[pct-l] Solo female hiking advice

[Sabrina Harrison]

A trail name like Hatchet probably doesn't hurt...

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 5, 2016, at 12:32 PM, Sarah Spergel <sjspergel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Erin,
> I'm a young woman with some solo trek experiences. In general, I have found
> that people are wonderful and maybe even more helpful because I am
> traveling alone. I think the same safety advice as with all hikers
> applies--ex: don't camp near roads, trust your gut, tell skeevy people
> asking questions that you have a friend coming up behind you. A hiker by
> the name of Happy Jo once suggested that while hitching, I tell potential
> drivers that I have a male friend coming too and watching for the driver's
> reaction. I never tried this--not sure how I'd backtrack :) On the CDT
> outside Butte, I met a woman who was a retired military officer and did a
> lot of trail maintenance. She suggested that I bring bear spray, "not for
> the bears but for the men!" Again, never tried this. I tend to grip my tiny
> pocket knife when nervous, for comfort more than anything  else. Knowing
> basic self-defense might help you sleep better at night. For me, the first
> few nights were unnerving and now I find that I sleep better while alone. I
> imagine there'll be enough hikers in Oregon in mid-July that you could find
> others to camp and hitch with if you wanted too. Let me know if you have
> other questions!
> Best,
> Hatchet
> 
>> On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 12:00 PM, <pct-l-request at backcountry.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Message: 19
>> Date: Wed, 4 May 2016 17:44:00 +0000
>> From: Erin Wetherbee <ewetherbee at ivey.com>
>> To: "Pct-L at backcountry.net" <Pct-L at backcountry.net>
>> Subject: [pct-l] Solo female hiking advice...
>> Message-ID:
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>> 
>> Hello -
>> 
>> I'm planning a solo trek across the Oregon PCT this summer mid-July. I'm a
>> young female and I'm a little concerned about how I'll do a night.
>> 
>> Do any females with solo trip experience have any advice for me? Or any
>> advice on what kind of protection to bring? This will be my first solo
>> backpacking trek :)
>> 
>> Thanks! Erin
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