How to Plan A DIY Route For Your First Solo Hike

After months of dreaming and planning, Eva recently completed her first solo, DIY hike by walking along the coastline from her current home to the home she grew up in. She learned nine important things that could help you plan your trip.

Planning a solo, DIY hiking route doesn’t have to be a daunting task. It can actually be one of the most freeing, relaxing, and rewarding ways to explore the outdoors. And it’s easier than you might think!

While Australia has some of the most spectacular, well-managed multi-day walks (many of which are firmly at the top of my ‘To Walk’ list), there’s something extra special about walking a route that you’ve created for yourself.

I recently tackled my first solo DIY hike and have a few tips to help you get started on your very own one-of-a-kind adventure.

Let’s get you safely soloing

Planning Your Route

For your first crack at a hiking route you’ve pieced together yourself there are a few things that’ll make your experience more manageable.

1. Choose a Familiar or Well-Documented Area

Unless you’re SUPER into Type 2 fun, choose a route that’s not too far out of your comfort zone. You don’t have to be out in some super remote place, bush-bashing with only a compass to guide you. It’s still valid even if it isn’t ‘extreme’.

This might mean choosing an area where you’ve spent a lot of time and are familiar with the terrain and climate. I’m a huge advocate for exploring your own backyard, so why not start there?

You could also choose somewhere with lots of smaller well-known trails (think: Blue Mountains) or somewhere with mobile reception and small towns along the way to give you that added sense of support.

For my own hike, I chose to walk the 95km between the house I was renting and the house I grew up in. I’d walked bits and pieces of this stretch before and was familiar with the coastline, so the step up to forming my own track was a challenge I felt I could take on.

Read more: 10 Tips For Your First Off-Track Hike

And conveniently, it’s along the coast

2. Plan Around Drinking Water and Campsites

Mapping out days can be overwhelming so I suggest letting water and campsites guide you.

Whether it’s reliable waterways or council-operated water stations, caravan parks, or unofficial bush camps, knowing you’ll have somewhere to sleep and something to drink is vital.

I used the apps ‘MapOut’ and ‘WikiCamps’, alongside my local knowledge of existing and unofficial campgrounds and water refill sources, to help me plot out my route day by day.

Read more: Comparing Different Methods of Treating and Purifying Water on the Trail

3. Be Conservative

Don’t try to tackle too much too quickly. Plan your days to cover a shorter distance than you think you can handle, particularly for the beginning of the hike when your body is adjusting to walking all day.

Without trail markers guiding the way, account for lots of pauses to take stock, backtrack, and find your path again.

Give yourself a buffer to enjoy your scenery and recoup

The last thing you need is to be stressed about making it to a campsite before dark – plus it’s also nice to give yourself time to stop, soak up the scenery, and appreciate the epic adventure you’re on.

If you end up feeling amazing and walking further than planned, that’s awesome! What a bonus.

Read more: How To Start Hiking For Absolute Beginners

Packing

You’ve planned your route, you’ve set your start date, now what to bring? Chances are if you’re taking on this challenge, you already know what’s needed on an overnight hike so I won’t bore you with the details. But there are some things worth mentioning.

4. Take Gear You Know and Trust

Now’s not the time to be testing out a new tent or heading off in a new pair of shoes you haven’t worn in. You should already have some overnight hiking experience and figured out what gear you like to have with you.

Make sure you like your gear – it’s the only thing keeping you company!

Take gear you know will be comfortable, waterproof, warm, and sturdy. Remember, you’re by yourself and not necessarily around other hikers, so having good gear that you can rely on is a must for physical safety and peace of mind.

Read more: How Much Should You Spend On Hiking Gear?

5. Take a PLB

You’re on your own, this is a must. No exceptions.

Whether you borrow from a friend, hire one or have your own, this piece of gear should not only be with you but easily accessible at all times, in case of emergency i.e not buried at the bottom of your pack. When it comes to emergency safety it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Read more: PLBs and Satellite Messengers – Everything You Need to Know About Off-Grid Safety

6. Know Your First Aid Kit

The first aid kit you bring on a trip like this should be purpose-built for your journey and needs. You should know exactly what’s in it and how to use it. It should also be easily accessible, just like you PLB.

There’s no point having a kit with you if, when it comes to the crunch, you can’t find what you need or you don’t know how to help yourself. This trip is all on you so make sure you’re prepared.

Read more: What to Pack in Your Hiking First Aid Kit

It’s extremely important to safeguard your journey when solo

Staying Sane On the Trail

7. Do It for a Reason

It helped me to have a clear goal and purpose on my hike. Humans like this kind of thing. It tends to keep us on track (literally) and motivates us when things get tough.

My goal was to walk from my house to Mum’s house, and my purpose for doing that (my ‘why’ if you will) was because I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle the mental challenge of walking alone (spoiler alert: yes I can!)

Now your why is probably different, but I reckon it’s in there somewhere, you just have to find it.

Say hello to my mum!

8. Go Easy on Yourself

Adventures like this are mentally and physically draining. Listen to your body, keep encouraging yourself, and treat yourself like you would a friend on their first multi-day hike. This goes for before, during, and after the hike! Kindness and understanding towards yourself goes a really long way.

9. Document Your Journey

This is a cool experience and it’ll likely go by in a blur! Whether it’s writing, taking videos or photos, maybe even drawing and painting, capture your journey in whatever way you can. Trust me – this is one you’ll want to brag about to the grandkids.

Read more: 8 Outdoor Photography Editing Tips For Beginners