. All his life he's tended to have one good friend rather than a group, although these have changed from time to time.

Hiking is his thing and he likes to do it alone. However, a day walk would usually be about 14 miles.

I'm worried. I don't suppose I can stop him and I won't know if he goes or not if he doesn't tell me, but 32 miles without proper training (above 14m) on his own where he doesn't know the area and has no one nearby he could call for help and the nights drawing in?

On the one hand, great that he's getting out, but....

OP posts:
lljkk · 05/10/2022 13:21

He'll take a phone. He'll be fine. I though you were going to say he was 14, not Uni age.

Original poster
Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:22

lljkk · 05/10/2022 13:21

He'll take a phone. He'll be fine. I though you were going to say he was 14, not Uni age.

Who's he going to call?

OP posts:
Clairenlea · 05/10/2022 13:24

I’d let him go. Just make sure he has access to a phone in the case of an emergency

gyarados · 05/10/2022 13:24

he can call a taxi or emergency services (if required)

Owlsinmybedroom · 05/10/2022 13:25

Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:22

Who's he going to call?

Show quote history

Mountain rescue, 999 etc

Is he going somewhere commonly walked like Snowdonia etc? If he is sticking to fairly main trails he is unlikely to not meet people throughout the day

Honestly out of all the things he could be doing at uni, this seems fairly safe so long as he is sensible

Original poster
Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:25

gyarados · 05/10/2022 13:24

he can call a taxi or emergency services (if required)

You can't call a taxi when you're hiking away from roads?

OP posts:
Bytrgrewd · 05/10/2022 13:25

Is he camping or staying overnight somewhere?

Flugelbinder · 05/10/2022 13:26

I’m a distance hiker and have covered that in a day. Do you know where he’s going? You might be surprised how many other hikers there are on the route. Only other comment is obviously bring the right equipment (map/water/food/1st aid etc.) and be aware that’s a good 12 hr hike and with the nights getting darker earlier he doesn’t want to get caught out.

Original poster
Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:26

Owlsinmybedroom · 05/10/2022 13:25

Mountain rescue, 999 etc

Is he going somewhere commonly walked like Snowdonia etc? If he is sticking to fairly main trails he is unlikely to not meet people throughout the day

Honestly out of all the things he could be doing at uni, this seems fairly safe so long as he is sensible

Show quote history

I know. I'm worried for him because of the social side of things, but I also know he's so introverted he won't call for help when he should.

OP posts:
Original poster
Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:27

Flugelbinder · 05/10/2022 13:26

I’m a distance hiker and have covered that in a day. Do you know where he’s going? You might be surprised how many other hikers there are on the route. Only other comment is obviously bring the right equipment (map/water/food/1st aid etc.) and be aware that’s a good 12 hr hike and with the nights getting darker earlier he doesn’t want to get caught out.

That's a good point, I suspect it is a well trodden route. He wants to walk cross country from his city to the next city.

OP posts:
Original poster
Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:28

Bytrgrewd · 05/10/2022 13:25

Is he camping or staying overnight somewhere?

No he plans to do it in a day and be back to his own bed.

OP posts:
Cwcwbird · 05/10/2022 13:29

Get him to give you his route and leave and arrive home eta. Ask him to give you a call or text when he's done. Those are all sensible measures that anyone walking alone should take whatever their age or experience.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 05/10/2022 13:29

I do this kind of thing.
You could get him an OS maps subscription for his phone and a light battery pack to charge it?
Light headtorch as well, maybe.
A nice gift is probably better received than a message that could come off as a bit negative.

It is helpful to train for hill fitness and to get used to carrying a pack but if he's young he will probably be fine.

If he's able to share the route with you and agree to text you now and again, that's helpful from a safety perspective.

WobbieBilliams · 05/10/2022 13:30

Make sure he downloads the what three words app - it's can give you your location accurately and is recognised by the emergency services

Has he got a portable charger? If not, have you got time to get one delivered to him, with time for him to charge it up?

