I was planning on hiking a section of the AT in April by myself. I've never hiked before, but plan on training and educating myself as much as possible prior to leaving.

One of my biggest concerns is about the safety on the AT. I'm 25 years old. Is this a bad idea for me to do this by myself? I'm not just worried about the bears and other wildlife, but the people (the men) hurting me. Is this a valid concern? Should I bring some kind of protection (I was thinking pepper spray)?

What are the chances of me finding other people to buddy up with on the trail? How safe are the shelters at night? I am just trying to be as realistic about this hike as possible. I want to cover all of my bases before going. I really want to make this a memorable experience.