I'm around your age and I hike several times a month. I usually go on my own with my GSD, but if it is a more challenging or remote hiking area I invite a friend or join a group. All Trails is a great resource and it gives you good information on difficulty of the hike and how travelled it is by other hikers. I always take a backpack with my phone, maps of the trail I've printed ahead of time, first aid kit, water, snacks, knife, sunscreen, and those emergency blankets at minimum. The REI list is a good one. Important that someone knows where you are going and when you plan to be back.