Hello,
I just got my PCT Trail Guide and have been reading voraciously. I noticed some warnings about hiking solo. I have done shorter solo hikes before but this time I will be hiking for about 2 months (the Southern CA portion). I’ll be starting late (mid June) so I don’t think I’ll be with the pack of thru hikers. Any advice?
Thanks,
Willow
Willow
A friend of mine started in 2003 in mid June and she did just fine. I don’t think she saw too many people in SoCal. Mostly, I would take standard precautions: Don’t camp close to a road or in a developed site, don’t hitch if you get a bad feeling, don’t linger near road crossings or parking lots or in underpasses.
Honestly, I think that the greatest danger comes from other humans, rather than from hiking. You will probably have to haul a lot of water at times, and definitely cover up from the sun.
Suge
I’m a horrid lier but when traveling solo will sometimes lie about where I’m going to camp … in order to do this successfully, I must predetermine the lie before any passersby ask me otherwise I’ll fumble it or tell the truth. That said, most backpackers I meet on the trail are golden. It’s the motorcyclists that sometimes intersect with the trails that I usually lie to. And to be honest, I’ve only come across a handful of shady characters out there but there’s always a first time. Years back there was a trail stalker, a Hope Valley stalker, and then of course the Yosemite incident with the woman and two girls but I hope these are pretty rare occurances.
Self-defense training is always helpful.
Just curious … what protection devices do other solo women take with them? Cell phones, bear deterents (can also be used on humans if needed), knives, tasers, others?
Leslie
Fact is, crime is down every year, when something does happen statistically most times it’s someone you know, and if it (whaever it might be) ever does happen to you it’ll be in the city, not on the trail.
Media coverage, on the other hand, has increased a thousand fold which gives us the feeling that there’s danger around every corner.
I wouldn’t worry. In all likelyhood you’re going to encounter a great deal of generosity and great people out there, not hostility.
Toes
toes