Who loves independence? 🙋🏽‍♀️⠀

I love the freedom of grabbing my fanny pack and setting forth to do whatever I need to do. I don’t need to tell anyone where I am doing either. I’m a strong and independent female! *cues Destiny’s Child music*

Whatever you do in your personal life, that’s great. I’m glad it worked out or somewhat. I grew up letting my mom know minimal information about my outings. That somewhat worked for me. Maybe not that great. Ha!

But when it comes to the great outdoors, exploring, and adventuring: 

You will need to set aside your ego and change your beliefs about sharing information about your day and trek.

That leads me to my next tip:

1. 💥 Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. 

Hiking Example: 

Love one: “I am going to Big Sur today. I will not have a signal, so I won’t be available if you try to reach me. I’ll be back in the afternoon. Maybe 2ish?”

Or you can make it fun: “About to hit the trail. Doing a bike-n-hike to Pogonip. Woohooo! I wish you were here. Might not have a signal for two hours. Will send pics. You’re missing out!”

Backpacking/Camping Example: 

“We’re going camping this weekend at Pinnacles National Park. Unsure if we will have a signal, so I will be unavailable if you try to reach me. I’ll let you know when we are back. Probably Monday morning.”

Please remember it’s not about your privacy getting shattered or leashed to a loved one. It is about your safety and ensuring you will survive for the next hike.

If you love adventuring so much, you will do what it takes never to let it stop even if you are in a group. 

Groups: What if you or someone else separates from the group. You can’t rely on someone else’s contact neither should they rely on your mom or significant other. 

I know people who thrive with the unknown. As a female, I want to be seen as a strong and independent woman, and I should not have to tell a guy or someone elsewhere I am going. I hate how I have that feeling or thought.

But it is not about that when it comes to exploring the outdoors. 

At large, is it worth risking your life because you are that self-conscious that one-soul who loves you knows where you are going? And it is in an area that is so vast that it will be nearly impossible to track you down when you are on the move?

Regardless of the odds that an accident could happen, remember safety first. It applies to the great outdoors too. Several variables can immediately make it turn from 0 to 100.

What could happen if you get lost, injured, a car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, etc.:

• Lack of cell phone signal or none at all. 
• No electricity, phone dies. 
• No one knows your location.
• You are on a trail only accessible by foot, delaying the search.
• Lack of food and water

When there is an emergency, every minute counts, and just by telling someone can help tenfold. Additionally, it can help relieve anxiety in your mind and parents. It can eat people up alive, and by sending one text message or a quick call can be that helpful and calming.

Remember to allow fear to guide you, not drive you. It will enable you to have a safe and fun hike with peace of mind. If you value reconnecting the outdoors, you know you will need a clear state of mind. So, send the text before you start your adventure.

Preferably right before you leave since the cell phone signal is hit or miss at the trail or campsite.

Don’t forget some cell phone signals are better than the other, and it is not worth the gamble to rely on that you will have a cell phone signal.

About Thru-Hiking & How We Communicate:

You will be surprised how many experienced hikers already do it. Thru-hikers usually have a satellite communicator, and it notifies people where we are located. Some devices send ok pre-fixed messages to a set contact, stating you are ok. We have a two-way communicator and GPS. It created peace-of-mind for 4.5 months on the Pacific Crest Trail, and we were not concerned about our safety because of it. Who has time to be worried about anything but finishing the trail? One of my posts will feature these satellite communicators, breaking it down, such as features vs. costs.

Note:

I’m always unsure of the attitudes of someone new or experienced. Are they paranoid or feel conflicted sharing detailed information about their personal life? It is the reason I need to get on that Outdoor Safety survey to shine a light on this topic.

Next Post:

How to talk to your Nervous and Anxious Parents about Going Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking. Stay tuned!