Please consider writing an article for teenaged girl hikers?

[TJ aka Teej]

My daughter is 16, and has what I consider to be a good background for the longer backpacking trips she's looking forward to taking without Dad. But that is of course only from a Dad's point of view.
I was wondering if the female forum members would consider collaborating on an article to post here on WB regarding the issues from equipment to safety to health a teen like her might want to know?

Thanks for reading,
Dad (aka Teej)

[Lillianp]

That's an interesting prospect. I don't think I've done enough backpacking to feel comfortable doing that. What kind of questions do you think should be answering though?

[Trillium]

I think that an excellent person who would be very qualified to do that would be gsingjane if she would be willing.

not sure if she's still posting here. you might try pm'ing or e-mailing her.

[TJ aka Teej]

What kind of questions do you think should be answering though?
That's the thing - what are the questions that a Dad might not be asked? What are the female-only experiences other teenaged backpackers have learned from? All my kids have been on trails since early childhood, know skills from map and compass to how to poop in the woods, but now that she wants to go on longer hikes -without Dad! - I know there's more she needs to hear.
So an article, by experienced females addressed to young girls ready to follow them onto the trails, was an idea I though might be useful.
Thanks in advance, all

[Christus Cowboy]

I would like to wholeheartedly support this effort as well.... Being a Dad of a 16 year girl, I too would benefit from such an article.... Just as a reference, I recently, posted a thread in this forum related to this subject and received alot of good posts from the ladies on WB.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=49095

I was even more impressed by the PM's that I received from several of my female counterparts. I can only say that I appreciated their insights, perspectives, and clarity to many of the questions that I had posted on that thread..... Each of the ladies I heard from had a unique story and freely shared from their experience. I will definitely be a better "Trail Dad" because of it..... Should one of these ladies choose to undertake such an endeavor I would be glad to provide a summary of the feedback that I received... that is after getting the permission from those who chose to share with me...

It would be really neat if some of the ladies could put together a presentation for Dads with daughters that go backpacking that could be presented at a forum like at the hiker gathering in Bryson City or something. I could think of atleast 4 or 5 very distinguished ladies on WB who would offer great insights in a "panel discussion" format for Dads....

[Two Tents]

IT sounds like what I went through with my two daughters who were 16 and 17 when they did a weekend hike years ago. They sold the idea to me by reminding me that I had taught them what they needed to know about the woods and life. Good luck and Happy Trails---- Tow Tents.