Opinions please...
 

Anyone here enjoy going hiking? Anyone do so alone?

I want to do some hiking, but I'm married to an old cripple (ok, not really, but he's been in a lot of pain lately, and with surgery on the horizon, I'll need to get out of the house a lot), so I don't have someone to go with. I do have some friends to go with from time to time, but I don't want to wait for them to be able and willing to go. Our house backs a state park, but my husband doesn't want me to go alone for fear of bears and "bad people." lol

For safety precautions, I have mace (to be used on bears, works up to 15-20 feet away, but could be used on a "bad person"), an air horn (for bears), a pocket knife (with some other tools as well on it), a first aid kit, gps in my phone (and I use google maps to at least see where I am in comparison to landmarks), a crank flashlight with an attachment to charge my phone if necessary, water purification tablets, MREs, water bottles, and emergency blankets. Some of the stuff is for safety against animals and people, and the other stuff is in case I get really lost and can't make it out of the woods before dark. I'm pretty good with directions, and don't normally have a problem with finding my way somewhere, but I wanted to have some things just in case something were to happen.

So, what do you think? Would you think that's enough safety measures to go hiking alone from time to time? Would you go hiking alone, regardless of whether you are male or female? Would you let your significant other go out alone?

something to start a fire?

I also have waterproof matches. Thought I listed them, but guess I didn't.

Seems like a pretty comprehensive list to me. Idk what the bear situation is around there though.

We've seen a few in our yard. They seem to be the same ones though, two babies and a larger (but not adult) bear. Not sure what the state park looks like as far as bears, but I haven't seen any back there yet in the past 2 weeks that I've hiked there.

Stick with a lighter. Those waterproof matches have wax over the strikers and always seemed to be really unreliable to me. Throw a baggie of dryer lint in there too if you want to have a little "fire kit". If the tinder is wet outside you'll have a tough time starting a fire. Dry tinder is good.

You may want to add a whistle, some clothesline rope (for tying splints) and a few high calorie energy bars.

Sounds like a complete list though. Be very, very wary of pepper spraying bears as you can just piss them off and then you are really in trouble.

If either of you have allergies, an Epi Pen is not a bad idea.

I'll see if I can dig up my backpack list from Alaska. That had a ton of safety things in it.

I would never go hiking alone, not because I would be scared of bad people/wild animals, but because I would be bored as hell.

njfboa hiking trip? :nod:

Good boots. A good back pack. Lots of water. More water. Multi use knives are pretty useless IMO. A good serrated blade will get more done.

Well, I wouldn't let my wife go hiking alone, but she's pregnant and naturally clumsy - not a good combo out in the woods alone.

Sounds like you have a pretty good list of "what if" supplies, but I understand the hubby's concern.

- Justin

Compass, its probably better against a puddle than your phone

and maybe a map of the woods? like from the state park ranger?

Waywanda? I think you have it basically covered...still understand hubby's concern....

I thought about getting a whistle. I haven't gotten one yet, though.

I'd have to check, but I think the first aid kit I purchased has string to tie a splint, as well as some other materials.

I'd be afraid of a lighter cracking in the pack. No allergies, so that's good. And the pepper spray is as a very last resort.

Any recommendations on a good day pack? The bag I"m using is crap, but I didn't want to purchase anything expensive until I knew if I'd be doing this more often.

I am a big fan of my LL bean bag. Has a hip belt and a mid chest strap. Padding on the lower part for your back. Very comfo bag.

I like going alone as well as with people. Alone is great to just walk and wander around without interuptions.

NJFBOA hiking trip would be awesome! If you are on facebook, I made a hiking group called Tri-state hikers (which I think I might change the name of eventually). Find it and request to join it :)

Not waywanda. Hewitt state park is our backyard. I walk up the hill in back and I"m in the park. It's nice back there. :)

Sterling forest is also good :) Waywanda will be next.

Check with EMS, REI, and/or Campmor. They provide a wealth of useful info on both gear and terrain. They also are likely able to connect you with individuals or groups who hike in your area. Start with short, well marked trails and be sure to sign the register at the trail head if there is one. Make sure someone knows where you're going and has a rough estimate about your return time. Most Black bears are not interested in bothering people and are likely to avoid you unless yousurprise them or they have young. We see bear fairly regularly on our hikes in the Catskills, never had a problem. They have poor eyesight, so don't assume that tey see you just because you see them. I'd advise against the pepper sprsy as most sprayers have too limited a range and too small a volume to do more than anger the bear. Also, people have been known to accidently spray themselves by spraying into the wind without realizing it. Hiking with company is wise- primarily in the event of injury. Again, talk to someone at Eastern Mountain Sports, REI, etc..

