"Don't hike alone or YOU WILL DIE" -society
When you are a female, those around you, even those who know you well enough to know you are an independent, capable, and well-prepared woman will freak out when you tell them that you plan to go hiking alone. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me "You aren't GOING ALONE are you?" I'd be rich. Now part of this is gender independent, a genuine concern people have that when you enter "the backcountry " alone you will not make it out, but from my interactions with solo male hikers, this is something women have to put up with a lot more than men do.
So to assuage your fears, here are some reassuring facts:
On the AT, at least, you are rarely alone. Over 4000 people registered their thru-hike this year through the ATC's optional online program, meaning still others are likely hiking an unregistered hike. If you assume that about half of them drop out within the first half, and about 20% are hiking SOBO or flip-flop, that still leaves 1,600 NOBO thru-hikers who make it the first thousand. I'd say 99% of these hikers will start between mid-February and early-May to strike a balance between avoiding blizzards and making it to Katahdin by it's seasonal close in October. So lets say that gives about 80 prime days for start dates - that puts us at about 20 hikers leaving Springer per day who make it to PA. Now obviously they are more clustered in the middle dates of that spread, but still, there are thru-hikers everywhere, plus section hikers, day hikers, and trail angels (especially in nice weather). True solitude is not the reality on the AT.
On average, there are only 2-3 deaths on the Appalachian Trail per year, a figure which includes all thru-hikers, section-hikers, and day-hikers, whose numbers are estimated to be around 1,948,701. Millions of people set foot on the Appalachian Trail each year, so this few deaths is incredible. In the US the average death rate is 844 people per 100,000. Scaling both these statistics down- that makes the percentage of people who die annually: 0.844% for the US as a whole and 0.000154% on the Appalachian Trail. Even if you assumed you were going on a hike every day of the year (for statistics sake we'll say you represented 365 of the individuals counted in the survey) you still only have a 0.0562% chance of dying over the course of the whole year. So what I'm saying is- chances are you won't be dying out here.
What Should I Bring to Stay Safe?
Though gear is largely an individual's choice as to what they feel is worth the weight, below are my recommendations as to what will and will not protect you on the average AT thru-hike. A lot of women also end up carrying extra weight in things that their loved ones beg them to carry, my Dad has asked whether I would be willing to carry Bear Spray at one point, and I carry a Delorme Inreach for my parents' sake too.
Yes:
1) Cell phone- Though you may want to disconnect from society, it's important to have a way to call for help. Even if you don't intend to keep in communication with friends and family, at least bring a flip phone for emergencies (plus it is convenient for calling shuttles into town, making reservations, etc.)
2) Guthook App/Guidebook- I prefer Guthook as it provides feedback as to whether you are actually on the trail using your gps location, but at minimum a guidebook helps to connect you with resources and find the nearest road in case of emergency.
3) Warm clothes/ Sleeping Bag- So you don't die of hypothermia.
4) Bug Spray- Prevents ticks, and also if you are allergic to black flies like me, is an absolute necessity in the Northeast.
5) Basic First Aid Kit- I'm talking bare minimum- ibuprofen, band aids, Neosporin, an alcohol wipe, some Benadryl, maybe some gauze, etc. Any injury that you can't treat with the basics is probably not something you are going to stay on trail to treat anyway. With towns so close together, if something happens and you need a specific medication or brace, you are only ever a day or two out of civilization.
6) Trekking Poles- These protect your joints and are honestly a godsend, but also you can hit them together to scare off wildlife or throw them like a harpoon at people who make you angry.
7) Bonus: Satellite Based Communicator/ Emergency Location Beacon (eg. Spot or Delorme) - These allow you to send your location or brief messages regardless of cell service, and they have an emergency button kind of like a life alert but in the case of a bear mauling you or similar. They are convenient, but also pretty heavy and hella expensive. I mostly just carry this to make others comfortable as the AT is super safe, but I will probably appreciate my Delorme more when I hike less well established trails.
No:
1) Gun- guns are heavy, require technical skill to use, and are unnecessary on the AT given the extremely low magnitude of danger you face from people/ wildlife. In fact, a gun is dangerous to you in that it could be used against you if you were attacked (unlikely), or if you were to fire at a perceived danger, more than likely you would be accidentally shooting a hiker off-trail, a non-threatening animal, etc. making it even more of a liability.
2) Compass- In terms of navigating the trail, a compass is useless given the trail heading North sometimes faces East or West a good amount, and at times even loops back south. The trail itself is well marked, and a guidebook and Guthook will suffice. If you get off trail and your phone is dead so you can't Guthook back on, the wilderness corridor is small enough that you will end up by a house or town within a day or so in most places, and to be honest most people's orienteering skills are not such that a compass it going to help them in this case anyway.
3) Large knife/ Machete/ Other Large Object to Cut Your Enemies Up Into 1,000,000 Pieces With- Same idea as with the gun, except in this case you also will probably end up cutting yourself too.
4) Bear spray- If a bear is really intent on attacking you, a little pepper spray is just going to make it angry. But in reality, Black Bears are often scared off by just loud noises or in extreme cases by rocks being thrown. See the section on bears for more info on things that are more helpful than Bear Spray.
5) Taser- I wasn't aware people actually carried these on trail till Four Leaf revealed she had one to make her Dad feel more comfortable. Not sure who she would be tasing though- a bear or another hiker? Either way- a little bit of preventative safety goes a long way in assuring you don't need a taser. Plus, a swift kick to the groin will usually suffice in situations in which I imagine myself tasing someone.
6) A safety whistle- I don't think I've ever seen a hiker wearing one of these, but they are a required piece of gear in my college outdoors club which I think is ridiculous. What's that? You've fallen into a hole and need to get someone's attention with a noise... it's too bad we don't have a built in system for communicating distress like maybe OUR VOICES. You know YELLING. Also pro-tip- be prepared, not dumb, and tell people where you are so that you are never in a safety whistle kind of situation. On the Appalachian Trail, there are also so many people that if you truly are in a pickle someone is bound to be close behind to help.
Top 3 Perceived Threats:
1) Bears
Relative Frequency: Extremely Rare
On the AT, the only species of bear is the American Black Bear. Compared to Grizzlies, this species is smaller (5-6ft long and between 200-600lbs) and less aggressive.
I have only heard of one person who has gotten bit in the last 10 years on the AT, and I have heard of zero deaths in the history of the trail. However, lots of people have their food bags raided (or attempted to be raided) by bears each year so use these precautions... I personally saw 9 bears in the 5.5 months I was on-trail and 100% of the time they just ran from me.
How to Avoid Bear Attacks:
-Never eat or keep food in your tent (I know, I know- I've done it too)
-Eat all your food scraps and secure your garbage in a sealed and hung bag before bed, and obviously pack out your trash.
-Never get between a bear and it's cubs.
-In the Smoky Mountains, stay at shelters and check online for bear activity near the shelters- this is the area with the densest bear population.
-Do not burn food or trash as it will become a scented candle to attract bears.
-Keep aware of your surroundings so as to not startle a bear (I have also done this, but the bear just turned and ran while I stood there like a fool staring at it in shock).
-Do not approach a bear or allow it to approach you even if it seems "friendly," these bears are actually the most dangerous because they associate people with food and have lost their fear of people.
-Hang a bear bag (using the PCT method) or use a bear proof bag or container while you sleep (make sure is far away from your tent still). I like the URsak for the AT, but any trail in Grizzly country you need a hard shell canister.
-If you are leaving trail magic, never leave food, a bag of trash, a cooler, or similar item unattended.
-If a bear approaches, move away slowly; do not run (But tbh I think if you ran so would the bear, these things aren't malicious mountain lions after all).
-Attempt to scare bears off by hitting your trekking poles together- the metallic noise often spooks them.
-If you are attacked, try to fight back by hitting it with a big stick, throwing rocks at it, etc. Playing dead is not appropriate for black bears.
2) Creepy People
Relative Frequency: Ehhhhhhhhhhhh
Though they may look seedy, almost every thru-hiker has a good heart, but still every year it seems there is some sort of creepy guy (but luckily this type rarely makes it far). This year, Castle was one of those guys, but left the trail outside of Erwin, after having been picked up by the authorities for having illegal weapons and for threatened women.
Non-thru hikers pose a slightly greater risk in that they have could potentially have access to real weapons and a vehicle, but the Appalachian Trail is a community that is known for being extremely safe.
Still, there are ways to protect yourself from unnecessary risk...
How to Avoid Being Kidnapped/Assaulted/Murdered:
-Do not camp next to major roads as the "bad guys" are typically going to come by car. As a rule, I camp a minimum of 1 mile from a major (paved) road or highway when I am alone.
-Tell a non-hiker your location every now and then so they know if and when to get worried.
-Sign the hiker log books so people know approximately where you are and know to be concerned if you go missing
-Use your trail name to sign things so that people can't stalk you/ won't know if you are a teenage girl or a burly, 30-something man unless they are your friends already
-Don't feel pressured to accept a hitch or a shared hotel room with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable, but that being said, these things are generally safe.
-Tell other hikers, trail angels, hostel owners, post on Facebook- just generally let the world know if someone is creeping on you, hurt you, stole from you, etc. Word travels fast on the trail and the trail community will take them down in a couple days.
-Make friends or a tramily to look out for you on trail.
3) Snakes
Relative Frequency: Rare-ish
I say rare-ish, because though snakes (even venomous ones) are fairly common on the trail, actual snake bites are not common, and when they do occur very rarely do they cause death.
There are many types of snakes on the AT, both venomous and not. I didn't write this to give you a detailed lesson in snake identification- but here is a link to an article on four common, harmless snakes. In addition to these, there are 3 main venomous species:
Copperheads- found GA to NY, not very aggressive, doesn't inject much venom so fatalities rare
Eastern Timber Rattlesnakes- found everywhere, not very aggressive, large so injects dangerous amounts of venom
Cottonmouths (aka Water Moccasins)- found in GA but is rare on trail, semi-aquatic, aggressive, large so injects lots of venom
How to Avoid Being Bit by a Snake:
-Don't try to pick up the snake.
-Don't try to take a really close up picture where your arm is in striking range.
