[pct-l] Is thru-hiking alone actually safe?

[Donna Saufley]

Aside from the fact that you will rarely be truly alone if you start nobo
with The Herd, I believe the fears that people have about being alone out
there are borne mostly out of their own inexperience and lack of knowledge.
People fear, often irrationally, that which they do not know, and they take
newsworthy bad stories of isolated incidents and build them into being the
norm in their imaginations.  What is so ironic to me is that most people
accept as secure and safe places and situations where they are often truly
at greatest risk -- like women in shopping center parking lots and at ATM
machines. Truth is, more women are hurt by people they know in places close
to home, rather than by strangers. Sure, anything can happen anywhere.
Accidents and bad stuff do happen. Our perceptions of safety are warped by
our experience. But I refuse to roll up in a ball and quit, living in a
prison of fear.

Todd up at North Fork relates the experience of having young men from the
inner city come up and camp near the station as part of some outreach
programs.  These young men  were all familiar with gangs, murders, and the
sound of gunfire in their rough neighborhoods. They'd grown up with it and
were used to such violence, and seemingly had no fear of what they lived in
because it was what they knew. However, they were in complete abject terror
up in the mountains away from all that, camped out under the stars, afraid
of every little noise that they heard in a place where they were safe as
they could possibly be. It just seems intrinsic in human nature to fear and
vilify that which we are unfamiliar with.  

The fact is you can choose to live your life based on fear of all the
potential probabilities, and in my estimation have no life at all, or choose
to confront your fears and take some risks.  The best we can do is to know
the risks we're taking and be prepared for them as best we can, be aware and
savvy to what's going on around you, and like they said on The X-Files,
trust no one.  I honestly feel safer alone or with companions in the
backcountry than I do anywhere else, and confronting and conquering fears
has brought me some of the best moments and achievements of my life.

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of B J
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:20 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Is thru-hiking alone actually safe?


Hello!
I've read through some archives about solo vs. partnered hikes, but I wanted
to get some more input concerning the general safety of hiking alone. I am a
female, and plan on thru-hiking at 22 years old. I'm not especially
experienced, but I have a lot of drive and determination. I certainly don't
mind hiking alone; I actually prefer it. Though, within the months of
hiking, I'm sure company would be appreciated. Is this really safe though?
To be alone for three or four months in the wilderness as a young woman? I
say, sure why not! And I go for it. I take hikes alone all the time. But my
family is very concerned for me and continue to press the issue of finding a
hiking companion. Any thoughts, or advice? Thanks alot!
Brittany
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