I’m comfortable with my skills to go solo and have done it in the past but recently I have been “lectured to” about how dangerous it is to go alone and what if something goes wrong.
Although I’d never depend on it, it seems to me there are enough people on this trail that if the unexpected was to happen that someone would eventually come along.
Am I wrong on this? or is it really too dangerous for a woman to hike long sections of the PCT without a partner?
Leslie +
Not at all! Hike solo and enjoy yourself!
People tend to project their own fears upon you…and for many people being alone in the wilderness IS their biggest fear.
If youj are a confident and capable outdoors person and want to go alone there should be no reason stopping you.
As a woman, you many need to be a little more aware when hitching and not camp too close to roads, but other than that should not be too worried.
Look at the various PCT journals and read of the women who have hiked solo.
I prefer hiking solo myself. Danger be damned! 
Mags
I have NOT hiked the PCT, but plan to. I have hiked the AT. I hear the PCT is growing in populaity rapidly, and reading the journals is proving that people are grouping off in 4,6, 8 or more and hiking together, AT style. Its no longer a solitude trail.
I can’t stress enough not starting with a partner, especially one you meet online. Once out there youll have your pick from many people that are compatable both in hiking style and personality. Don’t make a commitment to someone else because you’re feeling pressure from friends and family. You’ll be in good hands out there, START SOLO!
A-Train
If you really enjoy being by yourself, then by all means go solo. There are risks - but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it, you just need to be a bit more careful and a bit more aware. If you are section hiking, you won’t necessarily be around a lot of thruhikers, but we found the trail to be pretty busy generally, except in southern California. We usually saw 20 - 50 people a day up north.
Ginny
I wrote an essay about solo hiking to help my family feel easier about my solo JMT hike this summer. You can read the essay at the following link.
Thinair
Thank you to all for the great advice … I failed to mention the biggest concern the “lecturers” have is that I’m not actually going solo but taking my 1 year old daughter. They say it is irresponsible parenting.
After posting the question, I tried an overnight with her on the PCT and found just what you say … met several thru-hikers plus some others and all were nice. She did great and loved it. I wonder how many out there take small children or babies?
Leslie
no offense, but i hope you’re kidding. long-distance backpacking with a baby with only one adult is just not a good idea. i moderate a mailing list for parents who take their children backpacking. my husband and i attempted to take our son along with us on the JMT last summer, and we took him with us on a rim-to-rim-to-rim trip in the Grand Canyon this spring. i’m saying all this so that you know i am not opposed to taking babies backpacking (my son went on his first trip at 3 months).
but with a baby you have to look at worst-case scenarios. what if you are injured? yes, you may end up hiking with a group of people for a while, but to finish the PCT you have to be able to hike 15+ miles per day on average and in my experience you CANNOT do that kind of mileage with a baby/toddler. 10 miles per day was about my max. remember that you are walking and they are not - they need breaks, they need their diapers changed (and you need to carry those diapers), they need to eat and drink fairly often. if you are carrying disposeables they will weigh a TON after being used. if you carry cloth diapers you will have to wash them daily (it will take you at least an hour). in the waterless stretches of the PCT, you will need to carry 6 liters of water or more at a time. so that’s gear for you & the baby (at least 10 pounds), food for you & the baby (for more than just one day), diapers, water (12+ pounds), the baby (20 or more pounds)and a 7-pound baby carrier backpack. that’s 50 pounds without food!
it’s not fair, but moms of small children just can’t do everything they want to. believe me, i want to do it too, but i have to wait. maybe we’ll both be on the PCT with our children in 2010 or so.
tarbubble
sorry, i just re-read your initial post and saw that you are only section-hiking. what i have done is bartered, begged and wheedled family members to watch my son while i head off on longer trips. i am usually able to do at least one big trip per year without my son. if i do a weekend solo trip, he stays home with Daddy.
how fast can you hike on your own? calculate how many days you’ll need and then do everything in your power to get family to help watch your daughter. i hope you have available family nearby.
tarbubble
yes, the lecturers ARE right, you shouldn’t take a baby on the trip…that is RIDICULOUS…it IS irresponsible parenting, but that’s your choice…the baby would have NO recollection of the trip at all…none…sometimes as a parent, you have to swallow your pride, and stay at home and not always have a “good time” as before…sometimes, your good time, as I am sure you have found out already, is watching your child grow up…is the trail vanishing or going away? It will be there in 10 years won’t it?
