Ever camped solo? I never thought I'd do it until I spent five months working in Lake Placid. I assumed I'd find people who'd be able to join me on camping trips. But I was on the outskirts of town and didn't meet as many people as I'd expected. And those I did meet weren't close to my age or activity level.

My main reason for moving there was to make some money and explore the beautiful Adirondacks. I worried that my exploring would be limited to times when friends visited from home, so I came up with a solution. If I was going to enjoy the Adirondacks to their fullest I would have to do it alone.

My first trip was pretty short - I spent a half-day hiking over Little and Big Crow Mountains and Nundagao Ridge and camped close to the base of Hurricane Mountain, which I also climbed. I had worried my over-active imagination would keep me up all night, but I was relaxed, wrote in my journal and then slept like a baby. The night was surprisingly uneventful and I hiked back out the following morning.

By the end of the summer, I had completed a few longer solo hiking trips and had grown to appreciate the solitude. These experiences definitely made me feel more confident of my outdoors skills and also made me feel self-sufficient and independent. Talk about a great power trip.

While I'll always choose to share my adventures with friends, it's an incredible feeling to know there's nothing standing in my way of enjoying the outdoors anytime and any way I choose.

Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert