Post by penguingrrl on Dec 30, 2015 20:52:59 GMT -5
I don't think most people are worried about rape or crime on the trail (maybe I'm wrong). I more think of falling and getting injured and being unable to get help, snake bites, animals, things like that where having another person could mean the difference between life and death, especially if your injury knocks your phone out of your hand or you're too incapacitated to call.
I'm mostly a day hiker, but the AT is pretty crowded in the areas I've hiked sections so I wouldn't worry about being "alone" when you're running into lots of other hikers. Camping would worry me more.
And I don't think Appalachia is more dangerous than other areas mostly because I'm really afraid of Grizzlies and there aren't any there.
Those black bears might fight you for some wild blueberries, though.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Dec 30, 2015 21:09:16 GMT -5
Nope. I hiked a (very small) portion of the trail over a weekend and enjoyed it, but was with a group of people. It did snow, though, and we had high winds and that part sucked. I would not have enjoyed it alone.
My friend hiked the whole thing by himself, though, and loved it. (Obviously he met people along the way, but he started by himself.)
I don't think most people are worried about rape or crime on the trail (maybe I'm wrong). I more think of falling and getting injured and being unable to get help, snake bites, animals, things like that where having another person could mean the difference between life and death, especially if your injury knocks your phone out of your hand or you're too incapacitated to call.
The in Appalacia part of the question seemed to add a Delivence quality to the question that implied harm by another human which is why I answered the way I did.
I have hiked out on a broken ankle, so I know injuries can happen, but the joy and neccesity (sometimes being in the woods alone is the only thing to fix my soul) out weigh the risks for me.
I would argue that cell phones have made hiking alone less safe, because people assume they always have backup and take risks they wouldn't take without one.
Edited to add- in regards to the risks from other humans, the most notorious attack on the AT was the murder of two women who were hiking together with their dog, so hiking with someone doesn't insure saftey. Edited to add again- I don't think Appalacia is anymore dangerous than anywhere else, I was just describing how I read the op.
I don't think most people are worried about rape or crime on the trail (maybe I'm wrong). I more think of falling and getting injured and being unable to get help, snake bites, animals, things like that where having another person could mean the difference between life and death, especially if your injury knocks your phone out of your hand or you're too incapacitated to call.
The in Appalacia part of the question seemed to add a Delivence quality to the question that implied harm by another human which is why I answered the way I did.
I have hiked out on a broken ankle, so I know injuries can happen, but the joy and neccesity (sometimes being in the woods alone is the only thing to fix my soul) out weigh the risks for me.
I would argue that cell phones have made hiking alone less safe, because people assume they always have backup and take risks they wouldn't take without one.
Edited to add- in regards to the risks from other humans, the most notorious attack on the AT was the murder of two women who were hiking together with their dog, so hiking with someone doesn't insure saftey.
I'll admit that I did assume Appalachia meant the AT. I can't see feeling safe hiking/camping alone, but I can see where others would weigh the risks. H and I were both scouts and both told never to go out alone.
I definitely don't think there are risks from humans. Or at least not more than generally in life, out there.
I do agree that cell phones have likely left people more foolhardy.
Post by sparrowsong on Dec 30, 2015 21:24:25 GMT -5
I think that's a pretty busy and well marked trail. So yes, I would. I'd like to do the Colorado Trail, and that will probably be solo. I'm a pretty independent and solitary person though.
Post by hopecounts on Dec 30, 2015 21:30:51 GMT -5
I'd be concerned about anyone hiking and camping alone anywhere. I think there is a difference between a day hike where someone is going to get concerned relatively quickly and overnight hike-camping where being out of touch may not raise concerns. Safety first, have a buddy just in case. The concern being dehydration/exposure/shock if in trouble for too long.
Do you feel Appalachia is more dangerous than any other natural mountainous area? There are two sides in this discussion, one side has seen Deliverance and decided it is fact and the other gives Appalachia as a whole the benefit of the doubt. We are obviously all intellectuals here, and there may be heavy drinking and bets placed.
