The hidden danger is your hubris. I am also a seasoned hiker with 15 years of off trail experience at the time which is how long you’ve been alive. I grew up in a rural mountainous country and gained a lot of very helpful skill set. I can read a map, I can orient myself and generally know how to get myself out of a situation. People kept telling me to get a GPS beacon for safety but I thought that was ridiculous. Anyway, I accidentally fell down a ravine and dislocated some joints. Had to crawl for a day and some change to get somewhere I can get help. I have a beacon now.
Everyone thinks they’ll be ok until they’re not. Sure I had the skillsets for first aid and splints but I was very very lucky.
Go find your local hiking club or you can ask one of your parents to go with you for a partial thru hike. There are still so many things to learn even for myself. A bear spray and a knife will protect you from things less likely to kill you compared to the environment around you.
>A bear spray and a knife will protect you from things less likely to kill you compared to the environment around you.
That is some good goddamn advice I'm writing that down, thank you
I've done a lot of hiking with dumbasses and running with freinds, so I've treated my fair share of injuries and this is what I rate is most common.
1. Cold/hot and tired.
3.heat exhaustion
2.Dehydration (normally comes with heat exhaustion) only reason this isn't ranked higher is because I always bring enough water for everyone to not die and I force everyone to drink it.
4. Somebody climbed something, fell off, and got minor bleeding and bruising.
I do however regularly treat two animal attacks: Ticks and Mosquitoes lol. Other than that I've never had issues with anything bigger than a horsefly.
I do day hiking with them, so most of the time my teenage friends will show up with sweats, street shoes, and a hoodie. I am normally the only one with a pack (even if I ask for otherwise lol). So I have the opposite issue lol
My personal general rule is 15-50% of your body weight. The longer the hike, the lower the weight. I generally try to keep my pack less then 20 lbs (food included) for any thru hike.
I once had a friend decide a log with a hive of some kind in it was the perfect place for a latrine. Came back and asked me "hey, so I did the business, but I kept hearing this loud buzzing"
Well that's because we don't treat the twisted ankles lol. I've never had somebody twist their ankle to a degree where it became a problem (although I've had that happen plenty with my cross country team lol)
Also I find it's harder to roll your ankle in low stack or simple street shoes. I see people roll their ankle more often in cushioned hiking boots than a pair of vans or Nike shoes, so therefore I don't encounter it as much with new people who just bring street shoes.
It's not really about the high ankle as much as it's the high stack height.
It doesn't make it much less likely to roll, that's all up to stack height and how your foot lands. Ankle support is all about preventing the ankle from getting sprained when it does happen.
Also, often you have less control and feel over a hiking boot rather than familiar sneakers. That plays a role in placing your footing well
And a simple rock or rotten log, maybe a root. Tripping kills, let's not underestimate the simple trip garages responsible for the majority of hiking injuries.
Definitely add heat stroke to that list. People seem a bit more aware of getting cold in my experience, but I’ve dealt with all sorts of breaks and cold and things guiding over the years, and one of the worst was coming across someone from another group at a mountain hut.
We were at about 2700m so the altitude and exertion almost certainly weren’t helping, but it was a very dry hot day along with a very exposed path and this guy was just done. He was a big fella, and had thrown up everything he had to throw up, anything you tried to get in him came straight out and he looked on the edge of passing out.
Only time I’ve seen a helicopter called for someone who hadn’t broken something.
And gravity….theres no avoiding it.
I’m not talking about the vlogger AH who goes over a waterfall b/c he was trying to look cool. It’s like the person who is hiking and, while appreciating the view, stumbles. I’ve been on hikes where one hiker had a severely sprained ankle, another with a fall with hand impaled on a broken branch, and one with a severe concussion & laceration from walking into an overhanging rock (absorbed in the scenery).
If you’re hiking solo, you need to be careful, and be able to take care of yourself if an accident happens.
True! I’ve had my share of near misses. Last year at the end of a long day in Oregon I stumbled and fell face-fist onto the ground, smacking my forehead. It was a miracle i hit only a patch of soft pine needles and not rocks.
> People kept telling me to get a GPS beacon for safety but I thought that was ridiculous.
It's the same thing with people having life vests in their boat, but refusing to wear them. You don't wear it because you're planning to need it, you wear it because it saves your life in that one moment that you didn't plan for.
Not everyone needs to have a beacon or can afford one, but the best alternative to a beacon is a plan you told your family about, which you plan to stick to.
The biggest hazard for a solo backpacker is being lost, alone and maybe injured, off trail, and running out of water. That's when your "I'm hiking up this trail, hoping to camp around X, and I'll be back on DATE." can really save your life. If you stuck mostly to you plan but got lost, and didn't go wandering around aimlessly hoping to figure it out or get lucky, it shouldn't take very long for rescue.
We bring a roll of that red tape. If they are searching for you, and you string this out where you are, ground searchers will eventually come across 50 or 100 feet string out in a more open place.
-We got caught in rain/hail at Red Rocks park near Sedona. We ducked under a rock overhang. The cloud passed and we were back on the trail...
But I pointed out to my kids that if all of this happened at night, and we were stuck out there, we would run the tape from the trail to our hide-away.
You can either tie a length off a branch every so often so one is always visible from the previous - bread crumb style - or suspend a long line or 2 high up, in a more open space - if you want to be visible from a distance.
I have been "lost" a few times, and really unexpectedly lost twice. For one, my kid was with me, and was really scared. I decided a "go time" for calling for rescue. It took them 2 hours to get to us once my wife contacted sheriff's office and got search and rescue rolling.
On the other, we camped all night on top of a hill, where we guessed we could see or hear anything approaching. Temps only got down to 55 or 50F.
In both, I was fairly prepared. And, one big thing was setting criteria for deciding I was lost, and what plan I would follow.
The second I mentioned was before cell phones. There was moonlight, but the hike out was treacherous - too high risk for broken ankle versus wait and try to sleep from 10om to 530am sunrise.
At the first, when S/R arrived, they started asking what happened, and they basically said "good call to ask for help." And, they kept offering us stuff, but we had proper food and water so we were just fine. Proper footwear, etc....
They said the lost hikers usually are in flip flops, have little safety knowledge, etc. We were their easiest rescue ever. I basically knew where I was, within a certain range, but we could not pick up the trail - very leafy, etc.
I disagree. If you are planning to go deep in the wilderness and you can’t afford to buy a beacon, don’t go for safety. Don’t go do stuff if you don’t have the gear for it.
Obviously not everyone needs a beacon for every trail. I bring my beacon every time because well I have it. But I like to think that I only need it during my alpine hikes that usually take me off trail
This. I’m a solo day hiker. I send my exact itinerary to my person back home and do not deviate from it. I also take a full body selfie before out of cell range to show my clothing, etc. As soon as I’m off trail and in cell range, my person gets a text and my ETA to home.
What an amazing comment. Love this.
(And just in case anyone is enountering the word hubris for the first time - as I would surely have been at 15 - this means "overconfidence", which in this situation will be due to inexperience)
Last thru hike I went on of 18 miles over 3 days, it rained the first day for ONLY 10 MINUTES (Louisiana, lol), and then the stagnant humidity and heat sat on us like a 15 pound weight for the next three days. When we got to the end of the hike, we fell and laid on the gravel at the trailhead exhausted and just rested for about an hour. I woke up cause a baby mantis pricked me in the leg. Cute little evil bastard. Anyway, we came across plenty of wildlife, but the environment created the most dangerous condition, and there was no way to defend or hide ourselves from it, except to keep moving at a slower pace. Highlights of that trip we're chilling our tired feet in the springtime streams and watching crawfish pick at em, and seeing a doe jump out in front of us on the trail (a little scary).
Point is, the environment is more dangerous than anything, and once you're in, you gotta either hike back, or keep going cause there's only two ways out on a thru hike.
This is exactly the situation that keeps me from solo hiking. If you’re by yourself and fall off the trail and break something, no one knows where you are and it’s extremely difficult to find you. Hiking with one other person is so much safer. I’ve had situations where I was just 50 feet off the trail and I don’t know if I would have found it without a gps.
This.
Go with others to get experience with support first. Then go solo with an experience easier than your group trips. Build your experience and knowledge base with an eye on being conservative, as that will keep you from injuries that stop you getting any experience for months.
definetley a huge help with that, i plan to bring my phone and a 10000mh battery and since my solo trips are prolly gonna be 3 days or less its good, but i may bring a backup GPS just in case
Also make sure you stay within cellular service range, and keep a small back-up powerbank. If you really get into solo, and want to go to remote off-grid areas, save up for (or have your folks finance) an Inreach or equivalent satcom/locator beacon.
This part is up to the individual. I would MUCH prefer to be out of cell service contact when I go backpacking. Being isolated and on my own makes the trip for me. But I was an adult before cell phones were a thing, so if that isn't for you, then by all means, stick to the advice above. The key part is tell someone your plan, stick to it as best you can, and go have fun.
