When it comes to overseas adventure travel, everybody starts somewhere. For some first-timers, the idea of being put together with a group of total strangers for a week or two can seem daunting — even a little off-putting. I get it.
But don’t let that stop you.
Let me back up. If you book a trek with Hobnail (or other similar company) as either a solo or, perhaps, with a small group of two or three, there’s a decent chance that you will join a group that may contain hikers who are unknown to you. For more experienced travelers, this is probably no big deal. But for a newbie, it might seem uncomfortable.
Take it from me; in many ways, this is what makes adventure travel a blast.
Common interests
Let me explain. First of all, let’s say you book as a solo and join a group of five others. Just the mere fact that all six of you have made a commitment to pay money, fly overseas to a foreign country, and volunteer yourself for a possibly challenging, long-distance hike gives you a point of commonality. In most cases, we’ve found that adventure travelers are like-minded people who are high-achievers, fun-loving, outgoing, often great storytellers, generous, environmentally conscious, and concerned with the welfare of others. Simply put, you just don’t find a lot of jerks on the trail.
But from an entirely practical perspective, being in a group of strangers doesn’t mean you are “stuck” with them 24/7. It just means that your group will be staying at the same lodge or campsite, you’ll have your meals together, and you will be hiking at roughly the same time. However, I’ve found that group dynamics on a hike vary greatly. It’s likely that you will find yourself hiking and conversing with different people at different times. You’ll have a variety of conversations, move between subgroups, and might even spend a fair amount of time hiking alone (which I enjoy immensely).
Even if you have already booked with a small group — a married couple or father and daughter, for example — I’ll predict that you will still find enjoyment in getting to know the others on your team.
The most rewarding part
More philosophically, though, embarking on an epic adventure with people you didn’t previously know is a large part of stepping outside your comfort zone — one of the most important elements of adventure travel. Just like venturing into an unknown culture and landscape, hiking with strangers is about being open to new experiences, and might become the most rewarding part of the entire trip.
For example, when Holly and I led Hobnail’s inaugural trek to Everest Base Camp in 2018 with a group of 16, there were only a few people we previously knew, and most of the group were unknown to each other. We spent 14 days on the trail together helping each other through difficult moments, laughing constantly, and celebrating shared victories.
Our 2018 inaugural team, here celebrating at Everest Base Camp, were mostly strangers who became the best of friends.
Now six years later, that group of strangers still remain in close touch and are considered life-long friends. A few — again, people who where complete strangers at the outset of the trek — are now “as thick as thieves” and socialize on a regular basis as BFFs. Those friendships have long outlived the original 14 days of hiking.
Personally, I have been blessed to develop amazing friendships with folks I’ve only just met at adventure travel industry functions. These often include multiple days of trekking that are usually composed of groups of individuals randomly put together. Inevitably, we all become buds. (In the photo at the top of the page, that’s me, kneeling left, with a group of industry pros in the Andes of Ecuador. Clearly, we’re not having any fun…)
The greatest joy
The relationships might be the greatest joy of working in this industry for Holly and me. Creating trekking groups is almost akin to being friend match-makers, because we know that those strangers will probably end up as long-term pals. It’s pretty darned cool.
The bottom line? Don’t be put off by the idea of trekking with strangers — they won’t be strangers for long, and will only serve to enhance an already amazing, life-altering experience. Book your trek today and become a forever member of this incredible community of adventurers!
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