5 Safety Tips For When You Are Hiking Solo

Hiking is one of the best forms of exercise there is. Although vigorous, you hardly notice how much you sweat. You’re too busy finding utter relaxation in your surroundings, breathing in immunity-boosting phytoncides, and basking in the sunlight on your skin.

However, it can be somewhat risky, especially if you’re a female traveling alone. Here are five safety tips for women hiking solo.

1. Carry First Aid

All it takes is one misstep for something to go wrong in the wild. You can’t prevent every accident, but you can ensure you have materials on hand to perform first aid in a pinch.

What should you include? Bandages in various sizes and triple antibiotic ointment are a must. You should also have triangle cloths for immobilizing broken bones and OTC painkillers like Advil or Tylenol. Please leave the aspirin at home, especially if you take your kiddo with you – it can worsen bleeding and is not advisable for those younger than 18 because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome.

2. Wear Sunscreen

All that time in the sun can leave you looking like a leather handbag if you don’t protect your skin. Worse, you increase your risk of skin cancer.

Which should you choose? Mineral sunscreens are best for blocking UVA and UVB rays, although they can clog pores. Chemical sunscreens leave less residue but may only work against one and take longer to work.

Are you concerned about parabens? You can find them in many sunscreen products, so read your labels. Alternatively, mix up a DIY batch so you feel secure about every ingredient.

3. And Sunglasses

It’s just as important to protect your peepers as your skin. Overexposure to the sun can cause a painful condition called photokeratitis.

Although these symptoms typically clear up in a few days, long-term UVA and UVB exposure can sometimes cause blinding conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. It’s well worth the price of a cheap pair of shades to protect your peepers. Add a hat for good measure.

4. Leave a Flight Plan

Maybe you took up hiking because you wanted to cut down on screen time, and there’s no point looking at your favorite gadget when you’re far from the nearest internet signal. However, you should still take a fully charged phone to reach out for help if needed.

Furthermore, you should always tell someone back home where you’re going and when you expect to return. If something goes awry, rescuers need to know where to look. Delaying care by even a few hours can make a significant difference if weather conditions turn nasty. If you want extra security, download a tracking app like Life360 and invite your contact person to do the same so they can get real-time updates on your location.

5. Protect Yourself

With all due respect to political correctness, women have much more to worry about when hiking solo than men do. This rule goes double in the post-Roe era. It helps to have a way to defend yourself when alone on the trail.

That advice doesn’t necessarily mean a firearm – they’re generally bad news unless you are well-trained in their use. They can be readily taken and used against you if you hesitate.

Many women are more comfortable with less-deadly methods. Weapons such as tasers and pepper spray are often superior in the heat of the moment, as you might not hesitate to use non-lethal means to defend yourself. Knives often require too-close contact, but a ring with a hidden blade can take out an eye if someone grabs you from behind.

It’s also wise to invest in self-defense training. Look for courses where instructors wear special padding to let you go all-out with kicks and strikes. It can help you overcome that hesitation many women feel about using force to defend themselves.

Hiking is one of the best forms of exercise you can find. It provides a mental and physical break and boosts your health in numerous ways. However, you need to protect yourself when out on the trail alone. Follow these five safety tips for women hiking solo and have an enjoyable trek.

Photo by Nina Uhlikova via Pexels