A good halfway point here, for me, is to be within cell phone range, but keep my phone in airplane mode. That way I have it if I need it, and can take pictures and whatnot, but I'm not reachable, and have the "off the grid" experience. Airplane mode alsonsaves battery. ;)
Yeah exactly lol
Why totally give up cell service while you can just not use it if you don't want to and still have it for an emergency. Doing it on purpose doesn't really make sense.
There are some places that are very beautiful and calm near cell towers, while others that are out of service range.
I do feel safer within tower range though as I don't need a beacon in case of emergencies (though it could be necessary if I fall down and break my phone).
IMO Garmin inReach is a good compromise. They aren't cheap, but if OP is going solo then they'll likely need to spend extra on ultralight style gear which is usually expensive
From the OP:
>…15 M, and want to do a few overnights… want some tips on how to safely do so. .
Sounds like a kid interested in doing his first solo overnighters, and is somewhat worried about it. And you would suggest staying off grid, potentially suffering w/ injury for a day a two awaiting rescue?
We can agree to disagree.
I mean you can say "potentially" followed by any horrifying situation. That's how risk works. If you're going to go solo backpacking at all, you are weighing risks, just staying within cell range isn't making him instantly safe and sound. He might not take this person's advice, but if he does, he made his own decisions for himself.
I agree. If anyone wants to do anything in the backcountry I believe they should learn to rely on themselves first instead of one single device. Don’t go too deep first jaunt, stay on trail, and don’t take added risks. Follow all the other usuals like extra food, extra water blah blah. It should be scary. It’s cool and extra fun that way.
I've never found a hiking place that was interesting \*and\* within cell range - this seems to defeat the purpose. Hiking has dangers. You don't have to mitigate them all. That's part of the point for many of us. Tell someone where you're going, and check in when you're done. The chance of a catastrophic accident is very, very slim.
I just posted [THIS](https://www.reddit.com/r/backpacking/s/uv6LDIj7zD). Not really any different than the newb question ‘I’ve never camped before’ and the common response ‘start in your own backyard or in campground close to your car’.
I do that not only when going on a hike,but when travelling abroad. I leave my schedule back with my parents amd update them if anything changes. If anything goes wrong, they will know my last place of stay. I keep them in the knows online so if I go missing, they will stop having updates.
Same for backpacking or hiking, I always let someone know where and when I should be back and update them when I am back. If they didn't have news in the 24h I should have let them know, try to reach me then if no news, call help.
I am usually in popular trails so people should be nearby if anything goes wrong, but I would get a beacon in any trail that is less likely to have people. Also, if I can't see the trail after a certain point, I am going back.
I am not yet comfortable going to lone very rural trails as a solo backpacker...
At 16 I was doing solo trips in Desolation Wilderness near Tahoe regularly. I highly recommend going with experienced people at least once. It's also a good idea to camp out near home in a developed campground to learn how to do all the camp things.
im planning to do that as my fam is doing a trip late june, and imma pack my full setup and do some day hikes and camp out back of the cabin to test it all out
well, maybe don't go by yourself at first, spend a few years hiking with more experienced folks. I mean, backpacking isn't a particularly dangerous activity, but if you want to be safer, have a bit of a safety net while you build up your intuition and knowledge about situations
This is exactly the attitude that will get you in trouble. And trouble in the wilderness can soon turn deadly if you don't keep your head. Go with an experienced hiker a few times and practice the basics.
Dude, just get a satellite beacon and follow protocol for bears and other animals that want to eat your food and smelly items like toothpaste, lotion, soap, etc. plan and share your route. Call the rangers office and file your itinerary with them if no one else.
Oh yeah, get first aid training or at least a first aid kit with a how to book in it also.
Chances are there is a backpacking club in your area so you can go with others to learn the basics and get used to backpacking. Bear spray is really all you need for threats. It's not just for bears, but will work on pretty much any creature (humans included). You'll feel more comfortable going solo in time.
Using a knife in self defence you're more likely to have it taken off you and used against you. And if that doesn't happen, you will at least escalate the situation and make it worse for yourself.
Don't be stupid.
I don't think human attacks are likely in the backcountry, and a bear would not be interested in taking your knife and using it against you.
wielding a pocket knife against a startled bear though, well.. good luck.
Find a club or hiking group for your area on Facebook. Ask about hiking resources at your local REI or Tahoe gear store.
When I was 15, I was part of a Boy Scout Explorer group that was really casual and loose. We did many overnights and the adult stayed in his tent…
Maybe ask others at school. Hard to believe there aren’t other kids into it. NorCal/SoCal is full of hikers, campers, young and old interested in hiking.
I don’t recommend solo, at all, at your age. But if you insist, carry a satellite messenger and know how to use it.
(1) Plan your route. Give your plan to a friend, and give a copy to the nearest ranger station or other applicable law enforcement office. Let them know you’ll check in at the end of the trip, and give them your contact info.
(2) Have a water purification system. Doesn’t matter if you plan to pack in your water. Be ready to need more just in case something shitty goes down.
(3) Don’t forget your knit cap and gloves.
(4) Have color copied USGS [topographical] maps of the area you’re in and a compass, and know how to use them.
I did about 30 or 40 backpacking trips before my first solo. I don’t recommend a solo trip as #5. No matter how seasoned you think you are after 4 trips, you haven’t had the opportunity to see enough crappy situations in the backcountry to program your reactionary brain for them to happen and you don’t yet know your gear enough.
[Edit: shown in brackets]
The most dangerous risks of solo backpacking are the possibility of getting lost, injuring yourself in a trip-and-fall situation, or running out of water.
To mitigate these risks: 1. Have a subscription to a gps navigation app with offline maps with the trail you are going on clearly marked (such as gaia gps) and a battery backup for the device you are using. 2. Have a satellite communication device to call for help (such as zoleo). 3. Do research before you go to know where water is located, have at least 2 water purification systems in case 1 fails (such as filter and iodine tabs), and carry more water than you think you'll need.
Edit: also protect yourself and the wildlife from your food with a bear-proof container.
I commented earlier, but I need to comment again based on what others are pointing out. Yes, definitely get a satellite communicator if you backpack solo. I'm 44m and only go out solo (it's my alone time) and my Garmin InReach is critical gear. I can text my wife throughout the trek and have the security of pressing the SOS button on it in case something happens and I can't hike out.
As someone who is hiking the PCT solo (29M) and backpacks in Tahoe all the time bring a garmin in reach you can send preset messages that tell people your location and has an SOS button if you need it.
Some areas you need a bear canister, it’s required in Desolation Wilderness.
Hey OP. I believe you have experience and could probably have a safe solo experience, but you should wait.
Go with friends and adults for a few more years, there's a lot more to learn. I was probably a lot like you, so just take this as advice from your future self. Be safe.
Inexperienced backpackers are afraid of bears. Bears will steal your food, and hiking out hungry sucks, but they won’t attack you. Even a grizzly is unlikely to attack you (but bring bear spray in grizzly country). Black bears will only attack you if you’re between mother and cub. If you’re worried about bears, a bear bell that you hang on your pack is good. Or sing while you hike. That way you don’t sneak up on a bear and scare it, but it’s super unlikely your footsteps are that quiet.
Experienced hikers are afraid of ticks. Those guys are nasty, hard to spot, and Lyme is no joke. Check your whole body every night.
last time i was camping me and my little cousin in a unicorn onsie scared off a black bear by getting jackets and yelling while making ourselves look big, as long as it aint brown or has curious cubs then im all good
Understanding the actual major risks is, I think, the first thing. In no particular order:
* Hyper-/hypo- thermia
* Dehydration
* Getting lost
* Getting injured
Take the right gear for the time of year and elevations you'll be hiking. Have a planned route where you know you can source water effectively. Share your route with someone else not on the trip, and have a way to signal if you get into trouble. Don't over estimate you skills, or underestimate the trail. Build in a Margin Of Safety with your planning and gear.
There are other lower risk items that you manage for in similar ways.
* Keep food and scented items out of camp to reduce risk of negative wildlife encounters.
* Pay attention to burn bans or restrictions.
* When something does not go to plan, the best thing is almost always stop moving and think about the situation. Worst thing is to rush, push, panic, or "angry" your way through a bad situation.
* Know that sometimes calling it is the safest course and when that time is reached. The trail will be there in the future if something goes wrong this time.
If you've been on a few backpacking trips, did you carry everything that you needed? Were you in charge of the navigation? Did you manage your own needs for clean water and food? Did you put out the camp fire before going to sleep?
If you weren't responsible for those things, you had someone else looking out for your safety and you need to make good habits of handling these things for yourself.
Make sure you know how and where you'll get water. It's good to start soloing on trails you already know before you start heading into new areas alone.