Imagine you’re out in the middle of the trail, and something happens…adults can weather an accident and deal with it, but a baby, obviously, is more fragile…and with children of that age, their immmune system is not as advanced…as well, what if you were attacked by an animal and/or it was attacked/carried off by an animal…also, at a developmental age as that, the baby needs stimulation, it needs to walk around and explore…I doubt if you will let it walk or crawl around on the trail…I see parents like yourself all the time in the schools, and I wonder why the good Lord gives breeding rights to just about anyone…
MrTeach
You sound worse than my mom. Actually, I’ve taken my baby on 3 trips this season. The longest was 6 days, just my 17 month old and I … and for the sake of other parents out there, I must say MrTeach couldn’t be further from the truth. That’s his opinion maybe but isn’t reality. What I found is that I became an even better parent for going. My child may or may not “remember” but that’s not the benefit of this age. The first 3 years are the most impressionable and I’ve seen studies that show that if the parent brings the child into their world and shares their interests, the child is happier, healthier and IQ intelligences tests come out higher. This child is getting fresher air, cleaner dirt, etc. out there on the trail. (Yes, I said “cleaner dirt” … my doctor told me it’s better to be out on the trail explaining that the worst place for my child is daycare because the germs from other toddlers are all over the toys and breed in the plastics. Organic dirt on the other hand … in other words, dirt on the trail is clean of these germs). MrTeach obviously tried to offend me and it worked. I must remember that people who maliciously set out to offend others have deep serious insecurities and make judgements on others to make themselves feel better.
As far as children’s immune systems go … I checked that out with her doctor before I went and again, he said her immune system was strong and he gave his encouragement to go … not stay at home. He said, “If you stop your life for your child, you will resent her and that will scar her much more than the trail.” As far as other unexpected things happening, I found that I over-planned and that organization and planning for any eventuality (as much as you can do that) helped. I also have Wilderness First Aid training and such. Yes, I did let my baby play and walk on the trail when she wanted to. She was in a fabulous mood on all three trips and had my attention all day long whereas at home she has to “share” me with chores, my husband, etc. Only one day did she fuss much and that was when she wanted to walk like the hikers passing us instead of ride in the backpack. On my second trip, I saw a group with a three month old baby and they were getting along fine. As far as stimulation for the child … I have books on child rearing that claim nature with birds chirping/flying, clouds moving, wind, trees, textures, scents, etc. is much better than videos and TV and walls and gates, etc. I think before you go spouting off your opinions … you should educate yourself first. My information comes from doctors and books and studies and my own personal experience. I wonder where you got your information.
Also, I thought this site was supposed to be to support other trail users not blast them.
Leslie
Forgot to mention that the day she wanted to walk, I let her and we only went 2-3 miles that day and she giggled, sang, and jabbered the whole way. Don’t tell me that’s not a happy baby. Believe me, when a baby’s not happy … neither is the mom. The other days, she was happy in the pack until around 5 at night … so I made it a point to stop hiking just before then and set up camp so she could play.
History: During and after the California Gold Rush, the emigrants carried their toddlers and infants and many of these women were pregnant too. One pregnant woman was hiking up the Carson Pass next to the wagon when her water broke … she kept walking and delivered her baby at the top. They were taking the trip for the gold and for a better life. I want to give my child a better childhood. They were not irresponsible parents and neither am I. If anything, I learned how to be MORE responsible.
Do any of us care that we don’t “remember” those first 3 years? No. (And some say they do have memories from back then.) But the quality of our care those first 3 years still impacts us later in life even though we don’t remember them. This child is getting the best of me out on the trail … after having experienced it, I know that’s the truth and I know my parenting skills made leaps and bounds of progress because we went … out there we couldn’t escape each other … we had to face our differences compromise to meet our different needs and find a way to put one foot in front of the other together as a team.
About the safety issue … you’re more likely to get raped at the mall or car-jacked or killed than get hurt by animals (or whatever) on the trail. 3 out of 4 children are molested, and the statistics go on and on.
MrTeach … Do you have children? Are they still speaking to you? Are they perfect? Did they do drugs or have addictions? Did they marry someone on drugs? Do they have abusive relationships? In other words, are you so perfect? … your words show me that you obviously are not perfect.
Wow! I feel so much better. Obviously I needed to stand up for myself. I hope I did it with respect unlike MrTeach. I pity his family.
Again, I encourage anyone who has or wants to hike or backpack with their infants, toddlers or small children to write.
Leslie
Of course you’re going to get a few “go for it” replies on Trail Forums. However, small children need a home and stable parents, not hobos. Go to mortgageandbabies.com and see what answers you get there.
Bedrock Bob
Staying at home does not make you a “stable parent.” I was molested at home by a “stable” grandparent. I was verbally abused at home by a “stable” parent. My brother was beaten at home by a “stable” parent. Perhaps if these parents and grandparents had not stayed home with us, we might have had better childhoods.
Look at the statistics people. Going out on a trail does not make you a “hobo.” I can’t beleive backpackers are posting these fallacys. I guess they come in all sizes.
There are many examples of people who grew up on the road for various reasons and they are doing fine and they value their childhoods. Look, I came to this website for support and good advice not crap.
