Solo Hiking Risks

Solo hiking risks: I've been reading a lot lately about whether it's safe to hike by yourself as a female.

So I sat down and generated a list of risks any hiker faces when out on the trail, and put them into "unavoidable" and "avoidable" categories.

Here's what I came up with:

1. ACTS OF NATURE: That's the whole point, right? To get out into nature and see what there is to see. But what if nature surprises you with a spectacular display of power? or catches you off guard? The following risks can be avoided to a certain extent by staying on top of changing weather conditions and checking weather forecasts before you hit the trail. But not everything on this list is completely avoidable. What then?

a) Storms: Wind, rain, snow: keep an eye on any of these.

b) Earthquakes

c) Fire: What should you do if a forest fire breaks out as you're hiking?

d) Falling limbs

e) Lightning (dry or storm associated)

f) Floods (flash, storm associated, getting trapped by washed out bridges)

2. HUMANS:

a) Violence

b) Harassment

c) Annoyance

3. ANIMALS:

a) Bears: Think about what to do BEFORE you are face to face with a huge mammal like this.

b) Cougars: Chances are they see you while you remain unaware of their presence.

c) Snakes

d) Biting/Stinging Insects

4. ACCIDENTS: Here's a little light reading on what could go wrong. Learn from it!

a) Getting injured

b) Avalanche

c) Exposure to weather extremes

d) Water crossings gone bad: Don't get in over your head!

e) Burns

5. FEAR:

a) Of being alone

b) Of social ridicule

c) Of getting lost

d) Of loss of solitude

e) Of the dark

What did I miss? Drop me a line, and I'll add it to the list of solo hiking risks.

Had enough of pondering solo hiking risks? Return home to choose a new topic on hiking.