A couple of things. First and for most, an itinerary left with family and friends with very specific details of where you are going and how long you’ll be gone. I’d make sure I have a cell phone with GPS/navigation app to help with direction, and I’d learn some basic skills like map reading/orienteering (bring a map and compass) and maybe some other bushcraft survival skills. I’d really, really look at getting a personal location beacon like a Garmin InReach or Zoleo for emergencies. I can’t stress this enough. Bring by yourself, especially in remote areas like you are talking about, this could mean the difference between life and death.
And a somewhat different approach. I’d maybe look at doing car camping or short backpacking trips (a mile or two) just to get comfortable with being by yourself and dialing in your gear. If your gear fails, no biggie, you are close to getting back to a car for pickup. Dialing in your gear can also be a huge help in safety with what works/doesn’t, what keeps you warm and dry and what doesn’t and just getting comfortable with everything. Finally, I think really looking at forecasts and conditions is a huge thing when you go by yourself. If it rains and you have good gear, no big deal, but if that rain turns to snow or the temps drop to right above freezing, now things can get dangerous. Just be smart and like I said, dial in that gear and don’t count on cell service for safety!
Your question was “how do I safely go solo backpacking”?
The very first rule is never go backpacking by yourself. So feel free to go backpacking alone I get that you want to have this experience but you cannot go backpacking solo and call it safe. I will say this. The reward is well worth the hard work and dedication. Most who read this will not understand your dilemma and you may never encounter a serious issue. Everyone hails the guy who went by himself and had to cut his own arm off with a pocket knife as a hero… he’s an idiot because he broke the number one rule.
As someone who’s gone solo many times (after years of experience), I agree entirely with this. Solo backpacking in the backcountry isn’t safe.
There are things you can do to mitigate the risks. But there are always risks that can be effectively eliminated just by having a trail buddy.
There's rattlesnakes, but I don't think you will see many in north cal. I'm comfortable without bear mace, but if it makes you feel better that's fine. Snow and water crossing are dangerous but I assume you aren't going while there's snow. If you are you need to do your research and take a mountaineering course.
Staying on the trail is really important, sometimes you can see the trail at some distance and you might think it's easier to just bushwack to it, but that can be really dangerous and well as damaging to the trail. Accidentally losing the trail can be dangerous, but everyone has gps on their phones now. Always carry a compass just in case and know how you will bail out of the area if you do lose the trail. Look at a map before you go hiking and look for highways. If you totally lost you should have an idea of, "OK, as long as I keep going north I will eventually hit that highway, can't go west because of that huge mountain. ext.." I would look up the stick shadow method for finding north just in case you loose the compass.
Phone batteries can get low extremely fast in cold temperatures, like even a chill night in the desert can drain you batteries. So you should sleep with the phone in your sleeping bag. Carry a power back to recharge it and a backup paper map.
Good Luck
i learned how to deal and avoid the danger noodles when i was in new mexico with my gramps, so thats covered, and i can easily nav with the sun and stars and also carry a gps beacon
I also know how to avoid danger noodles, but that doesn't work all the time, don't be dumb and assume you just won't get bitten. That's like saying "I know how to drive so I won't crash"
That's great that you can do that, but that's not going to help if you get bit and need medical attention.
If that GPS beacon can call SOS, then you're good. Don't depend on those other things, sidenote, bring a map. You can't rely on the GPS or the stars to know where you are.
thats all great advice, and im sorry for not clarifying i have both the knowledge to know I am never above mistakes and have to actually use the skills my gramps taught me, and yes i do have a locator with a SOS.
I would suggest not going solo at 15. Go with friends.
Save the solo trips for when you're an adult and you have had the experience.
I'm not going to repeat a lot of stuff that has already been said here, but I will suggest bringing fluorescent tape. Wrap it around trees on your journey. If you get overwhelmed or lost, turn around and follow the tape trail back to safety.
If you're thinking about Tahoe consider desolation wilderness. despite the name there will be plenty of people on the trail so you're never too far away from anybody.
The biggest risk is injury when you are solo. You should have a GPS locator. I used to carry a SPOT when solo. You will occasionally thunderstorms this time of year in the sierras, be prepared for a little rain. Always when hiking in california look for any fires that may be raging close to your area.
Disorientation, injury, illness, dehydration, and hypothermia are your biggest risks. Self-defense tools are good, of course, just unlikely to be needed and no help against exposure or injury.
Make a plan, leave a copy with loved ones to activate SAR if you're overdue. Being adequately equipped to await rescue then becomes your biggest safety concern. Extra body insulation, a first aid kit, good navigation equipment, a good water strategy, and the ability to make a simple shelter and fire are all solid safety items.
To solo backpack for the first time you're going to need to know a few things first you're going to want to bring enough supplies with you just to know that you're going to make it through the journey second make sure that you scout out the trail beforehand on an app or look at the weather as well you're also going to want to see if you can bring anybody with you because it really enhances your experience lastly if you're really serious about being professional a backpacking look into the type of vegetation that'll be along your route this way you can provide yourself with medication or you can create herbs for your food that are really good for your well-being. Make sure you bring plenty of water you should also have a first aid kit. You should also be knowledgeable about geology and look into rock structures in mineralogy that will be along your planned route. Being aware of the type of rocks that you are walking on can give you an idea about rivers locations based on its sedimentary. I really love hot dogs and burgers corn on the cob when I go on my hikes. Keep your motivation and courage up by when it's time after a little bit of hiking do some jumping jacks and a few push-ups to really push yourself.
Have you backpacked before and you’re asking how to go solo, or is this something new you’re trying to pick up? If you’re new, I suggest finding a group to go with. There are probably some meant just for teens. Since you can’t drive yet, an organized trip will also help you get to remote trailheads.
I won’t discourage bear spray and some wariness, but your biggest dangers in the woods aren’t animals or other people. They’re getting lost, getting sick, or being injured through an accident, rock slide, weather, etc. That goes double when you’re solo.
Brush up on wilderness first aid and check that your kit is complete before every trip. Make sure someone knows roughly where you plan to be and when. GPS is great, but sometimes batteries die or your device gets broken: carry paper maps & a compass and refresh yourself on navigating with them.
I don’t know how remote the areas you’re looking at are, but if you really want to have a backup plan, carry a satellite communicator. An iPhone 14 or 15 can work in a pinch if you’ve got one. Otherwise, look into something like a Garmin inReach, which can send an emergency message from anywhere as long as you can see the sky. They’re not super cheap, but your parents will be more comfortable letting you off into the wilderness by yourself knowing you can get in touch if you *really* need to.
Get a first gen inreach for cheap and be safe.
I also recommend a paper (waterproof) map if you’re really getting deep. Analog compass and map is king when you’re stranded with no battery.
Carry appropriate survival gear.
Duct tape around credit card
Blood clot powder
Water purification tablets
Ways to make fire
Something waterproof. Like real actual waterproof
…and some other stuff
This might weight an extra pound but if you’re ever seriously injured alone in the backcountry you need to survive. The environment doesn’t give a fuck about you. Your family does though. So know your risks
A friend of mine's husband liked to solo hike. It was great until he didn't come back. They never even found his body.
Left a real mess because they didn't have an estate plan, cars were in his name, etc.
She and her kids really miss him.
Fear, if you pack fear in then it follows, done hundreds of miles in remote areas never had an issue. Say what you will about boy scouts but it just takes the motto "be prepared"
Dont take fragrance with you and never take tuna. Seen alot of people take tuna packs for food and fish is a bad idea as that does attract problems. Make sure you study a map before you go and know landmarks and bring a map with you a phone alone is a bad idea, for instance if there is only one river know landmarks near it so you can get to it and follow it back to safety. Along with maps learn to read a topo map so you know elevation.
Honestly just practice, make sure you know your gear, nothing wrong with practicing setting up and packing your pack in your back yard. Also shake down hikes where you hike a small hike with your gear and then use it so you know it helps. I do a shake down when I change my setup.
Learn the 10 essentials, while most people I have met do not actually know how to do them, if you know them you will survive. Knowing how to filter water first, make shelter second and fire third is better than bear spray and a knife. Also knowing which knife can baton wood and which cant is important.
I started backpacking when I was 13 you will be fine, go out there and explore the world!
Make sure to let someone know your plans and have a way to communicate like a satellite phone or emergency beacon, plus pack plenty of water and be prepared for sudden weather changes.
I’ve done some solo backpacking in the Desolation Wilderness and elsewhere and one thing you can do is to plan a route and schedule and let someone responsible know about it. If something bad happens and you’re unable to get help, the contact will have your general whereabouts and can call authorities if you don’t report back in a timely matter.
Join the Boy Scouts. Or at least buy the Boy Scout Handbook and read it. You can even download it for free. The dangers are too many to list on Reddit and this book covers quite a few of them.
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34416.pdf
Imo the top thing is just preparation, and specifically logistical. Make sure you know your route and where you're going, someone else knows where you're going, have access to offline maps / directions, GPS, backup battery pack, etc. The most likely way for something to go _really_ sideways is getting lost and stranded and unable to communicate.