Sigh.....I am not a fan of you going into the woods alone.

I suggested, and made sure you bought, all the things you listed.

I've gone camping in the woods for 10+ years and I have always made sure I was fully prepared and in a group - you NEVER go into the woods alone.

Gentlemen, this is my wife.... she is the one who wants to go hiking alone in the woods..... the extent of her camping experience is very limited (in her backyard). We have LOTS of bears in the area. I very often see evidence of bears in the neighborhood - garbage cans ripped apart.... sheds with gabage cans in them ripped apart.

My concern is that she is inexperienced.... and as much as you prepare....you cannot predict the unpredictable. Animals, such as bears, are unpredictable. People.... bad people.... do bad things.

I think it is great she wants to go hiking.... and if I could join her I would be fine with this.... or we have a couple of friends who are very experienced in hiking and if she is with them, then I am fine.

But her, or anyone, going into the woods alone is just a recipe for disaster..... sure, she or anyone could have no problems.... but if something bad happened..... it would be really bad.

And with me most likely recovering from major neck/ back surgery for one year..... going hiking alone makes NO sense. If you goy hurt.... and I'm recovering.... how would we function?

Just my 2 cents

Doing anything alone on a trail is an issue. No matter if it is hiking, biking, 4 wheeling or otherwise. Hard to carry yourself out if you break a leg, knock yourself out, etc.. Always go with a buddy, so you don't end up cutting off your pinned arm with nail clippers.

Not to say that I haven't done it. :lol: NJFBOA trail buddy thread???

As far as the lighter goes, I always carried a Zippo and checked it before each hike.

Somehow I missed the part about hiking alone in the original post. That's a big no-go for me. I know a guy who busted his ankle and had to drag himself a mile and a half to get help. Cell phone was no good. And I've slid on more wet rocks than I can count.

Could always look into a tracking device..

http://www.ehelpfultips.com/a_guide_...personal_l.htm

They have come down a lot in prices. And with the SPOT you can be tracked real time on a home PC.

I would also suport the "no hiking alone" sentiment. Going for a short walk through a park in midday seems innocuous enough, but true "hiking" alone, out and away from paved paths that are frequented with walkers, is not a good idea. Doesn't matter how experienced you are, there are enough "what-if's" that shoud stop anyone from doing it.

Get some friends together. As childish as it sounds, always use the buddy system. The military does, and with good reason.

I would not recommend going alone. There are many unpredictable things that could happen. No matter how prepared, you are putting yourself into a risky situation. It is VERY easy to lose a trail. It's happen to me with a group of people before.

Exactly. Happened to me once too. Not fun at all.

That's the best part, I think. Losing a trail and just wandering through. :shrug: But that's what GPS is for, to find the way back. And as long as I get a signal before I enter the woods, the phone has been fine for GPS no matter how heavy the canopy. I'm actually contemplating looking into a water resistant/proof case for the phone to avoid puddle mishaps.

I realize ideally I should go with someone. But someone isn't always available when I want to go. And using this as my exercise, it gets pointless to go once every week or couple of weeks when someone is available to go with me. Even once of week seems pointless. Nearly every day on my way home from work I see single people coming out from some of the trails with just a pack on their back. And I know plenty of people who go alone, are prepared for as many what ifs as humanly possible, and enjoy it thoroughly.

I understand things can happen. But in all honesty, you only live once...why not live to the fullest? Why be dependent on others when they are able and willing to join me when I can go as soon as I get home from work every day and enjoy myself for an hour or two?

Maybe I'm naive thinking I can go out on my own and be fine, but I hate being dependent on others as well.

I mean, if you are 100% you can get cellphone coverage at all places you plan on hiking, and the response wouldn't be too long... I guess.

Another thing to worry about, if you do need to be airlifted out for some reason, and they find it due to you being negligible (hiking alone) you will be billed for the rescue. Not sure if that is done in NJ yet though.