Awakened22 · 05/10/2022 13:30

Sounds fine to me - can he give you the route he’s walking in advance and check in with you at certain times? He could also use find my phone or something so you can track him if needed? Main thing is to make sure he’s got the right kit, food/water and a battery pack so he can charge his phone if needed.

AliceMcK · 05/10/2022 13:30

As long as he’s appropriately dressed for weather changes, got enough food, a phone with gps and sticks to the rules (e.g don’t wonder off the path) he will be fine. I have a cousin like this, he disappears for days on end, walking is his passion.

if your worried you could always buy him a gps tracker. This has good reviews and used by DOE participants when doing hikes.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09BZ8RB4X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

PuttingDownRoots · 05/10/2022 13:30

Just give him the normal safety reminders about correct kit, food/drink, telling a friend when he should be back, fully charged phone and perhaps power bank, map etc. Insist he at least checks the weather forecast.

He's told you his plan, which is at least something. (Would he agree to phone tracking for example?) Or send you a route planing? If you don't hear from him by a certain time ring the appropriate mountain rescue etc. Point out this is what responsible hikers do!

For what its worth I agree he's being irresponsible. But he won't agree so all you can do is make sure is he's thought through a back up plan.

Original poster
Interestingmauve · 05/10/2022 13:32

Cwcwbird · 05/10/2022 13:29

Get him to give you his route and leave and arrive home eta. Ask him to give you a call or text when he's done. Those are all sensible measures that anyone walking alone should take whatever their age or experience.

Yes, but what exactly do I do from 200 miles away if he doesn't text?

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 05/10/2022 13:33

What kind of phones do you have? Can you track each other on find my friends etc?

LuciaPopp · 05/10/2022 13:34

I've done similar distances and I'm in my fifth decade- he'll be fine. Hiking alone really isn't an unusual thing to do. Sounds like he's experienced and so will know what to take and all the necessary safety precautions. Setting off early with a charged phone and power pack is key- he will know all this already. Sounds a much safer and healthier thing to be doing than what a lot of students get up to!

JoanOgden · 05/10/2022 13:35

Unless he is somewhere really remote like the Scottish Highlands, the risk is very low as long as the weather is OK and he doesn't take any silly risks. Make sure he takes enough water and has a plan for if mobile reception on his phone isn't working.

PandaOrLion · 05/10/2022 13:35

Sounds similar tone when I moved away for a pgce. I have always found mobile maps to be pretty good, either os maps or all trails and remind him he can get OS maps from charity shops as an alternative.

Unless he’s at a really small university I would have thought there is some kind of hiking club he might want to join at some point.

WalkingThroughTreacle · 05/10/2022 13:35

The distance is doable if he's fit. I walk in the hills a lot in Scotland and my golden rule is always to take sufficient kit that I can cope with an unplanned overnighter in case of injury or the weather closing in. Doesn't need to be much - spare food, bivvi bag, extra clothes and insulation, torch, first aid kit, fire kit etc. I also have a PLB which I originally bought for sea kayaking but they are now legal to use on land in the UK so I take it hiking too. If you are worried about him that might be a present to think about. They send your GPS location with a distress signal and work off satellite so far more reliable in remote areas than a mobile phone.

Flugelbinder · 05/10/2022 13:36

What are you going to do if he goes on holiday and doesn’t text? I understand your concern slightly but you’re becoming very agitated about something not that dangerous. Walking city to city suggests it will be populated area, at least either end, and popular national park type terrain so he will almost certainly come across other hikers.

midgetastic · 05/10/2022 13:36

32 miles isn't that mad especially if it's not particularly hilly
( somewhat father than I would go in a day mind you )

Ask him to make sure he has told you his route , has bail out plans , has plans for the dark, and promises to phone when he's safe because that's all good solo walking practise -

Yours
A very experienced walker