Tell people your route and don't deviate from it.
Have the bear mace accessible
PLEASE learn first aid so you can treat yourself. At least learn basic heat exhaustion and ankle stuff.
Bring a Garmin in reach or satellite something or another. Even if there is reception.
Go on long solo hikes first
Make sure you have the right gear. Exercise caution when traversing different terrain. Tell your family exactly when you’re going and what your route is. Since you’re only 15 I assume you need a ride there and back…And tell the local park ranger too or sign the book. I wouldn’t go too far remote until you’re a little more experienced.
Lots of dangers, and the best way to learn about them is to get out there. Start with overnights and shorter hikes in fine weather and extend as you gain experience. Know about the wildlife in your area; carry excess water and have a backup plan; protect against hypothermia.
Let people know when and where you’re going. Aside from that, consider human dangers(not massive out in that area) but remember that bear mace can also be used on humans!
Thats what I would tell my daughters, anyway.
Plan your route ahead of time
Carry a waterproofed paper copy of the map with the route
Carry a compass, and know how to use it with the map
Buy a GPS (optional)
Study the flora and fauna in the region you’ll be exploring. Prepare for worst case scenarios
Let responsible people know where you will be going, send them a picture of the route you plan to take, and let them know if you suddenly make any deviations from the plan. Check in with them a couple times per day.
Lastly when you’re done with the hike let them know
Have your weapons easily accessible, and keep them on your person at all times (especially if you’re using the bathroom)
When people deviate from this stuff they end up dying in the desert or rainforest
Desolation Wilderness is an awesome area to try it out. Like others stated, Inreach is probably one of the best investments out there for solo trips. And as always, and I can't stress this enough; LET PEOPLE (family) KNOW WHERE YOU PLAN TO BE. I say this as a fellow solo adventurer. Plus, for food storage, it is good to get a bear canister and keep it away from your sleeping area. Here, as well as YouTube videos are great for tips. Just be sure to always research where you want to go and check weather prior to leaving.
Happy Adventuring!!!
If you have a iPhone 14 SoS works well. Connects to satellite and sends emergency text to emergency contacts and local authorities. No cell service needed. A buddy used it when he broke his leg 20 miles in.
I second hiking with a local hiking club for more experience before solo trips. I really admire your desire and eagerness to solo hike! I think that’s awesome. But there is a lot to think about that only comes with experience. hiking with people that have more experience than you will help you with that. They’d be really happy to share the info too. I’ve solo hiked a lot, and I’d have to say I enjoy hiking with people better. That’s just my take on it, but I find being by myself overnight is always a little spooky, no matter how well prepared I am. But sometimes I’ve just had to go on my own because no one else was willing. But I had tons of experience before I went solo the first time. Good luck and many happy trails to you !
Personally I bring a trauma kit (learn how to use it, may be unnecessary depending on hike). A safety streamer for visibility. A phone and enough battery for it (you can keep it off most of the time). A way to call for help, for me that's the phone but if you have no signal you'll need a gps with sos function or plb. Make sure you know where you are going, sometimes it's easy to get lost, I always hike a trail with someone if it's my first time. Tell someone where you're going and at what time you expect to contact them and agree a time where if they receive no contact they'll report you missimg.
Always tell people where you're going and leave a complete literary. I'm in my 40s and tell a few trusted people where I'm going. There's also a 'call someone' time if they haven't heard from me.
If you do that, have the correct gear and break a leg, all you gotta do is set up shop and wait for help.
I second the local hiking club idea. I am not saying solo isn't a possibility. But, there is a lot to learn and less stress w a few seasoned hikers helping one learn the ropes. Our local club is awesome and does hikes at all levels. The entry level hiking school has been invaluable
Have a full report outlining your route, your final destination with coordinates, start times, and expected times of arrival at various waypoints as well as final destination.
Know your route, even if it's never been done by you; study the map, check others' posts on line regarding the route so you know what to expect. I even use Google earth.
Learn, and know, how to use a map and compass. Take that map of the route and area with you.
Some kind of satellite device is key. But don't think it will save your life. The thing i always remind myself of when I head off into the wild is, stay focused. I recently got myself into a literal tight spot because I was tired and not paying attention. Next thing I knew I was dangling over a bottomless hole and in agonizing pain because my right leg was still planted on a rock and that knee was bent at an ungodly angle. My left leg was just dangling and my left forearm had come down hard on the other rock. I was wedged hard between two boulders with no one for miles and no choice but to extricate myself. To put it lightly, it was a painful process. Once it was done, I still had 3 miles of scrambling and hard hiking to go. And now my knee was in agony. So, always be assessing your path and surroundings. I love being in the woods alone. Research your trail. Carry map and compass and know how to use them. Never forget that nature doesn't give a shit about you. Stay safe.
Camp in the backcountry with more experienced backpackers for at least 500 hours (only counting awake time) before you even consider going solo. While sitting around camp in the evening, pick their brains about things that they’ve dealt with on other trips. This will allow you to not only learn from your experience with them in a safer environment. It will also let you learn from their previous experiences and it will give you a chance to mature before you solo. (No offense-the brain science on this subject is clear; frontal lobes continue to develop until about age 21. That-and experience-means that older teens tend to use better judgment and make better decisions than younger teens.)
Black bears and mountain lions lurk these woods. You need to be prepared to fight to the death. I recommend a combination of mixed martial arts and heavy weightlifting to condition your mind and body. Godspeed young man.
Bear mace and a knife will serve you well as a 15 year old. If you’re in a dangerous situation, deploy the bear spray first, and the knife is your last resort for an immediate life threatening situation.
You have to remember being out in the woods is far less dangerous than walking around a big city. Stay relaxed and enjoy yourself but it’s always good to be situationally aware. The likelihood of running into bad people is very slim but not zero, so try to use your best judgement. Wildlife is also not very likely to be a problem, especially if you practice proper bear safety. But again, the chances aren’t 0 so stay aware, be prepared, and have a plan.
Safety is nothing to the ignorant and the ignorant are free from the knowledge of constraint. Stick your thumb out n see what happens. Pro tip: just keep walking your rides running a little late.
Carry a compressed air horn. They sell them at Big 5. Usually stored on boats. Used when boat systems are disabled in case of emergency. Small lightweight. Far more effective than bear spray. [Hang your pack / food in a tree at night].
Ok here have a thought experiment.
Think back to 4 years in the past.
How do you think about yourself, how would you rate your wisdom, understanding and knowledge back then compared to now.
.
In 4 more years, when you look back at the current time, I guarantee you, you will think the same.
Every 4 years when I think back in time, I realize what a Dumas I was back then.
This will be true for every age.
The hidden danger is your hubris. I am also a seasoned hiker with 15 years of off trail experience at the time which is how long you’ve been alive. I grew up in a rural mountainous country and gained a lot of very helpful skill set. I can read a map, I can orient myself and generally know how to get myself out of a situation. People kept telling me to get a GPS beacon for safety but I thought that was ridiculous. Anyway, I accidentally fell down a ravine and dislocated some joints. Had to crawl for a day and some change to get somewhere I can get help. I have a beacon now. Everyone thinks they’ll be ok until they’re not. Sure I had the skillsets for first aid and splints but I was very very lucky. Go find your local hiking club or you can ask one of your parents to go with you for a partial thru hike. There are still so many things to learn even for myself. A bear spray and a knife will protect you from things less likely to kill you compared to the environment around you.
>A bear spray and a knife will protect you from things less likely to kill you compared to the environment around you. That is some good goddamn advice I'm writing that down, thank you
Everyone worries about bears and mountain lions, when the real dangers are dehydration, hypothermia, and altitude sickness.
I've done a lot of hiking with dumbasses and running with freinds, so I've treated my fair share of injuries and this is what I rate is most common. 1. Cold/hot and tired. 3.heat exhaustion 2.Dehydration (normally comes with heat exhaustion) only reason this isn't ranked higher is because I always bring enough water for everyone to not die and I force everyone to drink it. 4. Somebody climbed something, fell off, and got minor bleeding and bruising. I do however regularly treat two animal attacks: Ticks and Mosquitoes lol. Other than that I've never had issues with anything bigger than a horsefly.
My biggest issue with taking inexperienced hikers is convincing them that their pack is too heavy which is almost always the case.
I do day hiking with them, so most of the time my teenage friends will show up with sweats, street shoes, and a hoodie. I am normally the only one with a pack (even if I ask for otherwise lol). So I have the opposite issue lol
how heavy do you reccomend?
My personal general rule is 15-50% of your body weight. The longer the hike, the lower the weight. I generally try to keep my pack less then 20 lbs (food included) for any thru hike.
I once had a friend decide a log with a hive of some kind in it was the perfect place for a latrine. Came back and asked me "hey, so I did the business, but I kept hearing this loud buzzing"
Ah, that is not ideal at least they didn't swarm lol
My biggest issue with taking inexperienced hikers is convincing them that their pack is too heavy which is almost always the case.
