Help me plan a solo post-breakup trip!

September 6, 2014 4:53 PM

I'm a female with a car in San Francisco, and I love to hike and climb. My ex broke up with me right before a trip we'd planned, and now I have eight days (starting Monday) to do whatever I want. Where should I go?

I'm new to the west coast and haven't really been anywhere yet. My ex and I were planning to go to Desolation Wilderness, and he's still going, so I don't want to go there, but I'm up for pretty much anything else. I have or have access to any kind of gear I'd need.

I want to have a self-affirming solo adventure, but I also haven't traveled extensively on my own, so any advice in that arena would be much appreciated as well. Thanks!

posted by pgoat to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

Go to Lassen! It's an easy drive from the Bay Area and the National Park is so diverse. You could home-base at a campground or lodge or other accommodation in one of the towns near one of the entrances, and spend the time doing day hikes from various trail heads. Or you can hike a bit of the Pacific Crest Trail as an out-and-back overnight if you're so-inclined.

I recently went up there and stayed at Drakesbad Ranch, which is inside the park and run by a concessionaire. They have lodge or cabin accommodations, a giant hot spring pool, lots of hikes you can do from there without ever getting in your car, and three excellent meals per day included. The staff and other guests were really friendly so if you feel social that need is easily met, but everyone also seemed really respectful of privacy and personal space (e.g. each night they built a campfire for guests to hang out and toast marshmallows or whatever, and one night I was feeling chatty, and there were people to chat with, but later I just felt like staring into the fire, and that was fine too).
posted by gubenuj at 5:14 PM on September 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

I'd head to Yosemite, get a campsite at camp four and find random climbing partners to hang out with. The weather is going to be in the 70s over the next week or so and if it gets hot you can always drive up to Tuolumne to hide from the heat. There is a lifetime of amazing hiking and climbing to do in the park. As far as mellow multipitch climbing goes, it's definitely worth doing bishops terrace, super slide, central pillar of frenzy, and commitment.

If you're not jazzed about going to Yosemite to climb with random people you meet there, you can always put a note on the board at Mission Cliffs looking for a partner for a trip to the valley. There are a bunch of random people who are always looking for an excuse to ditch work and climb for a bit.

Have fun!
posted by foodgeek at 5:37 PM on September 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

I came in to recommend Yosemite too! This is the perfect time of year to go - most tourists and families have gone, but summer weather is still here and everywhere is accessible. With 8 days you can check out a lot of the highlights of the park. If there's no camping spots available there are hotels in towns on the edge of the park. Be sure to go up to the Tioga Pass, because Tenaya Lake is my favourite spot up there. Also take in sunset at Glacier Point, and stay for some star gazing.
posted by Joh at 6:08 PM on September 6, 2014

Yosemite for the win!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:09 PM on September 6, 2014

If you're interested in coastal exploring, sweeping vistas and windswept sea cliffs you could make your way up the coast and camp along the way. There is backcountry camping in Pt. Reyes national seashore, heading out from the Palomarin trailhead always seemed beautiful and enticing (I only day hiked in that area a little.) I know there is camping somewhere at Bodega Bay. Here are options within Sonoma Coast State Park (spread out in several parcels and beaches along the coast.) Salt Point State Park has camping near Jenner. I'm fond of the western part of Sonoma County ("west county" to locals) and the Russian River area, but then I like driving back roads and poking around the little towns like Duncan's Mills, Occidental, Monte Rio, Cazadero, Sebastapol. There are low-key (and upscale wineries), hippies, tweakers, good food and beer, redwood groves. Osmosis is a unique spa near Freestone. More inland from the coast you have places like Austin Creek state recreation area (which I think has camping). This could be more of a car-camp, day-hike, road trip sort of journey though that may not be what you're looking for.

If you have any slight "free spirit" leanings, I have several friends who are quite into Harbin Hot Springs up north.

I had a really great camping and hiking trip around the Cedar Grove area of King's Canyon National Park. It's one more incredibly beautiful granite peaks-type place in CA (it's not as extensive as Yosemite but just as beautiful), but there were not many people when we visited a couple summers ago. There are several nice car-campgrounds along the river or backpacking (or just day hiking, and probably climbing) can be had starting out from Roads End Permit Station. It may be cold up there this time of year? I'm really bad at understanding weather in the mountains of CA.
posted by dahliachewswell at 6:41 PM on September 6, 2014

Lake Tahoe is great this time of year. Again, tourists are gone, weather is still good, scenery is gorgeous. If you stay on the Nevada side there are plenty of reasonably-priced rooms to be had, and if you get tired of being alone you can venture down to the casino or other hotel amenities.

I also had an amazing trip this time of year near Elkhorn Slough, where you can hike or kayak the marshlands, check out the birds and the sea otters. Again, tourists are gone and plenty to do in town if you feel like it.
posted by vignettist at 6:41 PM on September 6, 2014

I second Lake Tahoe- rentals are pretty inexpensive this time of year compared to during the ski season.

BUT what I came here for was to recommend you check out VRBO for a studio on the beach in Carmel. It's SO lovely, not too far, and I think you could find a tiny studio where you could cook most of your meals with a break for something fancy here and there, and be looking out at the beach all the time- from inside or out. I find the ocean so relaxing and renewing (spiritually) and at the very least, it sounds like you need some renewal time.

Whatever you do, I hope you follow through on your plans to get out of town so that this week isn't eaten up by your ex being a meanie.

Best,

-Conchita
posted by mochilove at 12:16 AM on September 7, 2014

Nthing the Valley, weather's perfect and kids are back to school. I've had great experiences meeting and climbing with really interesting people -that can definitely be self-affirming and a change of perspective. And if you don't luck out with partners, the hiking ain't too shabby.
posted by Dashy at 7:04 AM on September 7, 2014