Even though it’s scary, you just have to do it. Image by iStockphoto, Sources: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network; Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Access member exclusive content + more benefits →, How to Level Up Your Rain Game for Wet Hikes, Don’t Just Survive on Your Next Long Trip—Thrive, “Hiking Your Own Hike” Starts With Accepting Yourself, Guys: How To Avoid Seeming Creepy To Solo Women Hikers. The first golden rule is not to spread the news of your trek online or to tell people you don’t trust. The bottom line is: a woman hiking alone is no different than a man hiking alone. The result: Not really. Being a Gen-Xer, I am still figuring out technology, but there are two apps … Read their blogs. It has been ingrained in us since we were little to never do anything alone. Still, the numbers do tell us one story: Public lands are overwhelmingly safer places than the rest of the country—for men and women. First of all – choosing the right (for you!) Don’t give yourself a schedule. The only time I ever thought about using it was for dogs walking through a town.”, “I didn’t carry a Spot beacon for a while, but now I started and there’s no way I’ll go back. By: Blonde Two. Of course, there are no guarantees with any undertaking in life; however, I can promise a more intense experience when alone. You want to be prepared. Some women—just like some men—simply enjoy running alone. It’s important to note that there are concerns for anyone – male or female – when backpacking alone, but there are a few precautions and considerations that women hikers should explore before setting out on their own. Forty-six percent of men and 54 percent of women agree it’s riskier for women to hike and backpack alone than for men. If you read some of their stories, it just may inspire you to do something similar. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Or you may be worrying about all of the things that could go wrong while you’re out in the woods by yourself! Digital Tools. You’re just as safe as if you were walking in a city—actually, I think you’re going to be safer.”, –April Sylva, 1,500+ miles hiked solo on the PCT, CDT, and G20 (Europe’s hardest long trail), “Carry a device to contact people if you think there might be a problem, like the DeLorme inReach two-way messenger. Sometimes it’s worth doing scary things.”, –Sage Clegg, first person to complete the Oregon Desert Trail; 9,000+ miles hiked solo, “The most important tool that a woman—any person, really—has is her brain. Ask a Thru-Hiker: How Do I Choose a Hiking Partner for a Long Trail. Hiking alone is just not safe The most important reason for never hiking solo is that it’s just not safe. When you're hiking it all comes down to preparation. If you’re hiking alone, whether male or female, you just have to exercise a few common sense precautions. Women runners share their best safety tips. shelter. But once you’re out three in the community, it’s just like walking down the street. Many reviews about hiking make this a fair statement; never hike alone. Please don’t concern yourself with this point too much. Pick up a reading list of books by WA crime writer Ann Rule. Hiking and hitchhiking are two very different things. It’s just my street is a foot-wide path, and we’re all just walking on that street together.”, “It is more comforting to reach out to other women who hike solo. For more info on getting started, check out their blogs (linked below) or our beginner skills section. So before you head out, it’s always a good idea to check the weather report. There’s no database for crimes committed in the wilderness, sexual assault is notoriously underreported, and the stats available don’t break out frontcountry-vs.-backcountry or even the gender of victims. The dangers […] Often the biggest hurdle a female hiker has to overcome is mental. “Culturally, females tend not to do as many of the idiotic things that solo males do. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Your risk of being a victim of a violent crime (murder, rape, or aggravated assault) is thousands of times lower in a national park than in the country as a whole. But we combed through crime statistics, consulted experts, and talked to veteran solo hikers to find out if there’s anything to that fear. If something were to happen, you will want to understand where you are and what bailout points you have.”, “Sometimes as a female out there, especially the first couple of days, it can take time to get comfortable with yourself being out there solo. Anonymous wrote:Is it a hike if you are just going along a path that is not a hill or a mountain?That is perfectly safe for men and woman, if you have common sense. Even though the Camino Frances is incredibly safe don’t be crazy Robert Koester, who maintains a database on search-and-rescue incidents, crunched the numbers: 80 percent of searches are initiated by males, and 12 percent of men who kick off a SAR case end up dead, while only 9 percent of women suffer the same fate. Access member exclusive content + more benefits →, Hiking alone seems like it would be riskier for women, but in truth, there’s no evidence of that. I was like, I don’t want to do that anymore. If you get an awesome campsite, it’s tempting to post a photo, but I usually wait a while to post something like that.”, “Try to camp at least a mile from a road. In other words, women who get lost or injured in the backcountry are more likely to make it out alive. But if you’ve camped many times before and you are really confident in your actions, then you can absolutely consider going alone. It helps you feel safer outside.”, “It’s frightening when you don’t know the trail and the community. Staying Safe. If you’re tired, stop & take a nap. If you know the safety basics of being a woman in your day-to-day life, then you’re set. You are … Reasons a Female Might Want to go Solo Camping Camping alone is not for the feint-hearted, nor is it for anyone who doesn’t have any knowledge about the outdoors. There’s this stigma, but it’s really rewarding to hike alone.”, –Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, holds the women’s speed record for unsupported Appalachian Trail hike; 7,500+ miles hiked solo, “As a woman or a man, you have to be prepared for anything that can happen. Yet I am also in agreement with you that staying indoors and being afraid is not an option! You think, ‘I can do this, because I see other women have done it.’”, “If you’re always worried about the unknown, you would never experience the greatness out there. The more people you meet online the more people you might meet on the Trail. We Blondes are often asked questions about whether or not it is safe for women to go wild camping alone, here are some of the top questions and our (obviously top) answers: Safe places to travel alone are those that can’t be found for evil purposes. If you’re hungry, pull over … My plan was to hike parts of Oregon and Washington alone, so I could gain a new perspective on life after 25 years as a Microsoft partner. I would say yes, very safe. My short answer is that it is preferable to hike with at least one other person, especially on trails where no one else would be around to help you if you twisted an ankle or got lost. Scared to run alone? Read on for some key tips from each hiker. You might not feel comfortable outdoors yet. But being female actually seems to offer protection from wilderness disasters. Clothing, footwear, maps/GPS, food and drink. Women are not in more danger in wild spaces,” Wesely says. Read the top 38 women hiking alone tips to complete the trail safely. You’re not alone in your fear. No, I do not believe it's safe for women to hike alone. Solo hiking safety tips. In reality, women are much more likely to be assaulted or raped by someone they know than by a strange man lurking behind a boulder, but people tend to fixate on the latter. Of course, venturing into the wilderness alone has its risks, but the best evidence we have shows that there's no reason that women should worry more than men about hiking alone.

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