I know backpacking for a week can be responsible parenting. If you disagree, go post somewhere else. Again, this question was posted for advice and support. If you don’t have any of those two things then log off.
Leslie
You solicited these folks advice.Are you now indignant because you don’t agree with them?You should have made it clear that you where only interested in advice you agree with.
Onlyone
I have contacted a friend in Child Protective Services who is very interested in this case. Best case scenario, a court order will release this individuals ip then her isp will be subpoenaed. At that point the authorities will proceed with a full investigation. Dont worry folks, this poor child will be out of danger if the state finds her to be a threat. Child endangerment is a serious problem in this country and I am proud of all you who refuse to turn a blind eye to this kind of abuse. And for those of you who dont have kids to ruin your life let this be a lesson to you. If you get pregnant get an abortion as soon as possible so you can keep hitting the trails. Even a trail side coathanger abortion is better than nothing. It hurts but just try to make a game out of it. In case you cant tell im being sarcastic. In the mean time keep watching for abuse on the trail. Many registered sex offenders like to hang out in the woods.
TubGirl
Hmmmm. This thread has taken a turn for the weird, big time. Leslie, if you want to hike with you kid and can pull it off, go for it. Maybe the kid will grow up to hike the PCT or AT instead of working for Corporate Greed Inc. and collecting SUVs for a hobby.
Shortstop
Leslie,
I think the poster above giving you such a hard time is using different names and trying to "troll" here. Ignore him/her.
Of course Onlyone is not a troll, and has a good point that you have to be ready for any reaction you get on the forum.
I for one support what you do. Not just because it "might be safe enough" to work, but because children actually need those kind of experiences. I am a child whom was taken to the woods at a similar age. Our trips were not as remote as the PCT (N. Georgia), but they were real backpacking trips. I didn't remember those trips until I visited there once on my own. Then I remembered the place we used to go quite well in fact. It inspired me to start hiking regularly, and to reestablish a strong relationship with nature.
As it has been stated on this thread, people often project their fears in these kinds of issues. It is a sensitive case, and an emotional one for many people because they have been trained in a different way. Many believe they should buy a padded room with plastic toys and electric rockers and have a kid insulated from nature as much as possible. Then they wonder why our children these days have so many developmental problems. In the words of the Wailers, "You can't blame the youts."
Like you mentioned, people all throughout history have been taken their children “backpacking”. It is true that this was often out of necessity, but now because our society has largely turn away from nature in fear and laziness, parents actually have a new responsibility to make an extra effort to expose their children (especially in the first 3 years) to nature on nature’s terms. In that regard, I say that you are actually more responsible than other parents who hide behind the social pressure to avoid the wilds with babies because they’d truthfully not rather face the criticism and are afraid they are incabable of protecting their child.
People often separate themselves from nature, and have a hard time admitting that they ARE nature. As you pointed out, nature is statistically safer than a city with a capable parent.
I personally admire your bravery and fortitude, and know that your child will be an extra-special child in this less-than-special societal groupthink. If not for the camping, for the mother who cares enough to haul the extra weight and share.
Tha Wookie
Thank you Wookie! And appologies to those of another opinion than mine. What my point should have been is that you can have a different opinion and I would love to hear it. I just don’t want you to personally attack me. I can learn from different opinions but I can’t learn from attacks.
I suppose I was mistaken and naieve to think all backpackers would support another backpacker and I do have studies and will find more to armour myself in court if I need to … the studies show that getting back to nature as babies improves IQ, creativity, etc. etc. etc… these studies show that taking a baby backpacking is a good thing for the baby. But I’ve said enough for now.
To be fair, all I asked was “Has anyone else out there taken small children or infants?” No one has yet to answer that but I can assume from their comments that the answer is “NO.”
Leslie
Although my daughter started car camping at three months,I would not consider an extended backpacking trip,without another(or more)adults along.I’m sure anyone who has children can tell you,at this age,illness can come on with a vengence,and rapidly escalate.You need places with plenty of bail-out options,where medical help can be obtained.We went hiking most every day after big sister got on the bus.I was a stay at home dad from the time she was 8 months until she was three,while I went to school at night.Diaper changes need to be caught quickly because the weight bearing in the baby-backpack is all on the butt.Knowing the amount of diapers and ancillary items needed,I couldn’t imagine the bulk(much less the weight)of enough stuff to last five days.What about the waste? Getting back to the solo issue,what if you are injured.Now I’m not the skittish type,I’ve solo traveled,solo hiked,and solo scuba dived,and I understand and managed my risk,but to bring an infant into that changes the equation for me and I’m not willing to take that risk.My kids have had plenty of outdoor experiences and the benifits of same while not taking to that level.Good luck with what you decide.Oo
Onlyone