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Last edited by 10-K; 11-04-2011 at 13:20.
In 2009, when I thrued the AT, it was the year of the women! Solo women, women with partners, women in groups, young women, old women... all out there. Best part... all the women I knew (over a dozen) that started in March COMPLETED the trail without any incident involving "creepsters". Booyah!
Trust your gut and you'll be fine.
As far as winter hiking...I would worry about the weather and how much winter backpacking experience you have regardless of gender. Weather is the great equalizer!
If she were driving in a blizzard she would have enough common sense to get off the road and wait it out until it is safer to drive. Hiking in the winter works the same way.Originally Posted by Feral Bill
When was the last time a hiker south of VA died of exposure in the winter? Of the ones that did, how many had proper gear and were not doing stupid people tricks?
I grew up in Michigan and compared to up there GAs winters are down right tame. Even in Michigan its rare for a hiker with proper gear to die of exposure.
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Prejudiced, in the technical definition? Yes. We all judge based upon our prior knowledge and experience. Derogatory or discriminatory? No, as I think you are twisting the poster's intent, which seems to me more about safety and not wanting the young lady to get into a bad situation. Overprotective? That's a judgement call. Perhaps the person who made the post you find so offensive is concerned that criminals more often target women as victims, not that women shouldn't be hiking. Just like in the civilized world, gender is a consideration when dealing with personal safety. That's the reality, not the wishful thinking about how things should be.
Because she was a woman. Easy prey. - Gary Michael Hilton
"That's the thing about possum innards - they's just as good the second day." - Jed Clampett
This is exactly what I'm trying to have a discussion about in this thread. That and how to encourage younger girls to move past the nay-sayers.
There's a reason I put this in the ladies forum, to make it about the gender issue not the "inexperienced winter hiker" half of the equation.
Interesting thread.
I agree totally that women can do anything a man can do, and they definitely have every right to not only do whatever they desire (within legal and moral [yeah, I know it's different for everyone]bounds), but also to bear the entire weight of responsibility for her/his own actions, go for it!
Normally I don't post on the women's forum, but the title to the thread got my attention.
Unfortunately, prejudices are based on generalities (so-called "stereotypes"). It is unfortunate in every case, but it is what it is.
The out-of-the-ordinary individual must be willing to accept that fact.
Carry on........
Last edited by Tinker; 11-04-2011 at 14:30. Reason: Heavily edited for clarity (I hope).
As I live, declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn back from his way and live. Ezekiel 33:11
I agree with Max Patch. Soloing in any wilderness or semi-wilderness area requires real experience regardless of gender and physical condition. I soloed in the Boundary Waters many years ago and only after many wilderness experiences with others. As I look back on it now, I believe I was lucky but foolish.
Just FWIW, I cannot think of a trail related organization that doesn't discourage hiking alone for either men or women, for a myriad of reasons, mostly safety related. How that would discourage women any more than men isn't readily apparent. I think the biggest obstacles to encouraging more women to hike and participate in outdoor activities lie outside the hiking community itself, and are more a reflection of society in general.
As a parent I raised four kids, 2 boys and 2 girls. They were all exposed to hiking, camping, skiing, and a host of outdoor activities, with no special considerations to their gender. Two really never liked hiking, one of my boys was so-so on it, and of the four, only my oldest daughter is an avid hiker as an adult. She rarely if ever hikes alone, somewhat heeding the aforementioned advice, but more because she feels more secure hiking with at least one other person (which could be a girlfriend, boyfriend, me, or anybody else she trusted). She'll often hike alone during the day, but always remain part of a "loose group" that gathers back together at breaks, camp, etc.
If my own daughter were to propose starting solo in January on the AT, I would advise her against it. If she were starting with the herd in March or April, I would be much less concerned, as I know there would be more people on the trail and that she would find the company of other hikers.
"That's the thing about possum innards - they's just as good the second day." - Jed Clampett
This is about the bleakest thing I have ever read here on Whiteblaze. I could go on a long rant about the nanny state, fear-induced retardation, and all else, but I won't. Suffice it to say these trail organizations are stump wrong.
Protection of a group? What group? Most women are harmed by men that she already knows.
