Solo female hikers

imported
#1

I am a female thru hiker hopeful looking for some opinions about safety on the trail. My original plan to hike with my boyfriend seems to be falling through due to a lack of funds. But before I make any hasty decisions I want to know just how safe the trail is for solo female hikers. How likely is it that I will find a hiking partner for the more dangerous sections (ie. the Sierras)? Is it likely that I will meet other hikers at road crossings (hitch hiking alone is definitely something I’m NOT willing to do)?
I actually quite enjoy hiking by myself and I also plan to carry a SPOT in case of emergencies. Postponing my hike for another year isn’t really an option for me as I am starting graduate school this winter. Thru hiking has been a dream of mine for quite some time; I don’t want to let that dream die.
Are there any women reading this who have hiked solo for any length of time? I’d love to hear some thoughts.

funtimecool

#2

I’ve talked to a lot of solo female thru hikers over the years in Sequoia/Kings Canyon. No one reported any people problems - although some had stories to tell about judgement errors - mainly due to weather.

booger

#3

I can’t speak of the PCT safety but on the AT in the group I was hiking in all the hikers looked out for each other. I had several instances where a female hiker was waiting just before a road crossing for someone she trusted hiked by so she could either pass through the crossing or hitch into town. It did not seem like a big deal. There were a couple of jerk men hikers out there but the other hikers would eventually put them in their place. I would hope the PCT hikers were just as helpful and nice.

Big B

#4

I hope that some female solo hikers respond here (but they are a rare breed). I’m a male solo hiker (also rare) who has thru-hiked the PCT three times.

First of all, I would highly recommend hitting the trail regardless of whether you have a hiking partner or not. I’ve found the PCT to be safer than any city in this country.

If you want to hike with a partner or group, start around the AdZPCTKO (4/29 - 5/1 this year) and you’ll have tons of other hikers around to either hike with or hitch to town, etc.

If you want a solo hike, then start before (I always start ‘early’ for water, crowd & temp. reasons) or after the Kick Off and walk into the towns in SoCal rather than hitching (most are near the trail). A few hikers over the years have hiked the entire PCT without hitching: Half Gallon, Scott Williamson, Adam Bradely… but this would mean carrying a lot of extra food at times & a few long walks out to towns.

As far as the safety in the High Sierra. Every year from the beginning of June through early July there will be lots of PCT hikers heading NOBO from Kennedy Meadows. You could join a group at that point if you feel uncomfortable with your snow, navigation, or river fording skills.

Solo hiking is amazing, and despite the common perception that it is dangerous, I have found it to be a wonderful time alone for inspiration/insight & an opportunity to commune with Nature.

Happy Trails!

freebird

#5

I am a 69 yo female long section hiker (300-500 miles on each - AT and PCT each year), close to finished with the PCT and AT. Most of the AT and more than half of the PCT I have gone solo. I have even hitch hiked solo and have some wonderful stories to tell of doing so. It is the only time in my life I hitch hike but I have done so many times on the trail. I have been blessed with wonderful people I have met.

The Sierra is another matter. Hook up with people at Kennedy Meadows.

Use caution and common sense. Listen to your instincts and worries but don’t let fear strangle you. I am cautious around 2 legged critters especially near roads and have some fear and healthy respect for snow and river crossings. The 4 legged critters have not given me problems. They all have appropriately run away. The snow and river crossings as an old slow solo hiker may keep me from finishing the trail this year on about 70 miles in the Sierra which I would have to do in June. But someone younger hiking at the speed of most thru hikers should not have trouble finding hiking partners/family to get through the Sierra if going in thru-hiker season.

My philosophy has been that it is better to hike with someone but it is better to hike solo than stay home waiting for someone to go with me, especially since I don’t have all that many backpacking years left to sit around waiting. My philosophy is not for everyone but it has worked for me thus far.

There are no guarantees in life beyond the moment we are living, wherever that may be. The trails are probably much safer than walking in towns and cities.

If you go, solo or with someone, enjoy yourself and God’s good creation.

Medicare Pastor

#6

I am a solo female hiker. I have the best times when I am “alone”. On only one trip did actually end “alone”. There have always been other hikers on the trail. Most guy hikers seem to out of their way to make sure I am OK. On only one occasion did I get a little creeped out, and I just chose to hike on and everything turned out great. As far as Hitching, I have met some great people hitching solo. I suppose it is not the most safe practice in the world, but I have only one time did a guy with ulterior motives pick me up, and I wasn’t hiking at the time. I’ve been section hiking for 12 years and I plan to thru in 2014. Live the dream! Go for it, I will be!