I think there are bears. Otherwise I don't think it's any more dangerous than any other place
Do you feel Appalachia is more dangerous than any other natural mountainous area? There are two sides in this discussion, one side has seen Deliverance and decided it is fact and the other gives Appalachia as a whole the benefit of the doubt. We are obviously all intellectuals here, and there may be heavy drinking and bets placed.
I'm trying to decide how insulted I should be here. I, umm, live in Appalachia and currently ~300 feet from the AT. I do not own a banjo and I couldn't play one if I did (I also have all my teeth).
I've hiked and camped a bunch in Appalachia over the years (not much in the more recent years) and I would not do it alone. Not because of the area, not because of being a female, but because I'm a total klutz and I'm too scared to venture out without someone to help find me a walking stick when I fall and injure myself. I think it took me close to 10 attempts of hiking Old Rag before I completed it without screwing up an ankle. I'm also allergic to a bunch of stuff so I'd be worried about having a reaction and not having anyone around to help. I once dreamed of hiking the whole trail, but I'm pretty sure I'd die some horrible death because I'm me. And I'm more scared of my body failing me on the AT than I am of meeting bears--and I *have* awoken to a bear or two nosing around my tent before.
Post by ChillyMcFreeze on Dec 30, 2015 22:52:28 GMT -5
I wouldn't, and I don't think I would recommend it. But like PPs said, "Appalachia" comprises like half of the eastern seaboard. The people there aren't any scarier than the rest of the country. And the wildlife is no wilder than the west coast.
You say Appalachian Trail and I DO think "Deliverance" and "Squee piggy piggy!"
I backpacked around Europe alone for 2 months in 1998. But that was through cities and towns where police can easily be reached.
The idea sounds neat, but then think of The Wild and the situation that woman almost found herself in except the creepy guy's friend pulled him away.
I'm not looking to be sexually assualted out in the wilderness and left for dead, so I wouldn't do it. And also there are the hazards of clumsiness and needing a friend to call for help. And/or needing someone to snuggle with for warmth at night.
Also, during the season, the AT is packed with hikers. Thousands of them. Even if you're hiking or backpacking 'alone' you are not alone by a longshot.
Parts of it, yes. It is huge and some parts (Harper's Ferry springs to mind) are right though neighborhoods and are heavily traveled pretty much every day of the year. I'd be fine there. Other more remote places, maybe not.
No, I really don't like nature. I like looking at it, but I prefer indoors. Sitting on a deck with a glass of wine just seems like a much better vacation than hiking around getting blisters, lost, or encountering wildlife.
ETA: Ever see the Diane Sawyer special, "A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains" it is eye opening and extremely depressing.
You say Appalachian Trail and I DO think "Deliverance" and "Squee piggy piggy!"
I backpacked around Europe alone for 2 months in 1998. But that was through cities and towns where police can easily be reached.
The idea sounds neat, but then think of The Wild and the situation that woman almost found herself in except the creepy guy's friend pulled him away.
I'm not looking to be sexually assualted out in the wilderness and left for dead, so I wouldn't do it. And also there are the hazards of clumsiness and needing a friend to call for help. And/or needing someone to snuggle with for warmth at night.
The Appalachian Trail is several thousands of miles long and winds through many different states, all along the East Coast.  It's not all movie-esque backwoods freaks and serial killers. lol  There are lots of normal, non-creepy people who live in Appalachia. Â
And I get the fear, but you can be harmed literally anywhere, though. Â I was abducted and raped, by a stranger, on a bright sunny summer morning, in the middle of the week, right outside a busy apartment complex while I was headed to the community pool. Â
I think anywhere you go, you have to deal with the risk of injury or meeting dangerous people. Â I wonder if it's because the "wilderness" will in a lot of ways always be so unknown to us, that it becomes scarier than the known dangers of everyday living. Â
Yeah, rationally I know that. Went all over Europe safely and a couple weeks after I returned I was assaulted when crashing on a friend's couch. Shit happens anywhere.
