Worried Mom

My youngest son (almost 30) is into hiking. He is taking 2 weeks to hike the John Muir trail out west. I would be okay with this except he is going alone. I told him that was stupid - I am Mom so allowed to say that. His girlfriend has tried to talk him out of it too. He is stubborn like me though and keeps telling me that he will be fine. I keep telling him that as a Mom it is my job to worry no matter how old he gets. I will be a total basket cast until he gets home in September. He plans to start the hike on the 23rd of August I believe.

will your son have a cell phone, be able to check in -- with you, his girlfriend, or someone? if he at least had a cell phone, should he become injured or anything, he could call for help. i believe that the resupply locations would have a phone available too.

if he's stubborn (i get that, i'm stubborn too), then maybe he would bring a cell phone to 'humor you' kind of thing. actually, i just read that cell reception can be spotty, but that hikers are being encouraged to check in with family when able to -- https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/johnmuirtrail/conversations/messages/62140

here are a couple links about the John Muir Trail that might be helpful, to give you an idea of how things are usually done there and the resupply stations, etc. --

http://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/john-muir-trail/jmt-resupply/

http://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/john-muir-trail/jmt-faq/

He is taking his cell phone, but I knew already that the cell service is spotty. I have watched documentaries about the trail. Like I said, I would have no issue about him doing the hike if he had a companion. Thanks for the links - I will check them out.

I can certainly understand being worried but unfortunately all you can do is worry.  Your son is going to do what he is going to do.  I too think it is foolhardy and I think any of the really experienced outdoors type people would say the same thing but your son has the right to do it.  I hope everything turns out fine.

My DH has done solo hikes; but only for 2 days.  His father has also gotten them lost "bush wacking" so DH has become much more conscientious about hiking adventures since.  Plus he doesn't have the time like before we had kids. And even though his father is in relatively good health; he's only a couple years from turning 80, so he's a bit less adventurous.  And I think they both know I'll not hold my tongue a second time.    Having said that; it's doesn't feel right discouraging from something he loves to do.  

Does your son have a GPS for backpacking?  One he can activate an emergency signal if he needs help?  I know DH was looking at those in a magazine a few years ago.  I have no idea where technology is with that these days.  DH had a hiking GPS back when they first came out.  He actually had that with him when they had their little extended hiking incident.  So he says they were never lost because they knew right where they were. They just couldn't go back up the way they had gone down. (I was never amused.)

Thank you all! Because of these posts I found a place where he can rent a GPS with an emergency alert if he gets into trouble. He promised me that he will rent one. I didn't even know they made something like that  since my idea of roughing it is staying in a hotel with no room service! 

You're absolutely right to worry about him! Our son will be 45 this October......I always tell him "You will 80 years old and I will be 96 years old and I will STILL worry myself sick over the stuff you do! It's my right as Mom!"  He gets it; he doesn't like it, but he gets it. He's pulled stuff like that and I worried myself silly. He always came out OK. And your son will, too. Like you, I'd feel a heckuva lot better if he had a companion, but he sounds like a stubborn man. At least ask him to please check in with you as often as he can.....that's not too much to ask.

We're here if you need to vent, worry, yell, etc. Hang in there.

Well, my son starts his hike today. I told my husband last night that my gray hair will be white from worry when the hike is over. It isn't so bad now that I know he has the GPS with the emergency beacon, but I am still worried. My son spent the weekend with us last weekend which was nice - he even cooked dinner for us!

We'll be thinking of him....and you, too. Let us know when you hear anything about what's going on!

He should have good weather.  It has finally started cooling down near us.

He called me from Donahue Pass on Sunday. I missed his call. I was at the cat show and had the ringer on my phone set to just vibrate because I didn't want to startle any cats. He left voice mail - seems to be having what he considers fun. I don't - roughing it to me is staying in a hotel with no room service!

I'm glad you heard from him!  How long is the trip supposed to take him?

It depends on your experience, but from what I have read it is usually around 3 weeks for most people.

I hope you hear from him again soon and that the rest of his trip goes smoothly.  

He texted me this afternoon. He is finished and at the hostel at the end. He finished ahead of schedule. Thank goodness that is over!!!!![emoji]128516[/emoji]

Oh  wow! Nice! I'm glad he finished and is back at the hostel. Good job to your son!

Thats great!! Now you can relax! Did he enjoy his adventure?

Yes, he enjoyed it. Now he is talking about doing the Annapura Circuit next year. As long as he goes with someone I am okay with it - I think.

That's good news!