Stick Chick

#7

You’ll have plenty of other hikers looking out for you out there. Those few that are creeps - well, you’ll blow them off and every one else will close ranks around you. You’ll have plenty of time to evaluate your fellow hikers - group up with those you like, blow off those you don’t care for. You’ll have plenty of trail brothers looking out for you.

Heading into the Sierra, there are lots of folks who stop at Kennedy Meadows for a day or two. You’ll be able to group up there. You’ll find folks who have your same resupply plan (head out at Kearsarge, or go straight through, or …) and the same number of days planned. Ask around. Of course, that assumes you haven’t fallen in with folks already by then.

As far as hitching goes, you’ll be in high demand / quite popular. At times it was difficult to get a ride as a solo guy. The times I hitched with one of the gals - I always had a ride very quickly (I held the bandanna sign, she had the thumb out showing her pony tail). Trust me - finding a fellow hiker to hitch with will NOT be a problem - it’s win / win. You get the “protection” of a guy, the guy gets a far easier hitch. Consider agreeing to hitch with someone within a half day to a day or so of a road crossing. It’ll be easy to figure out on the fly.

One thing to consider for hitching - have your “bailout” story in the event the ride just doesn’t feel right. Mine was to check my stuff and go “crap…I left my (insert small but valuable item - I pod, cell phone, what ever) on the trail 2 miles back when I took a break. Sorry, thanks for stopping, but it’ll take me a hour or two to go back for it.” Walk back south down the trail for a little bit, let the ride drive off, then return and continue hitching a little later.

Token Civilian

#8

Thanks for all the support and great advice! I feel much more confident about this whole situation.

Funtimecool

#9

I’ve always hiked solo. I’ve made friends along all three trails. Sometimes I’ve gone weeks and months hiking alone. Other times I’ve flip flopped for weeks with the same hikers. I would have to say though that all of my hikes have been primarily solo, and I will always call myself a “solo hiker.” Years of hiking solo have really had a big influence on how I’ve grown and matured over the years.

I too carry a SPOT b/c my family gets such a kick out of following “the dot.” On the next hike though, I may not as I try to really reduce weight. It all just depends on how much they fuss…:-).

I’ve rarely felt threatened on any of the trails, and some of the most wonderful people I’ve met, and encounters I’ve had have been while long distance hiking. In some instances I would probably would not have met people so easily had I not been solo.

Don’t be afraid to hike solo. You will meet people and have all types of options on how you want your hike to evolve as you travel up the trails. No matter how you choose to hike, it is an experience you will always remember, so don’t miss the opportunity.

Good luck!

Ellie

#10

I also think the trail is pretty safe , other hikers lookout for each other, but for any non hiker reading your journal I would not put up a profile picture (you can put one up when your back home) and be vague about dates of when you hit diffrent spots , just to be sure

the Hobo

#11

I will also be starting the PCT as a solo female hiker…my ex-boyfriend will be beginning one week before me (drama!). I’ll be starting at the Kickoff. I’m feeling quite anxious as well, but mostly out of concern for my knees (AT08) as I know there will be plenty of people starting at the same time. I may last for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or the whole thing but I won’t know unless I get out there and start hiking!

Crumbs

#12

Well I’d say just take reasonable steps to minimize your risk if you go (obviously)! Avoiding a hitch by yourself is a good one, and maybe a small can of pepper spray would work too. I feel you on the graduate school thing. I’m an undergraduate engineer and once i’m out the pct is first on my list before a job or extra school gets in the way!

Andrew M

#13

I didn’t hitch on the AT, PCT, CDT, Alps, Pyrennees, Pennines, Austrailia… et al… although I did at times catch a ride back to the trail; in Europe the trails usually go thru a town every few days or a few towns in a day, so I decided to apply that to all my trails here & abroad. Several times i met up with & hiked platonically with gals. With the gourmet gals I shared my extra abundance of food & they had the iron cooking pot ?! to make fancy feasts out of my junk. Of course i also almost starved like in the wind rivers just before Atlantic city et al.

gingerbreadman