[pct-l] Hiking Alone

[Judith G]

> Although I too wear a ring on my left hand

I actually take my wedding ring off and leave it home when I hike  
(although I carry an inexpensive band to wear in towns, more out of  
loyalty to my long-suffering husband than for "cover").  My real ring  
is a little tight and my concern is being unable to get it off if I  
break my arm and my hand swells.  Or (gasp) experience snakebite.  Of  
course, as a bona fide "old gal" I don't have the worries younger  
women have about the intentions of strange men (!!!).  I have had  
only good experiences hitch-hiking to a resupply, but I am, I hope,  
suitably cautious about it.  My greatest concern while hiking alone  
is injury or illness.  Maintaining wilderness first responder  
certification has been both useful in preparing, and in preventing,  
situations, and has given me a certain level of confidence about  
handling emergencies.  I recommend wilderness medical training to any  
hiker, particularly solo hikers.

Women I converse with who don't hike always ask if it doesn't bother  
me to hike alone ... don't I miss having company?  Many of these  
ladies admit they can't imagine doing ANYTHING alone!  Guess I'm one  
of the rare ones who loves solitude.  I enjoy company on the trail  
"when it happens" but don't usually seek it out.  As a section hiker,  
I'm often doing a bit of trail outside the "thru-hiker season" and I  
only run into occasional other section hikers or locals.  I go days  
at a time seeing no one.  So when I get to camp or hike a short while  
with someone else, it's a treat.

> I too use a tent. My intellect tells me it is ridiculous to think a  
> tent offers any kind of safety; emotionally I won't go without my  
> tent and love using it. (Sorry guys I guess a woman's thing -sorry  
> to women who don't feel the same- it feels like I'm playing house  
> and helps me feel safer.

Well, I'm one of the women who doesn't feel the same, but no need to  
be sorry.  I feel claustrophobic in a tent and I always cowboy camp,  
weather permitting.  I do carry a SpinnShelter (about 8 ounces) to  
use in wet weather, and it works very well for me.  Since I rarely  
use it, I don't want to carry something heavier that just sits in the  
pack 99 percent of the time.  Plus I get plenty of chance to play  
house when I'm home ...

JoAnn, I think I met you at Crater Lake in late July '05 ... I camped  
at Mazama with Alice Tulloch, who was waiting for No Way ... was that  
you?

Two Legs