going solo on the trails!

Interview by Lisa Saper-Bloom

Photos by Rachel Albrecht

Like most of us, Rachel Albrecht navigates daily life while working full time. But unlike most of us, she manages to navigate extensive trails such as the 800-mile Arizona Trail... SOLO!

Knowing this about Rachel, I had to dig in and ask her a few questions!

Long before solo hiking became trendy on social media, you were already miles deep into the wilderness by yourself. When did your relationship with solo trekking begin? And what inspired you to go solo?

My journey with hiking is intertwined with my love for the outdoors and fascination with nature, which started in childhood. I grew up in a small town in Minnesota, and my home was close to a few miles of woods that led to a state park. I was drawn to the woods - where did they lead? How many different places could I go? I loved roaming and spending time there. 

Eventually, my friends and I spent hours hiking through the state park when we got old enough. There came a time when no one was available to go with me, so I would go by myself. With the proximity to my home and the time I spent there, I knew the trails well and never thought twice about being alone. 

A few decades later, I found my way back to hiking when my older sister, Deb, started a hiking group here in Arizona. At the time, I was training for and competing in triathlons.I figured I would join her and her group once a week for a little extra activity. It sparked the passion and fascination I had as a small-town kid, hiking and exploring in the woods in Minnesota.

I began researching new trails to try and when others couldn’t join me, I would go by myself. Eventually, I started wanting to go on longer hikes which required camping, so I started backpacking. I began using my weekends for solo backpacking adventures, mostly around the state of Arizona. Some of the solo trips I’ve completed include a kayaking trip to Page, AZ along the Colorado River, backpacking The Mogollon Rim Area, Mt. Lemmon, and I’m currently working on completing the Arizona Trail.  

It's easy for women to let a busy schedule talk them out of their goals before they even start. How do you prevent bogging yourself down and turn your time into trail time?

As my dedication to hiking has grown, so has my desire to complete longer trails. I’ve hiked various places around Arizona, so the thought of completing the 800-mile Arizona Trail thru-hike was appealing. But a thru-hike of that length takes 6 to 8 weeks of full-time hiking, and I still work full-time; doing it all at once wasn’t in the cards for me.

Fortunately, I have a great support system who help me make my dream possible. I was able to adjust my work schedule and get approval from my boss to work four, 10-hour shifts and then take 3 consecutive “weekend” days to hike each week. A dear friend of mine offered to be my Sherpa by dropping me off and picking me up at different points along the trail, addressing the transportation issue. 

I once heard a saying, “everything is figure-outable”. I’m not sure if that’s even a word, but I love it and honestly believe it’s true. You may have to alter Plan A to do so, but everything is figure-outable. Instead of doing plan A (thru-hiking the Arizona trail in one shot), I had to settle for plan B, section hiking. In the end, I get the same result, just in a different way. And I get to spend more time with my friend (and she brings good food, too)!

The last thing I want to emphasize is that everyone has 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. You decide what your priorities are, and you can make it happen as long as it’s a priority for you. 

What do you think about while out hiking for 20-30 miles at a time?

The short answer is everything and nothing. 

The long answer is it really depends on the time of day and where I am on the hike. Early in the hike when I’m first starting out, my mind and body are rested and ready to go. At this time, I tend to think about the details of the day and my basic physical needs, such as water sources, what stops I make, my mileage, resting, logistics, etc. I also tend to be captivated by the early morning glow of the world, that’s always a really meditative time for me when I’m feeling good and positive, and everything looks beautiful. As I hit my stride, my mind calms down, and the crunch of the earth under my feet becomes music to my ears. 

As I progress through the day and my hike, my mind starts to wander. I get silly when I start laughing out loud about something that happened at home or with a friend. When you let your mind go, so much comes into your mind from basic physical needs to nostalgia and memories. It’s just random. But as I get in my rhythm and rack up miles, I can feel my mind go numb and I think about just listening. I’ll hear and see animals, insects, and flowers and it will send my mind off on a tangent. Eventually, I’ll start thinking about what I want to eat next, whether I will find a good campsite or if I brought enough food.

As I get into the later miles and I start getting tired, I start looking at my mileage more, I stop taking as many pictures, and on one hike at almost the height of Mt. Lemmon, I sat down and looked at the trees and said, “You’re not even very pretty anymore.” I was so tired that day and just wanted to be done. 

Ultimately, there’s so many things I think about that it’s hard to know because I don’t remember them all. I think my brain cycles from a state of deep presence in the moment to a relentless wandering of thoughts. However, there is a point on every single hike where I think about how grateful I am that I can do this, get to the places I go, and see the things that I see, with everything that I need on my back. 

What are your safety concerns?

I have the usual concerns that most people probably have, like wildlife (snakes or bears). In Arizona, we have a problem with rabid animals. I also get concerned about getting an injury that would prevent me from being able to self-rescue. I’m not as worried about other people in the backcountry. 

To prepare myself for dealing with potential safety issues, I continue to educate myself about wildlife behaviors, their footprints, and their scat. I’ve learned that animals tend to be as afraid of humans as we are of them. It’s important to give them their space, and unless they are rabid, animals don’t usually attack humans. 

I also carry bear spray and a Garmin Satellite Communicator, which has a SOS button for emergency situations. I can also text and receive texts without phone service on this device.

How do you respond to friends and family who think you are crazy?

At first, it really irritated me, but as I listened to why people were saying it, I started to understand when they say “you’re crazy”, what they MEAN is “that’s scary to me.” And that’s understandable if you have never done something, it’s unknown territory and it can seem scary or crazy. And if crazy means pushing my limits to challenge myself outside of my comfort zone, then I’ll take crazy any day. 

What a-ha moments or epiphanies have you had that can help inspire our readers?

I think people can physically and emotionally do much more than they think they can. And I think an epiphany was that the mind is what will give up before the body ever does. If you keep your mindset positive and you use it to push forward, your body will follow. 

Rachel's story is truly inspiring! And if you really tune in to what she is saying, it's all about a mindset and a mind shift.

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Coaching is all about helping with mindset and mind shift. If you are inspired, but find excuses to allow life to bog you down, schedule a Coaching appointment!

There is no commitment. We can schedule a FREE, 15 minute consult to see if we are a good fit!Reach out: lisasaperbloom@123gosolo.com subject: Rachel's blog story