Advice for solo girl

imported
#1

Early stages of thinking/planning a N-S solo trip August, maybe September. I’m a new backpacker and this will be my first solo. Any advice from other women who have done this or similar longer solo trips. Ultimately, did you feel safe?

Greenheart

#2

Hi Greenheart

I’ve hiked N-S and S-N (solo for the most part), and have always felt very safe going in either direction. Keep in ming that here were more hikers going S-N, and much more solitude N-S, but I felt equally safe both ways. Check out Whiteblaze.net also, as there has been a lot of discussion around this issue in their forums. I’ve backpacked most of my life, and have always felt much safer in the woods than just about anywhere else.

Solo Hiker

#3

“Ultimately, did you feel safe?”

Yes.

Smack

#4

Yes, definitely. Especially on well traveled trails - it feels like all of the men treat you like their daughter, sister, or girlfriend and look after you, whether you want them to or not.

Bugs

#5

Solo Hiker, thanks for the whiteblaze.net. I’ve been there for the past two hours, especially on the Female Hiking forums. It has put my mind at ease, thanks!

Bugs, I can completely relate to that! I’m working on my house and everytime I’m in a hardware store I get the same treatment!

Greenheart

#6

Why is it we have so many threads with someone endorsing Whiteblaze.com? The site is not for serious hikers.

Jedediah

#7

Jerediah, I’ll assume from your response that you are a ‘serious hiker’; do you have advice for my question?

Thanks Poppie Terry, for your comments, but most importantly helping to look for Meredith.

I live in Philadelphia PA and I know what to do here when I get that bad vibe… I get on a busy street and/or into a store asap. I don’t go out at night alone, lock my doors, police a phone call away, etc… but being in the woods at night, alone, with no locks, no one to call is contrary to everything I know!!!

I know I can and will do this… perhaps I was just looking for some assurance and positive feedback, which I have received, thanks everyone! Say hello if you seen a green heart on a blue pack…

Greenheart

#8

Someone pull the Trail Rapist comment. Not cool at all.

Use your head Greenheart and you’ll be fine. enjoy your hike.

Melon Man

#9

You might also get in touch with Marta / Five Leaf Clover or Superstar, who sobo’ed in 2006. I think going nobo would be a little safer, just because you’d have more people around, esp. at shelters, and would not be alone as much. Hey, Bugs - thanks again to you and your brother for the s’mores.

Mango

#10

Ultimately, Greenheart, hiking the AT for 6-months is FAR safer than the drive or flight you take to get to your start point. You’ll be fine Sobo-ing or Nobo-ing.

Snack Attack
GAME 2003

Snack Attack

#11

After much thought, I think nobo would be better, as Mango and others have suggested.

True Snack Attack!!! I (unfortunately) take I95 a couple days of week past the PHL airport; it’s crazy.

Greenheart

#12

I hiked the LT ‘solo’ in 2005. I only met one person on the trail that made me feel sketchy - if I hadn’t known the other person in the shelter, I’d have hiked on.

Hiking nobo, I found plenty of people who hiked at about the same pace as I did. I hadn’t expected this, but it meant that although I set out solo, I finished with new friends.

Just trust your gut, if a person seems sketchy keep on moving.

Tumblina

#13

I hiked the LT in 3 pieces; first 100 miles NOBO as part of my 02 AT hike, SOBO from Canada to Lincoln Gap w/another woman and my dog in Fall 03 and then finished up the last 40 miles solo northbound in 04.

Like the AT, there are definitely more going NOBO than SOBO, for whatever reason. We were fairly alone going south that Fall. There are a ton of shelters and they are sometimes quite close together so if you’re doing the shelter thing, it is easy to move on. That time frame should be fine for you, esp if you start in MA you will be hitting the end of the AT hikers (I was at the back of the pack in 02 and we were crossing into VT late August). That might be a good way for you to feel comfortable before you continue on past Killington/Sherburne Pass (though you may be tempted to turn East if you find some folks you’ve bonded with! :happy)

But the LT is in no way as traveled as the AT so it’s a good thought to know ahead of time, esp the northern 170 which btw, is hard hard hard. Honestly for a beginning backpack, there are easier trails to start with!

I support the fact that women are safe safe safe on trails and backpacking solo, and I continue to do so myself, here and abroad.

:girl

Bluebearee

#14

Thanks Tumblina and Bluebearee!

Greenheart

#15

I did a N–>S LT hike last year and thought it was nice but hard. At the beginning I met AT thru hikers heading north who kept me company until the Maine Junction. Ater that, I was pretty much alone the whole way and had shelters to myself. Also, the trail is not beaten down once you hit the Maine junction. It gets pretty difficult pretty fast with lots of ups and downs. This was also my first long distance hike. A few people who stated that they did both the AT and LT told me that the later was a bit more difficult. I’d say go with a partner simply so that you can motivate eachother. Check out the green mountain club website.

snail

#16

Hi Greenheart,
It looks like you’ve got this worked out, but here is an article about your very questions. I’m quoted in the article, so as you’ll see I did feel safe.
http://www.vermontwomen.com/articles/0707/trail.shtml Feel free to email me. I volunteer as a mentor through GMC for prospective LT hikers.
Good luck. Maybe I’ll see you out there.
:girl

Early Bird

#17

Wow, perfect article… thanks for passing it on! I could relate to so many of those thoughts and anxieties; it’s good to hear outcomes.

I plan on contacting the GMC later this spring. Trying to pace myself… it’s hard to wait.

greenheart