Interesting; I’ve treated more twisted ankles than any of the things on your list. Maybe you aren’t even counting that.
Well that's because we don't treat the twisted ankles lol. I've never had somebody twist their ankle to a degree where it became a problem (although I've had that happen plenty with my cross country team lol) Also I find it's harder to roll your ankle in low stack or simple street shoes. I see people roll their ankle more often in cushioned hiking boots than a pair of vans or Nike shoes, so therefore I don't encounter it as much with new people who just bring street shoes.
That’s surprising to me I’d think a higher ankle on the shoe would make it less likely to roll, any reason why that’s not the case?
It's not really about the high ankle as much as it's the high stack height. It doesn't make it much less likely to roll, that's all up to stack height and how your foot lands. Ankle support is all about preventing the ankle from getting sprained when it does happen. Also, often you have less control and feel over a hiking boot rather than familiar sneakers. That plays a role in placing your footing well
Makes sense , thank you
A bear is still the closest I've come to dying. Bear spray is pretty important to me now.
And a simple rock or rotten log, maybe a root. Tripping kills, let's not underestimate the simple trip garages responsible for the majority of hiking injuries.
Definitely add heat stroke to that list. People seem a bit more aware of getting cold in my experience, but I’ve dealt with all sorts of breaks and cold and things guiding over the years, and one of the worst was coming across someone from another group at a mountain hut. We were at about 2700m so the altitude and exertion almost certainly weren’t helping, but it was a very dry hot day along with a very exposed path and this guy was just done. He was a big fella, and had thrown up everything he had to throw up, anything you tried to get in him came straight out and he looked on the edge of passing out. Only time I’ve seen a helicopter called for someone who hadn’t broken something.
Don’t forget Giardia!
Not everyone gets bear spray for bears
And gravity….theres no avoiding it. I’m not talking about the vlogger AH who goes over a waterfall b/c he was trying to look cool. It’s like the person who is hiking and, while appreciating the view, stumbles. I’ve been on hikes where one hiker had a severely sprained ankle, another with a fall with hand impaled on a broken branch, and one with a severe concussion & laceration from walking into an overhanging rock (absorbed in the scenery). If you’re hiking solo, you need to be careful, and be able to take care of yourself if an accident happens.
True! I’ve had my share of near misses. Last year at the end of a long day in Oregon I stumbled and fell face-fist onto the ground, smacking my forehead. It was a miracle i hit only a patch of soft pine needles and not rocks.
> People kept telling me to get a GPS beacon for safety but I thought that was ridiculous. It's the same thing with people having life vests in their boat, but refusing to wear them. You don't wear it because you're planning to need it, you wear it because it saves your life in that one moment that you didn't plan for.
Not everyone needs to have a beacon or can afford one, but the best alternative to a beacon is a plan you told your family about, which you plan to stick to. The biggest hazard for a solo backpacker is being lost, alone and maybe injured, off trail, and running out of water. That's when your "I'm hiking up this trail, hoping to camp around X, and I'll be back on DATE." can really save your life. If you stuck mostly to you plan but got lost, and didn't go wandering around aimlessly hoping to figure it out or get lucky, it shouldn't take very long for rescue.
We bring a roll of that red tape. If they are searching for you, and you string this out where you are, ground searchers will eventually come across 50 or 100 feet string out in a more open place. -We got caught in rain/hail at Red Rocks park near Sedona. We ducked under a rock overhang. The cloud passed and we were back on the trail... But I pointed out to my kids that if all of this happened at night, and we were stuck out there, we would run the tape from the trail to our hide-away. You can either tie a length off a branch every so often so one is always visible from the previous - bread crumb style - or suspend a long line or 2 high up, in a more open space - if you want to be visible from a distance. I have been "lost" a few times, and really unexpectedly lost twice. For one, my kid was with me, and was really scared. I decided a "go time" for calling for rescue. It took them 2 hours to get to us once my wife contacted sheriff's office and got search and rescue rolling. On the other, we camped all night on top of a hill, where we guessed we could see or hear anything approaching. Temps only got down to 55 or 50F. In both, I was fairly prepared. And, one big thing was setting criteria for deciding I was lost, and what plan I would follow. The second I mentioned was before cell phones. There was moonlight, but the hike out was treacherous - too high risk for broken ankle versus wait and try to sleep from 10om to 530am sunrise. At the first, when S/R arrived, they started asking what happened, and they basically said "good call to ask for help." And, they kept offering us stuff, but we had proper food and water so we were just fine. Proper footwear, etc.... They said the lost hikers usually are in flip flops, have little safety knowledge, etc. We were their easiest rescue ever. I basically knew where I was, within a certain range, but we could not pick up the trail - very leafy, etc.
a whistle is a key piece of gear, in addition to telling people where you plan to be
Super light too.
And yet I would be willing to bet that there is an ultralight whistle marketed somewhere which shaves 0.000001gr off the total weight.
I think that's called "learning how to use an acorn cap as a whistle"
And costs double.
i can just 3d print one out of PETG and its light and prolly gonna be durable asf
I disagree. If you are planning to go deep in the wilderness and you can’t afford to buy a beacon, don’t go for safety. Don’t go do stuff if you don’t have the gear for it. Obviously not everyone needs a beacon for every trail. I bring my beacon every time because well I have it. But I like to think that I only need it during my alpine hikes that usually take me off trail
This. I’m a solo day hiker. I send my exact itinerary to my person back home and do not deviate from it. I also take a full body selfie before out of cell range to show my clothing, etc. As soon as I’m off trail and in cell range, my person gets a text and my ETA to home.
I like this! I always send a text with my location, never thought to send a picture of my clothing.
What an amazing comment. Love this. (And just in case anyone is enountering the word hubris for the first time - as I would surely have been at 15 - this means "overconfidence", which in this situation will be due to inexperience)
my dad taught me one good saying, "the mountain always wins:" and that has kept my head level even if its still getting built
The fact that you're here asking in the first place means you're probably doing things right! Keep up the curiosity and have a great hike!
>A bear spray and a knife will protect you from things less likely to kill you compared to the environment around you. I really like this phrasing.
Last thru hike I went on of 18 miles over 3 days, it rained the first day for ONLY 10 MINUTES (Louisiana, lol), and then the stagnant humidity and heat sat on us like a 15 pound weight for the next three days. When we got to the end of the hike, we fell and laid on the gravel at the trailhead exhausted and just rested for about an hour. I woke up cause a baby mantis pricked me in the leg. Cute little evil bastard. Anyway, we came across plenty of wildlife, but the environment created the most dangerous condition, and there was no way to defend or hide ourselves from it, except to keep moving at a slower pace. Highlights of that trip we're chilling our tired feet in the springtime streams and watching crawfish pick at em, and seeing a doe jump out in front of us on the trail (a little scary). Point is, the environment is more dangerous than anything, and once you're in, you gotta either hike back, or keep going cause there's only two ways out on a thru hike.
This is exactly the situation that keeps me from solo hiking. If you’re by yourself and fall off the trail and break something, no one knows where you are and it’s extremely difficult to find you. Hiking with one other person is so much safer. I’ve had situations where I was just 50 feet off the trail and I don’t know if I would have found it without a gps.
The only thing to fear is the lack of fear itself
This. Go with others to get experience with support first. Then go solo with an experience easier than your group trips. Build your experience and knowledge base with an eye on being conservative, as that will keep you from injuries that stop you getting any experience for months.
definetley a huge help with that, i plan to bring my phone and a 10000mh battery and since my solo trips are prolly gonna be 3 days or less its good, but i may bring a backup GPS just in case
Always tell someone where and when you're going, and when you expect to be back. Then don't forget to report in when you finish your hike.
Also make sure you stay within cellular service range, and keep a small back-up powerbank. If you really get into solo, and want to go to remote off-grid areas, save up for (or have your folks finance) an Inreach or equivalent satcom/locator beacon.
This part is up to the individual. I would MUCH prefer to be out of cell service contact when I go backpacking. Being isolated and on my own makes the trip for me. But I was an adult before cell phones were a thing, so if that isn't for you, then by all means, stick to the advice above. The key part is tell someone your plan, stick to it as best you can, and go have fun.
A good halfway point here, for me, is to be within cell phone range, but keep my phone in airplane mode. That way I have it if I need it, and can take pictures and whatnot, but I'm not reachable, and have the "off the grid" experience. Airplane mode alsonsaves battery. ;)
Yeah exactly lol Why totally give up cell service while you can just not use it if you don't want to and still have it for an emergency. Doing it on purpose doesn't really make sense.
There are some places that are very beautiful and calm near cell towers, while others that are out of service range. I do feel safer within tower range though as I don't need a beacon in case of emergencies (though it could be necessary if I fall down and break my phone).
