5 ways to stay safe (and feel safe) when solo hiking as a woman.
I just completed the 1000km Bibbulmun Track on Noongar Country in South West WA, and the most common thing I got asked was “Did you feel safe by yourself?”.
This is a big question to answer, because sometimes I didn’t feel safe, but I was. Safety is a huge concern for most women, and concerns for personal safety can be such a big barrier that it stops women from having epic adventures!
While I must acknowledge that there are still very real dangers when doing a solo hike, and there are unfortunately very rare (but very real) threats of dangerous people, for most of us, the biggest fears are in our own minds. I even met a man on the track who said he got spooked when solo camping in the bush so walked to his car in the middle of the night and drove home! SO how do you stay safe and FEEL safe when solo hiking as a woman? Firstly, stop listening to true crime podcasts, girl! 😅 Then read on!
Make a route plan & share it
Create a route plan or at least an itinerary within your limits and share it with a trusted friend/ family member. Let them know when you will check in, and what to do if they don’t hear from you. Apps like Check In or Life360 can help, or my Dad uses a spot device to share his GPS location at camps.
Gear = Confidence
I’m not an ultralight hiker… I’m a guide so I’m very good at packing lots of “just in case” gear, but this makes you ready for anything! Carry a way to get help that isn’t just your mobile (eg garmin in reach, PLB.) It’s fantastic that new mobile phones are incorporating satellite capability so you can make contact without phone coverage, but a backup device is handy. Carry map and compass navigation equipment, (not just your AllTrails downloaded map!) and know how to use it. Carry enough clothing/ food/ water/ first aid/ shelter that you can get by wherever you are. This allows you to be flexible with your plans, which not only keeps you safe, but can lead to some epic experiences (eg sleeping on a mountain top rather than the campsite because the view is too epic to leave!!).
Trust your instincts
If a situation feels off (regarding weather, terrain, people etc) listen to your gut. Give yourself permission to change plans, and communicate them to your trusted person when you can. “Better safe than sorry” helped me in a lot of ways during my recent trip! My gut said that the next campsite might be busier being in close proximity to main roads and being a Saturday, so I stayed put. That paid off big time! I got a peaceful camp to myself, and when I walked through the next day to the campsite I was planning to stay at, I found a full visitors book, rubbish left lying around, no toilet paper and the sound of motorbikes on the nearby fire trails. My gut was right!
Safety through skills
Take time to practice skills so you know you can rely on yourself! Set up that tent so you know you can do it in a storm. Practice lighting the stove so it’s easy when you’re tired and cold. Trust in your own skills gives you more self reliance and confidence that you can look after yourself. Every hike that you build competence, you’re building safety! My wet wood firelighting skills got better throughout the walk as I learnt that burning volatile eucalyptus leaves helped to dry out thicker pieces of wood. I got better at my navigation and time estimation skills as I learnt what pace I could hike in different conditions. I got stronger and better at carrying a heavy pack, meaning I could bring along more emergency supplies such as more spare food, more water, a knife and more first aid supplies.
Mental Safety
Feeling safe is just as important as being safe. Sometimes our anxieties and fears can make a situation appear more dangerous than it really is. We can help our bodies to feel calm and safe while out of our comfort zones through deep breaths when our mind spirals, grounding with bare feet on the earth to come back to the present, and journaling about how we felt afterwards. I journaled every night, and with hindsight, most scary situations aren’t as bad as you felt they were in the moment. Probably the time I felt the most scared on the hike was when I fell on a rock while running to the next rock between waves along a tiny stretch of beach in a storm. It’s likely that the only reason I fell was because of my high anxiety about the situation! Had I taken a moment to centre myself and breathe first, my legs would have stopped shaking and its likely I wouldn’t have fell over at all 😅 (still not the kind of conditions I would ever take someone else hiking in! Storm surge + high tide+ 100kmph onshore winds + heavy rain are not a good mix!). You will feel more confident each time you hike, so have courage to try or go with a friend, group or guide to begin with as you learn skills.
If you’ve been wanting to do more bushwalking or to try your first overnight hike, make sure you are subscribed to our email list to be the first to know of new bushwalking offers.
In the meantime, if you’re feeling ready for adventure right now, you can book into our women’s overnight kayaking expeditions on the Coorong (November 25) or our women’s surf camps at the Yorke Peninsula (December 25).
I can’t wait to see you out there!
Elise