In my opinion and experience, I'm far safer totally alone than with others. When I'm alone, I make all my own decisions and usually decide things much more conservatively than when I'm with others. I'm very paranoid about doing dangerous things when I'm alone. I won't even eat certain foods for fear of choking alone. I'm not triggered into anger by annoying people when I'm alone. I don't hike further than I want to when I'm alone. I'm not convinced to do things I don't feel safe doing when I'm alone. I'm not lacking any equipment I need when I'm alone (the whole sharing a tent thing is not an issue.) I've probably thought of way more bail-out, alternate route options when I'm alone than when I'm with others. I can go on.
Yes the creep factor can be worse when you are alone, but honestly, how often do you find these creeps and where? I have special rules for when I'm near roads, like not camping too close to a major road. If I were hiking the AT alone, I would never stay in a shelter alone but I would stay in a shelter if there were others that included other women.
Some knew me as Piper, others as just Diane.
I hiked the PCT: Mexico to Mt. Shasta, 2008. Santa Barbara to Canada, 2009.
Yeah, there's a strong cultural prejudice against women doing anything alone, from going to the movies to backpacking. As a woman, one has to make a choice--am I going to let other people's fears fence me in, or not? When I was 16 and putting together my first adventure--a bike trip around New England with two other teenaged girls--my parents insisted that we take along my 13-year-old brother and one of his scrawny friends "for protection.". Seriously? Yes, they really did. Fortunately we don't live in Saudi Arabia and its not actually illegal for us to wander around without male "protection." is there an infinitesimal chance that something bad will happen? Sure, but it's considerably less likely in the woods than in your own backyard.
If not NOW, then WHEN?
ME>GA 2006
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=3277
Instagram hiking photos: five.leafed.clover
I try not to argue with any woman...I simply get outsmarted every time.
IMO it is simply illogical to make blanket statements based on gender--that it safe for all men to hike alone, and unsafe for all women. The flip side of that behavior is to say, for instance, that men are completely incapable of taking care of themselves and need a woman around the house to keep them from starving to death or drowning in filth. People can be taught to take care of themselves. Women can be taught ways to minimize their chance of being victimized. Men can be taught to feed and clean themselves. If women are told from the cradle on up to leave a certain set of problems to men to deal with, a certain number of women will buy into it. Similarly, there are plenty of men who are just are burdened by stumbling through life doing what they've been told they must do, playing the role theyve been assigned. Some of us, though, like to ask those pesky questions... Is it true, this stuff we've been told? The long-distance hiking community contains a much greater than average percentage of people who ask WHY?
If not NOW, then WHEN?
ME>GA 2006
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=3277
Instagram hiking photos: five.leafed.clover
John, FatMan did not bold that sentence. When the OP of this thread she bolded FatMans statement to try to make her point. She should have, but did not, mention this.
I almost always hike/backpack solo. The majority of my "hiker" friends don't seem to actually hike. But then they could be turning me down because I smell bad. Maybe I will invest in a different brand of deoderant and ask them again.
Ive only came across one creeper. And rest assured if he had tried something I would have made him scream like a little 5 year old bitch wearing pink panties. What he did was try to feed me fruitloops. go figure.
I've written about this many times in my backpacking journals, about how a group of two or more causes us to do things we'd never do alone. Solo backpackers must by definition be more careful in all things---creek crossings, tent placement, exposure to cold and snow---whereas a group often overextends or walks too far or gets too wet or too cold or it gets too dark---and all in a false sense of mutual bravado, tacit oneupmanship, or just plain obstinacy and idiocy (like building a giant bonfire atop a windswept bald just because they're in a "social setting").
Plus, I believe long-term solo backpackers are much more self-motivated and thereby need no prodding to get packed and to get out, and so do not need the urgings of fellow companions to pull off a trip. Anyway, if I waited for my peers to join me or plan a trip I'd hardly ever go out.
I understand and I actually said that in my post, see below
Read the last paragraph of her quoted box, where he (FatMan) admits, his remarks may sound sexist. He did not just say, "I recommend no one without winter hiking experience blah, blah, blah..."
She's 25 - old enough to fight, vote, and make her own life decisions. It also sounds like she can outrun most risks, but it's hard to outrun hypothermia, particularly if you are alone.
He is the father of a daughter. None of us, even those with daughters, can judge him on his love for her and his concern for her safety. I think he wanted to give voice to his concerns and seek advice, not to disparage the abilities and talents of sister hikers.
That's funny
What century is this, again?
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