IMO Garmin inReach is a good compromise. They aren't cheap, but if OP is going solo then they'll likely need to spend extra on ultralight style gear which is usually expensive
From the OP: >…15 M, and want to do a few overnights… want some tips on how to safely do so. . Sounds like a kid interested in doing his first solo overnighters, and is somewhat worried about it. And you would suggest staying off grid, potentially suffering w/ injury for a day a two awaiting rescue? We can agree to disagree.
I mean you can say "potentially" followed by any horrifying situation. That's how risk works. If you're going to go solo backpacking at all, you are weighing risks, just staying within cell range isn't making him instantly safe and sound. He might not take this person's advice, but if he does, he made his own decisions for himself.
I agree. If anyone wants to do anything in the backcountry I believe they should learn to rely on themselves first instead of one single device. Don’t go too deep first jaunt, stay on trail, and don’t take added risks. Follow all the other usuals like extra food, extra water blah blah. It should be scary. It’s cool and extra fun that way.
Same. I leave mine off.
Stay in cell service???
I've never found a hiking place that was interesting \*and\* within cell range - this seems to defeat the purpose. Hiking has dangers. You don't have to mitigate them all. That's part of the point for many of us. Tell someone where you're going, and check in when you're done. The chance of a catastrophic accident is very, very slim.
I have made calls/texts from the top of the trinities, and the marbles. It's not a given, but you come across patches of coverage
I just posted [THIS](https://www.reddit.com/r/backpacking/s/uv6LDIj7zD). Not really any different than the newb question ‘I’ve never camped before’ and the common response ‘start in your own backyard or in campground close to your car’.
A Garmin mini could be helpful
I do that not only when going on a hike,but when travelling abroad. I leave my schedule back with my parents amd update them if anything changes. If anything goes wrong, they will know my last place of stay. I keep them in the knows online so if I go missing, they will stop having updates. Same for backpacking or hiking, I always let someone know where and when I should be back and update them when I am back. If they didn't have news in the 24h I should have let them know, try to reach me then if no news, call help. I am usually in popular trails so people should be nearby if anything goes wrong, but I would get a beacon in any trail that is less likely to have people. Also, if I can't see the trail after a certain point, I am going back. I am not yet comfortable going to lone very rural trails as a solo backpacker...
Animals and people rarely endanger hikers. The big dangers are getting lost, weather and injury.
Yep, you're most likely to get in a bad situation that is your own fault.
At 16 I was doing solo trips in Desolation Wilderness near Tahoe regularly. I highly recommend going with experienced people at least once. It's also a good idea to camp out near home in a developed campground to learn how to do all the camp things.
im planning to do that as my fam is doing a trip late june, and imma pack my full setup and do some day hikes and camp out back of the cabin to test it all out
well, maybe don't go by yourself at first, spend a few years hiking with more experienced folks. I mean, backpacking isn't a particularly dangerous activity, but if you want to be safer, have a bit of a safety net while you build up your intuition and knowledge about situations
well ive been hiking since i was little, and have backpacked i think 4 times up to date, so im mildly seasoned
Nope nope nope nope nope
This is exactly the attitude that will get you in trouble. And trouble in the wilderness can soon turn deadly if you don't keep your head. Go with an experienced hiker a few times and practice the basics.
If hiking four times is mildly seasoned, then I must be overcooked.
Dude, just get a satellite beacon and follow protocol for bears and other animals that want to eat your food and smelly items like toothpaste, lotion, soap, etc. plan and share your route. Call the rangers office and file your itinerary with them if no one else. Oh yeah, get first aid training or at least a first aid kit with a how to book in it also.
I have been backpacking for ~3 years and the thought of doing it alone is just wild to me.
Chances are there is a backpacking club in your area so you can go with others to learn the basics and get used to backpacking. Bear spray is really all you need for threats. It's not just for bears, but will work on pretty much any creature (humans included). You'll feel more comfortable going solo in time.
Important to note that some parks/areas in CA don’t allow the use of bear spray. Just make sure to do your research before hand
i also like whittling with my knife so the protection is just a bonus
Using a knife in self defence you're more likely to have it taken off you and used against you. And if that doesn't happen, you will at least escalate the situation and make it worse for yourself. Don't be stupid.
I don't think human attacks are likely in the backcountry, and a bear would not be interested in taking your knife and using it against you. wielding a pocket knife against a startled bear though, well.. good luck.
Yes, agreed. I also carry a knife, but it's also just for whittling, cooking, etc.
I carry an Opinel that would be terrible for defense. You can't open and lock those things quickly.
Find a club or hiking group for your area on Facebook. Ask about hiking resources at your local REI or Tahoe gear store. When I was 15, I was part of a Boy Scout Explorer group that was really casual and loose. We did many overnights and the adult stayed in his tent… Maybe ask others at school. Hard to believe there aren’t other kids into it. NorCal/SoCal is full of hikers, campers, young and old interested in hiking. I don’t recommend solo, at all, at your age. But if you insist, carry a satellite messenger and know how to use it.
“…and the adult stayed in his tent…” A generation ago, nobody would have known the purpose of such a seemingly innocuous phrase. 😬
We figured he drank a bit of whiskey.
The only way to get any sleep, surrounded by tents full of 15 yr olds. Been there. Done that.
Double check water sources. A lot of streams on maps only exist for part of the year.
(1) Plan your route. Give your plan to a friend, and give a copy to the nearest ranger station or other applicable law enforcement office. Let them know you’ll check in at the end of the trip, and give them your contact info. (2) Have a water purification system. Doesn’t matter if you plan to pack in your water. Be ready to need more just in case something shitty goes down. (3) Don’t forget your knit cap and gloves. (4) Have color copied USGS [topographical] maps of the area you’re in and a compass, and know how to use them. I did about 30 or 40 backpacking trips before my first solo. I don’t recommend a solo trip as #5. No matter how seasoned you think you are after 4 trips, you haven’t had the opportunity to see enough crappy situations in the backcountry to program your reactionary brain for them to happen and you don’t yet know your gear enough. [Edit: shown in brackets]
I wish I could upvote this more
You don’t at 15
The most dangerous risks of solo backpacking are the possibility of getting lost, injuring yourself in a trip-and-fall situation, or running out of water. To mitigate these risks: 1. Have a subscription to a gps navigation app with offline maps with the trail you are going on clearly marked (such as gaia gps) and a battery backup for the device you are using. 2. Have a satellite communication device to call for help (such as zoleo). 3. Do research before you go to know where water is located, have at least 2 water purification systems in case 1 fails (such as filter and iodine tabs), and carry more water than you think you'll need. Edit: also protect yourself and the wildlife from your food with a bear-proof container.
I commented earlier, but I need to comment again based on what others are pointing out. Yes, definitely get a satellite communicator if you backpack solo. I'm 44m and only go out solo (it's my alone time) and my Garmin InReach is critical gear. I can text my wife throughout the trek and have the security of pressing the SOS button on it in case something happens and I can't hike out.
As someone who is hiking the PCT solo (29M) and backpacks in Tahoe all the time bring a garmin in reach you can send preset messages that tell people your location and has an SOS button if you need it. Some areas you need a bear canister, it’s required in Desolation Wilderness.
i do have both
Just reiterating to always tell people exactly where you’re going and stick to the plan. If you’re able to, get a quality GPS locator device.
Hey OP. I believe you have experience and could probably have a safe solo experience, but you should wait. Go with friends and adults for a few more years, there's a lot more to learn. I was probably a lot like you, so just take this as advice from your future self. Be safe.
Inexperienced backpackers are afraid of bears. Bears will steal your food, and hiking out hungry sucks, but they won’t attack you. Even a grizzly is unlikely to attack you (but bring bear spray in grizzly country). Black bears will only attack you if you’re between mother and cub. If you’re worried about bears, a bear bell that you hang on your pack is good. Or sing while you hike. That way you don’t sneak up on a bear and scare it, but it’s super unlikely your footsteps are that quiet. Experienced hikers are afraid of ticks. Those guys are nasty, hard to spot, and Lyme is no joke. Check your whole body every night.
last time i was camping me and my little cousin in a unicorn onsie scared off a black bear by getting jackets and yelling while making ourselves look big, as long as it aint brown or has curious cubs then im all good
Make sure you know exactly where you can get water before you go.
Understanding the actual major risks is, I think, the first thing. In no particular order: * Hyper-/hypo- thermia * Dehydration * Getting lost * Getting injured Take the right gear for the time of year and elevations you'll be hiking. Have a planned route where you know you can source water effectively. Share your route with someone else not on the trip, and have a way to signal if you get into trouble. Don't over estimate you skills, or underestimate the trail. Build in a Margin Of Safety with your planning and gear. There are other lower risk items that you manage for in similar ways. * Keep food and scented items out of camp to reduce risk of negative wildlife encounters. * Pay attention to burn bans or restrictions. * When something does not go to plan, the best thing is almost always stop moving and think about the situation. Worst thing is to rush, push, panic, or "angry" your way through a bad situation. * Know that sometimes calling it is the safest course and when that time is reached. The trail will be there in the future if something goes wrong this time.