-Keep aware so you don't accidentally step on a snake, especially in tall grasses or in rocky patches (I have stepped on a snake, more about that in another article).
-If you are flipping rocks or picking up sticks for firewood or something, look where you are putting your hands.
-Don't put feet or hands where you can't see them (ie under a large rock pile)
-If you see a snake on the trail or it rattles at you give it lots of space as you walk around it to be extra safe (because snakes can strike from up to half their body length away).
-Wear thick socks, shoes, gaiters, and maybe even pants if you are that worried.
If bitten:
-Do not attempt to "suck" the venom out!
-It is almost always better to hike out to a road where you can be easily reached
Snake Bite First Aid Procedure Courtesy of the World Wide Web
Keep the snake bite victim calm (or yourself), keeping them (you?) still and quiet. Restrict movement, and keep the affected area at or below heart level to reduce the flow of venom.
Remove any rings or constricting items and clothing as the affected area may swell.
Allow the bite to bleed freely for 15 – 30 seconds before cleansing.
Create a loose splint to help restrict movement of the area.
Contact medical help as soon as possible.
Evacuate the victim immediately by hiking to a car, a helicopter, or medical staff.
Monitor the person’s vital signs — temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, and blood pressure — if possible. Watch for any signs of shock (sweating, clammy skin, or shallow breathing), since the fear of having been bitten is often more dangerous than the bite.
Attempt to identify the snake or, only if can be done safely, bring in the dead snake. Do not waste time hunting for the snake, and do not risk another bite if it is not easy to kill the snake. After it has been killed, a snake can still bite for up to an hour, so be careful while transporting it.
Top 3 Real Threats:
1) Falling Trees/ Tree Limbs
Relative Frequency: Common
When you walk around in the woods for 6 months, chances are a stick or tree will hit you at some point which can make for some funny/scary stories, but is also a legit problem as it can cause serious injuries or occasionally death depending on the size of the tree. The good news is, even though I am warning you now about trees, you likely won't develop a paralyzing fear of them like you may have about bears or snakes.
How to Avoid Being Nailed in the Head with a Huge Stick:
-Look up before you set up your tent, if the tree above you looks sketchy...move your tent
-Before hanging your hammock make sure that it is a strong tree by hanging on it (also don't choose fragile looking trees)
-If the wind storm of the century is forecast to hit, opt to sleep in the shelter that night
-Keep your phone or emergency tracker beacon on hand so if you get pinned under a tree you can call for help
-Bring some ibuprofen so if you get nailed by a tree you can walk it off the next day
-Have a good sense of humor if a tree does fall on you
-Not a safety tip, but just a pro-tip: if you are using the "pole-dancer" pooping strategy, ie squatting holding onto a tree trunk, select a sturdy tree. Not saying this happened to me, but....yeah.
2) Ticks
Relative Frequency: Common
Where there is a tick, there is a chance of Lyme's Disease- a surprisingly common reason people must get off trail, particularly of those who make it to New England.
Lyme's Disease Symptoms:
Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes, Erythema migrans (EM) rash (aka Bull's-eye rash).
How to Prevent Lyme's Disease:
-Wear lightweight, long pants when in tick season
-Treat clothes with Permethrin
-Wear bug spray with Deet in it
-Check yourself daily for ticks- if you can remove a tick within 36 hours, you have an extremely low chance of contracting Lyme's Disease from an infected insect
-Ask your doctor for prescriptions that you can start taking if you start experiencing symptoms/ find a tick on you that's been there a while
3) The Cold
Relative Frequency: Very Common
Just being cold is fine- it builds character-but when you are unprepared to deal with the cold, especially when you are wet and cold, you have to worry about things like frostbite and hypothermia.
Frostbite: the freezing of body tissue (usually skin) that results when the blood vessels contract, reducing blood flow and oxygen to the affected body parts.
Symptoms: Skin that is white or grayish-yellow and feels hard, waxy, or numb, or is blistering or becoming darkened or black, also swelling, itching, burning, and deep pain during the rewarming/healing process.
Hypothermia: occurs when a person's body temperature drops below 35C (95F). Normal body temperature is around 37C (98. 6F)
Symptoms: Shivering, Slurred speech or mumbling, Slow and shallow breathing, Weak pulse, Clumsiness or lack of coordination, Drowsiness or very low energy, Confusion or memory loss, Loss of consciousness
How to Stay Warm in Extreme Environments:
-Check the forecast and stay in town an extra day if necessary
-Avoid getting your clothes wet
-Don't wear Cotton
-Keep a spare set of dry, warm layers to change into after hiking
-Have a sleeping bag rated at least 10 degrees lower than the lowest temperature you expect to encounter
-Stay hydrated and well fed
-Bring appropriate layers and don't send them home too early (this means a hat, thick gloves, warm socks, a good jacket, pants, etc.)
-If you start feeling hypothermic, stop, set up your tent, and get into your sleeping bag
-Bring hand warmers or boil water and put it into your bottle and put that in your sleeping bag at night
-Sleep with your water and filter so it doesn't freeze, leaving you dehydrated
-Hold off on going stove free till the threat of snow and cold has passed