Solo Hiking Saved My Sanity… and Someone Else’s Life

So here’s something wild.

A few weeks ago, I was feeling completely burnt out—life had been throwing gbas gbos back to back.

From endless work stress to a weird chest tightness I couldn’t explain, my body was literally screaming “reset.”

After scrolling through Twitter wellness threads and watching one too many “healing girl era” TikToks, I decided to do something I hadn’t done since secondary school: go on a hike.

Yes, a proper solo hike.

I found a nature reserve on the outskirts of Lagos—lush green, quiet, with a few trails that were “hiker-friendly” (according to reviews). Packed my water bottle, protein bars, small first aid kit (because Gen Z = overprepared), and wore that two-piece gym set I bought during my fitness phase last year.

The first 30 minutes? Glorious. Just trees, fresh air, bird sounds—no Lagos horns, no bad vibes. I even recorded a voice note to myself: “This is your reminder that your peace is outside the group chat.”

But then things took a turn.

I took a wrong trail. Yup. Me, queen of Google Maps. My phone dropped signal and suddenly, I couldn’t recognize anything around me.

No one else was on the path. It was just me, my anxious thoughts, and a trail that kept getting narrower. I started to panic a bit, then I remembered what I read online: “If lost, stay calm and retrace your steps.”

As I turned around, I noticed something odd. A glimmer of silver fabric caught in a tree branch. I walked toward it, and just beyond the bend was what looked like a small camp—like someone had been there. A plastic water bottle. A hoodie. A torn backpack.

And then, movement.

I nearly passed out when I saw the girl—skinny, barefoot, looking half-asleep but alive. She whispered, “Help me.”

My soul left my body.

Turns out she was 19, had gone missing during a hike with her boyfriend TWO WEEKS ago. The dude had returned home claiming she ran away mid-argument.

Her family had been searching for her, even posted on blogs. She’d twisted her ankle that day, and he left her there after their fight. Just. Left.

I was the one who found her.

I used the emergency number I saved earlier (thanks to a wellness blog’s safety checklist) and within an hour, the forest rangers came through. She got airlifted to a hospital.

Her family cried like they won the lottery. Her story went viral the next day—and guess who got tagged in every news article? Me. The girl who just wanted to “reconnect with nature.”

Now, I’m not saying wellness can save lives. But in this case? It literally did.

I still go hiking. But now, I carry a walkie-talkie, power bank, and a whistle—because healing and prepping go hand in hand.

And that ex-boyfriend? Arrested.