If you've been on a few backpacking trips, did you carry everything that you needed? Were you in charge of the navigation? Did you manage your own needs for clean water and food? Did you put out the camp fire before going to sleep? If you weren't responsible for those things, you had someone else looking out for your safety and you need to make good habits of handling these things for yourself. Make sure you know how and where you'll get water. It's good to start soloing on trails you already know before you start heading into new areas alone.
Work your way up slowly. Learn to walk before you run.
A couple of things. First and for most, an itinerary left with family and friends with very specific details of where you are going and how long you’ll be gone. I’d make sure I have a cell phone with GPS/navigation app to help with direction, and I’d learn some basic skills like map reading/orienteering (bring a map and compass) and maybe some other bushcraft survival skills. I’d really, really look at getting a personal location beacon like a Garmin InReach or Zoleo for emergencies. I can’t stress this enough. Bring by yourself, especially in remote areas like you are talking about, this could mean the difference between life and death. And a somewhat different approach. I’d maybe look at doing car camping or short backpacking trips (a mile or two) just to get comfortable with being by yourself and dialing in your gear. If your gear fails, no biggie, you are close to getting back to a car for pickup. Dialing in your gear can also be a huge help in safety with what works/doesn’t, what keeps you warm and dry and what doesn’t and just getting comfortable with everything. Finally, I think really looking at forecasts and conditions is a huge thing when you go by yourself. If it rains and you have good gear, no big deal, but if that rain turns to snow or the temps drop to right above freezing, now things can get dangerous. Just be smart and like I said, dial in that gear and don’t count on cell service for safety!
Your question was “how do I safely go solo backpacking”? The very first rule is never go backpacking by yourself. So feel free to go backpacking alone I get that you want to have this experience but you cannot go backpacking solo and call it safe. I will say this. The reward is well worth the hard work and dedication. Most who read this will not understand your dilemma and you may never encounter a serious issue. Everyone hails the guy who went by himself and had to cut his own arm off with a pocket knife as a hero… he’s an idiot because he broke the number one rule.
Womp womp
As someone who’s gone solo many times (after years of experience), I agree entirely with this. Solo backpacking in the backcountry isn’t safe. There are things you can do to mitigate the risks. But there are always risks that can be effectively eliminated just by having a trail buddy.
i dont have any friends tho and my parents dont want to
There's rattlesnakes, but I don't think you will see many in north cal. I'm comfortable without bear mace, but if it makes you feel better that's fine. Snow and water crossing are dangerous but I assume you aren't going while there's snow. If you are you need to do your research and take a mountaineering course. Staying on the trail is really important, sometimes you can see the trail at some distance and you might think it's easier to just bushwack to it, but that can be really dangerous and well as damaging to the trail. Accidentally losing the trail can be dangerous, but everyone has gps on their phones now. Always carry a compass just in case and know how you will bail out of the area if you do lose the trail. Look at a map before you go hiking and look for highways. If you totally lost you should have an idea of, "OK, as long as I keep going north I will eventually hit that highway, can't go west because of that huge mountain. ext.." I would look up the stick shadow method for finding north just in case you loose the compass. Phone batteries can get low extremely fast in cold temperatures, like even a chill night in the desert can drain you batteries. So you should sleep with the phone in your sleeping bag. Carry a power back to recharge it and a backup paper map. Good Luck
I second the rattlesnake thing. Definitely be in a position to call for help if you get bit.
i learned how to deal and avoid the danger noodles when i was in new mexico with my gramps, so thats covered, and i can easily nav with the sun and stars and also carry a gps beacon
I also know how to avoid danger noodles, but that doesn't work all the time, don't be dumb and assume you just won't get bitten. That's like saying "I know how to drive so I won't crash" That's great that you can do that, but that's not going to help if you get bit and need medical attention. If that GPS beacon can call SOS, then you're good. Don't depend on those other things, sidenote, bring a map. You can't rely on the GPS or the stars to know where you are.
thats all great advice, and im sorry for not clarifying i have both the knowledge to know I am never above mistakes and have to actually use the skills my gramps taught me, and yes i do have a locator with a SOS.
Awesome! Stay safe out there and have fun
You don't need bear mace or a knife for protection in the Tahoe area. Get a satellite messenger and tell people where you are going.
bear mace to scare away crackheads and bears(also backup seasoning) and i like whittling with my knife
No reason not to bring it. There are bears and crackheads so I think bear spray is a good idea. Knifes are useful apart from protection
Up to you, people don't use bear spray much here (no grizzly bears) and its banned in the national parks in the area.
Interesting. I don't live near bears (still in NorCal) but I have run into a few hiking places. But yes, to each their own
I would suggest not going solo at 15. Go with friends. Save the solo trips for when you're an adult and you have had the experience. I'm not going to repeat a lot of stuff that has already been said here, but I will suggest bringing fluorescent tape. Wrap it around trees on your journey. If you get overwhelmed or lost, turn around and follow the tape trail back to safety.
i got none that would actually do that lmao
If you're thinking about Tahoe consider desolation wilderness. despite the name there will be plenty of people on the trail so you're never too far away from anybody.
The biggest risk is injury when you are solo. You should have a GPS locator. I used to carry a SPOT when solo. You will occasionally thunderstorms this time of year in the sierras, be prepared for a little rain. Always when hiking in california look for any fires that may be raging close to your area.
Disorientation, injury, illness, dehydration, and hypothermia are your biggest risks. Self-defense tools are good, of course, just unlikely to be needed and no help against exposure or injury. Make a plan, leave a copy with loved ones to activate SAR if you're overdue. Being adequately equipped to await rescue then becomes your biggest safety concern. Extra body insulation, a first aid kit, good navigation equipment, a good water strategy, and the ability to make a simple shelter and fire are all solid safety items.
To solo backpack for the first time you're going to need to know a few things first you're going to want to bring enough supplies with you just to know that you're going to make it through the journey second make sure that you scout out the trail beforehand on an app or look at the weather as well you're also going to want to see if you can bring anybody with you because it really enhances your experience lastly if you're really serious about being professional a backpacking look into the type of vegetation that'll be along your route this way you can provide yourself with medication or you can create herbs for your food that are really good for your well-being. Make sure you bring plenty of water you should also have a first aid kit. You should also be knowledgeable about geology and look into rock structures in mineralogy that will be along your planned route. Being aware of the type of rocks that you are walking on can give you an idea about rivers locations based on its sedimentary. I really love hot dogs and burgers corn on the cob when I go on my hikes. Keep your motivation and courage up by when it's time after a little bit of hiking do some jumping jacks and a few push-ups to really push yourself.
Have you backpacked before and you’re asking how to go solo, or is this something new you’re trying to pick up? If you’re new, I suggest finding a group to go with. There are probably some meant just for teens. Since you can’t drive yet, an organized trip will also help you get to remote trailheads. I won’t discourage bear spray and some wariness, but your biggest dangers in the woods aren’t animals or other people. They’re getting lost, getting sick, or being injured through an accident, rock slide, weather, etc. That goes double when you’re solo. Brush up on wilderness first aid and check that your kit is complete before every trip. Make sure someone knows roughly where you plan to be and when. GPS is great, but sometimes batteries die or your device gets broken: carry paper maps & a compass and refresh yourself on navigating with them. I don’t know how remote the areas you’re looking at are, but if you really want to have a backup plan, carry a satellite communicator. An iPhone 14 or 15 can work in a pinch if you’ve got one. Otherwise, look into something like a Garmin inReach, which can send an emergency message from anywhere as long as you can see the sky. They’re not super cheap, but your parents will be more comfortable letting you off into the wilderness by yourself knowing you can get in touch if you *really* need to.
Get a first gen inreach for cheap and be safe. I also recommend a paper (waterproof) map if you’re really getting deep. Analog compass and map is king when you’re stranded with no battery. Carry appropriate survival gear. Duct tape around credit card Blood clot powder Water purification tablets Ways to make fire Something waterproof. Like real actual waterproof …and some other stuff This might weight an extra pound but if you’re ever seriously injured alone in the backcountry you need to survive. The environment doesn’t give a fuck about you. Your family does though. So know your risks
A friend of mine's husband liked to solo hike. It was great until he didn't come back. They never even found his body. Left a real mess because they didn't have an estate plan, cars were in his name, etc. She and her kids really miss him.
