even though I will be taking it slow and short for my first several hikes, I was thinking (and I do mean just thinking about it) about taking several weeks hiking through northern British Columbia or the Yukon either alone or with another female friend. Is there any experanced female hikers out there who did this before and is welling to share their packing list?

You might start with some semi trail hiking - get the guidebook for the Great Divide Trail by Dustin Lynx. Some of his routes and most of his alternates are off trail or on sections of established trail that haven't been maintained for years or that are open meadow - so the equivalent of off trail hiking. Go to the Wilmore for a week and hike the ridges. There are routes, but no real trails up there. Get the maps and do some wandering. If you have problems, you can always go back down to the horse trails. You might also try Tombstone Territorial Park - that's off trail hiking but open country and you register with the wardens so at least someone knows where you are. See how you like the uncertainty of off trail hiking before you do a major off trail trek. Because there are grizzlies and river crossings I would definitely get a partner before trying it though.

We hiked the GDT section between Jasper and Mt. Robson last August. Next time we hope to hike from Mt. Robson to Kakwa Lake - or maybe on to Grande Cache. We met a woman who had spent three days looking for trail in the Wilmore before she gave up and backed out. She had years of experience in the mountains. It isn't easy, even when you are supposedly on trail.

You could check with out Sarbar.
She is from Alaska, and frequents this other site...
http://www.backpacking.net/bbs.html

There might be some Northern BC and Yukon hiking there also. I took the Alaska highway once in March up as far a Fort Nelson. Big country. I remember looking out across this huge valley from the ridge the Alaska highway ran along, wondered if there were any people at all in all that forest. Probably. But Big country. Very Big country.

I wish I was 18 again.

Herro and welcome to whiteblaze, and Edmonton!!!! My family was originally(er) from Edmonton, so sweet action.

You might be able to find a group out of Vancouver and go that way.

Another source would be to check out www.nwhikers.net

They have many many more people in the BC, Alaska territories. You'll probably have more luck there.

Till then, don't freeze on the northern prairie