But add in the clumsy factor and no police nearby and I wouldn't want to hike it alone.
Post by mrsukyankee on Dec 31, 2015 5:02:13 GMT -5
I'd hike alone some parts of the trail but not others. I wouldn't camp alone because I just wouldn't be able to sleep as I'd feel unsafe (even if it isn't unsafe).
I don't hike alone because im a klutz and would break my ankle in an area with no cell coverage. My EH does but he checks in and out with someone each time so people know when to go looking for him.
Do you feel Appalachia is more dangerous than any other natural mountainous area? There are two sides in this discussion, one side has seen Deliverance and decided it is fact and the other gives Appalachia as a whole the benefit of the doubt. We are obviously all intellectuals here, and there may be heavy drinking and bets placed.
I'm trying to decide how insulted I should be here. I, umm, live in Appalachia and currently ~300 feet from the AT. I do not own a banjo and I couldn't play one if I did (I also have all my teeth).
I've hiked and camped a bunch in Appalachia over the years (not much in the more recent years) and I would not do it alone. Not because of the area, not because of being a female, but because I'm a total klutz and I'm too scared to venture out without someone to help find me a walking stick when I fall and injure myself. I think it took me close to 10 attempts of hiking Old Rag before I completed it without screwing up an ankle. I'm also allergic to a bunch of stuff so I'd be worried about having a reaction and not having anyone around to help. I once dreamed of hiking the whole trail, but I'm pretty sure I'd die some horrible death because I'm me. And I'm more scared of my body failing me on the AT than I am of meeting bears--and I *have* awoken to a bear or two nosing around my tent before.
You could be insulted but not by me. It was one of those convos where I was the lone American trying the defend against all popular culture stereotypes. Sometimes I need backup and since I have none here, I just pull out my phone and bring you all along. LOL! Though my argument was Appalachia aside, I don't do camping anymore and certainly not alone ever. I'm not the one. I have a love/hate relationship with outside. Very specific markers have to be met for me to enjoy myself in the outdoors.
I would strongly prefer a buddy. But after working in Yellowstone for a summer, I would be far more comfortable hiking the AT/ East coast alone than the Rockies/ Continental Divide trail based on wildlife alone.
Signed: one more CEPer dreaming of a thru-hike, and would never convince DH.
Do you feel Appalachia is more dangerous than any other natural mountainous area? There are two sides in this discussion, one side has seen Deliverance and decided it is fact and the other gives Appalachia as a whole the benefit of the doubt. We are obviously all intellectuals here, and there may be heavy drinking and bets placed.
I don't think it's any more dangerous than anywhere else but as a rule being alone in the wilderness (unless you are familiar with the area and do such things often) is rarely a good idea.
Yes, but most people backpacking for lengthy periods ARE experienced. I'd say almost 100% of those through-hiking the AT have done lengthy backpacking trips. And almost anyone camping alone overnight has likely camped before, period.
I wouldn't, and I don't think I would recommend it. But like PPs said, "Appalachia" comprises like half of the eastern seaboard. The people there aren't any scarier than the rest of the country. And the wildlife is no wilder than the west coast.
It's a good deal LESS wild than the West Coast in my experience! The AT also passes through towns and near cities, and connects to other popular parks and hiking trails. So does the PCT, kind of, but there's just less density in the west, and the towns the PCT passes through are, like, Truckee and Mojave and stuff like that.
My husband's college maintains a 70 mile st stretch of the AT that passes right by their campus. His college is pretty, um, outdoorsy, so there are people on the trail all the time, and that's one of the more rural places, IMO! His college also owns a cabin in Donner Pass/Truckee, so they have access to the PCT, too.