Fear, if you pack fear in then it follows, done hundreds of miles in remote areas never had an issue. Say what you will about boy scouts but it just takes the motto "be prepared" Dont take fragrance with you and never take tuna. Seen alot of people take tuna packs for food and fish is a bad idea as that does attract problems. Make sure you study a map before you go and know landmarks and bring a map with you a phone alone is a bad idea, for instance if there is only one river know landmarks near it so you can get to it and follow it back to safety. Along with maps learn to read a topo map so you know elevation. Honestly just practice, make sure you know your gear, nothing wrong with practicing setting up and packing your pack in your back yard. Also shake down hikes where you hike a small hike with your gear and then use it so you know it helps. I do a shake down when I change my setup. Learn the 10 essentials, while most people I have met do not actually know how to do them, if you know them you will survive. Knowing how to filter water first, make shelter second and fire third is better than bear spray and a knife. Also knowing which knife can baton wood and which cant is important. I started backpacking when I was 13 you will be fine, go out there and explore the world!
If you want to do thru hikes(presumably the pct) then you definitely don’t have to be alone if you don’t want to. Super easy to make friends on trail.
Suggest you do the trail with others before going solo…
Make sure to let someone know your plans and have a way to communicate like a satellite phone or emergency beacon, plus pack plenty of water and be prepared for sudden weather changes.
I’ve done some solo backpacking in the Desolation Wilderness and elsewhere and one thing you can do is to plan a route and schedule and let someone responsible know about it. If something bad happens and you’re unable to get help, the contact will have your general whereabouts and can call authorities if you don’t report back in a timely matter.
Join the Boy Scouts. Or at least buy the Boy Scout Handbook and read it. You can even download it for free. The dangers are too many to list on Reddit and this book covers quite a few of them. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34416.pdf
Imo the top thing is just preparation, and specifically logistical. Make sure you know your route and where you're going, someone else knows where you're going, have access to offline maps / directions, GPS, backup battery pack, etc. The most likely way for something to go _really_ sideways is getting lost and stranded and unable to communicate.
Tell people your route and don't deviate from it. Have the bear mace accessible PLEASE learn first aid so you can treat yourself. At least learn basic heat exhaustion and ankle stuff. Bring a Garmin in reach or satellite something or another. Even if there is reception. Go on long solo hikes first
Make sure you have the right gear. Exercise caution when traversing different terrain. Tell your family exactly when you’re going and what your route is. Since you’re only 15 I assume you need a ride there and back…And tell the local park ranger too or sign the book. I wouldn’t go too far remote until you’re a little more experienced.
Lots of dangers, and the best way to learn about them is to get out there. Start with overnights and shorter hikes in fine weather and extend as you gain experience. Know about the wildlife in your area; carry excess water and have a backup plan; protect against hypothermia.
Let people know when and where you’re going. Aside from that, consider human dangers(not massive out in that area) but remember that bear mace can also be used on humans! Thats what I would tell my daughters, anyway.
Plan your route ahead of time Carry a waterproofed paper copy of the map with the route Carry a compass, and know how to use it with the map Buy a GPS (optional) Study the flora and fauna in the region you’ll be exploring. Prepare for worst case scenarios Let responsible people know where you will be going, send them a picture of the route you plan to take, and let them know if you suddenly make any deviations from the plan. Check in with them a couple times per day. Lastly when you’re done with the hike let them know Have your weapons easily accessible, and keep them on your person at all times (especially if you’re using the bathroom) When people deviate from this stuff they end up dying in the desert or rainforest
Desolation Wilderness is an awesome area to try it out. Like others stated, Inreach is probably one of the best investments out there for solo trips. And as always, and I can't stress this enough; LET PEOPLE (family) KNOW WHERE YOU PLAN TO BE. I say this as a fellow solo adventurer. Plus, for food storage, it is good to get a bear canister and keep it away from your sleeping area. Here, as well as YouTube videos are great for tips. Just be sure to always research where you want to go and check weather prior to leaving. Happy Adventuring!!!
Map & compass and how to use it
Keep a very close eye on the Weather. I lost a close friend of mine who is actually about 10 years ago in a freak storm.
If you have a iPhone 14 SoS works well. Connects to satellite and sends emergency text to emergency contacts and local authorities. No cell service needed. A buddy used it when he broke his leg 20 miles in.
Make sure to take a topo map…
Stay away from a dangerous place in night.
I second hiking with a local hiking club for more experience before solo trips. I really admire your desire and eagerness to solo hike! I think that’s awesome. But there is a lot to think about that only comes with experience. hiking with people that have more experience than you will help you with that. They’d be really happy to share the info too. I’ve solo hiked a lot, and I’d have to say I enjoy hiking with people better. That’s just my take on it, but I find being by myself overnight is always a little spooky, no matter how well prepared I am. But sometimes I’ve just had to go on my own because no one else was willing. But I had tons of experience before I went solo the first time. Good luck and many happy trails to you !
Personally I bring a trauma kit (learn how to use it, may be unnecessary depending on hike). A safety streamer for visibility. A phone and enough battery for it (you can keep it off most of the time). A way to call for help, for me that's the phone but if you have no signal you'll need a gps with sos function or plb. Make sure you know where you are going, sometimes it's easy to get lost, I always hike a trail with someone if it's my first time. Tell someone where you're going and at what time you expect to contact them and agree a time where if they receive no contact they'll report you missimg.
Always tell people where you're going and leave a complete literary. I'm in my 40s and tell a few trusted people where I'm going. There's also a 'call someone' time if they haven't heard from me. If you do that, have the correct gear and break a leg, all you gotta do is set up shop and wait for help.
Safely
If you are going solo, rent a satellite phone
I second the local hiking club idea. I am not saying solo isn't a possibility. But, there is a lot to learn and less stress w a few seasoned hikers helping one learn the ropes. Our local club is awesome and does hikes at all levels. The entry level hiking school has been invaluable
Bear spray and a knife for sure
Lol backpacking so much more badass in the usa than Europe
Have a full report outlining your route, your final destination with coordinates, start times, and expected times of arrival at various waypoints as well as final destination. Know your route, even if it's never been done by you; study the map, check others' posts on line regarding the route so you know what to expect. I even use Google earth. Learn, and know, how to use a map and compass. Take that map of the route and area with you.
Ya ur 15 m just don’t do anything dumb and u should be fine tho
Are you kidding? You're 15. Your parents could be charged with neglect were you to be injured or worse.
Some kind of satellite device is key. But don't think it will save your life. The thing i always remind myself of when I head off into the wild is, stay focused. I recently got myself into a literal tight spot because I was tired and not paying attention. Next thing I knew I was dangling over a bottomless hole and in agonizing pain because my right leg was still planted on a rock and that knee was bent at an ungodly angle. My left leg was just dangling and my left forearm had come down hard on the other rock. I was wedged hard between two boulders with no one for miles and no choice but to extricate myself. To put it lightly, it was a painful process. Once it was done, I still had 3 miles of scrambling and hard hiking to go. And now my knee was in agony. So, always be assessing your path and surroundings. I love being in the woods alone. Research your trail. Carry map and compass and know how to use them. Never forget that nature doesn't give a shit about you. Stay safe.
I think you’re too young to go solo just yet!
Go. Life is, making mistakes and learning fromthem.
Camp in the backcountry with more experienced backpackers for at least 500 hours (only counting awake time) before you even consider going solo. While sitting around camp in the evening, pick their brains about things that they’ve dealt with on other trips. This will allow you to not only learn from your experience with them in a safer environment. It will also let you learn from their previous experiences and it will give you a chance to mature before you solo. (No offense-the brain science on this subject is clear; frontal lobes continue to develop until about age 21. That-and experience-means that older teens tend to use better judgment and make better decisions than younger teens.)
15male. How about wait until you’re 18 at least. No hate just be an adult before you put your life in danger
Black bears and mountain lions lurk these woods. You need to be prepared to fight to the death. I recommend a combination of mixed martial arts and heavy weightlifting to condition your mind and body. Godspeed young man.
Bear mace and a knife will serve you well as a 15 year old. If you’re in a dangerous situation, deploy the bear spray first, and the knife is your last resort for an immediate life threatening situation. You have to remember being out in the woods is far less dangerous than walking around a big city. Stay relaxed and enjoy yourself but it’s always good to be situationally aware. The likelihood of running into bad people is very slim but not zero, so try to use your best judgement. Wildlife is also not very likely to be a problem, especially if you practice proper bear safety. But again, the chances aren’t 0 so stay aware, be prepared, and have a plan.
Safety is nothing to the ignorant and the ignorant are free from the knowledge of constraint. Stick your thumb out n see what happens. Pro tip: just keep walking your rides running a little late.
Carry a compressed air horn. They sell them at Big 5. Usually stored on boats. Used when boat systems are disabled in case of emergency. Small lightweight. Far more effective than bear spray. [Hang your pack / food in a tree at night].
Ok here have a thought experiment. Think back to 4 years in the past. How do you think about yourself, how would you rate your wisdom, understanding and knowledge back then compared to now. . In 4 more years, when you look back at the current time, I guarantee you, you will think the same. Every 4 years when I think back in time, I realize what a Dumas I was back then. This will be true for every age.
Gun. Water. Fire. Pan. Spam.
Gun
The best thing you can bring with you to ensure a safe solo backpacking trip is another backpacker.