The Danger of Hiking Alone

#Solo Hiking #Hiking #Hiking Tips In this Video, I talk of the Danger in Hiking Alone, as well as Items I recommend that you carry should you Hike Alone.

[michaelcamp]

Several years ago, I fixed my nieces survival kits for Christmas. I think everyone thought I was crazy and my nieces thought it was a joke. I made them get each item out and I went over them one by one explaining what it was for and why they might need it. I implored them to just put it in their car and if, while away at college, they were hiking a trail with friends to just throw it into the pack with their water and snacks. Fast forward a couple of months and their mother was going on a solo day hike. Lol ... they wouldn't let her leave the house until she put one of the kits I made them in her pack with her water. Long story short ... she hyperextended her knee and twisted her ankle about half way through the hike. She was barely able to walk, had gone way off trail after the fall, and darkness had set in. With the kit she was able to build a fire, make a tiny lean to, and wrap up in a mylar blanket. She prevented hypothermia, the rescue helicopter was able to pinpoint her location due to the fire and her signaling with a flashlight which let the rescue squad hike in and get her out by sun up the next morning. Even if a kit is small ... it might just save your life.

[GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

A few days ago I was hiking alone on a trail near Lake Simcoe, Ont. I noticed a wooden teepee structure off to the side about 50 feet from the trail so I went to take a closer look. I turned around and couldn't find the hiking trail! For about ten minutes I wandered around in circles looking for it. What a scary and helpless feeling it is to be suddenly lost in the woods. It's amazing how easily it can happen. Thankfully I found the trail again and made it back home safe.

[patland]

I backpacked and camped solo 99% of the time. Have smashed open my knee bleeding into my boot (had to camp there and heel a few days), slipped in mud wrenching my leg with my entire weight falling on it behind my back and I could hardly walk, lost for two days in the woods, and had a huge Baja rattlesnake tracking the movement of my leg just inches from it (two miles from my truck and 80 miles from the nearest town). I always felt I was doing what I loved and if I died doing it so be it, better while doing what I loved than some other way. Always very well prepared when going out alone and didn't even worry about being lost for two days (came into snow and lost the trail) because I had an extra week of food that I could stretch into three weeks if necessary. Better to live the adventure than to live a boring life afraid of getting hurt.Now in old age I look back and think what wonderful adventures I had.

[sharondruzbanski]

I’m a solo female hiker. I’ve definitely run into problems and needed everything in my pack!!! Loved your video and picked up some good advice.

[Grandpa_Boxer]

Deep in the Rockies of Colorado, off road, out of nowhere, 4 college guys walked up on me. Once they saw my .357 hanging on my belt they completely stopped and backed up. I suspect I would be dead today had I not had that .357 visibly on my side. There's a lot of dangers to take into consideration out there when you're by yourself.

[ChrisfromGeorgia]

Hello Kevin! Nice to see ya. When it comes to wildlife, I can't stress the importance of bringing an EpiPen. I've been attacked by a swarm of bee's! I was climbing a rock next to a waterfall, and disturbed thier nest. Luckily I made it out alive, even though I was sting at least 50 times, and far from camp. Those jokers will chase you and thier attack is unrelenting.

[juxtaposition]

Years ago I used to run at night. One time, about 2 in the morning, I came across a feral dog. BIG dog. Rottweiler/Boxer mix. Extremely aggressive. I had a small canister of pepper spray (Sabre Red) and a small 2.75 inch blade fixed knife.
Needless to say I was poorly equipped. Fortunately it, after about five minutes of growling and making tentative moves towards me, decided I was going to be more trouble than I was worth and it moved on. But it was pretty scary. My plan was to first use the pepper spray, then go for the eyes and neck with the knife.
Feral dogs are a real thing and a true threat.

[codydaniel]

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you raising awareness about these very real dangers. I hike alone quite a lot here in Georgia and I didn't really think about a lot of these things and I definitely took notes here. Thank you!

[andrejka_talking_out_loud]

I know this is an unpopular opinion: I think if people are relying on their cell phone to get them out of a hiking situation.. they really need to stay close to safety..

[abelincoln]

I camped there a few years ago... it was in-tents!

[t.davidgordon]

Thank you for your sensible recommendations regarding solo-camping. In 2018, I spent 23 nights in the forest, 20 solo. When Covid hit in 2020, many other engagements were cancelled, and I spent 38 nights in the woods, 35 solo. I'm a little less risk-averse than some, and the forest I spend most time in has no campsites, dumpsters, etc., and includes (partly) PA Gamelands 39, where people hunt for bear. So the bear in my forest never get near me (I find their scat, and paw-prints), because they are wary of humans. I'm always armed, but am more concerned about two-legged critters than four-legged ones, and have made my peace with soloing. But your advice was sane and judicious, and ought to be considered. Thank you for sharing with us.

[Outdoor]

I used to believe going solo heightened my senses, I then realized it was being in population that dumbed them down. For this reason going solo is the only way for me. Great advice on this vid 👍🏼

[garyreid]

I work at Walmart. A few years ago, I was in the automotive section and a customer was asking questions about gift ideas for his son. His son worked on his car a lot and he was looking at a variety of things for his son’s car. I suggested a survival kit for a car with items like flashlights, flares, gloves, first aid kit and a couple of heavy blankets. The customer liked the idea and thanked me.

Ultralight hiking and camping is popular with those who want to travel light. Honestly, I would probably feel a lot better if I had more than enough equipment to survive an unexpected night somewhere, either in the woods, desert or on the road. Nothing is what it seems in either case. Like the Boy Scout motto says, “Be Prepared.”

Great informative video.

[AlokeSurin]

I've been hiking (including overnight camping) alone for over 25 years now and I agree completely with all that you have said and shown in your video. Ideally one should be hiking in the right company but it's not always possible... keeping safety as a top priority, not overestimating your capabilities, carrying and knowing how to use the right gear and always being mentally prepared for the unexpected is a good place to start when you are venturing out into the wilderness alone.

[mrmadmaxalot]

This is one of the best, no nonsense videos I have seen. Well done!

[aggelosk.]

this video has DEFINITELY saved someone's life that's critical information

[livethefullest]

Excellent video, thanks. I live in Long Island, NY and do alot of hiking just north of NYC in Harriman and The Gunks. In the past 7 years i've been involved in 2 different rescues of hikers who didn't have proper footwear and weren't being cautiously respectful of the environment. One slipped on a rock on flat ground while chatting with her friend next to her; not looking at the ground, broke her leg; needed to be carried out on a stretcher at night in Feb. The other last year slipped 10 feet from a ledge and cracked her skull, nearly died. The group I was with carried her on a litter 3 miles to the emergency team; she survived. Anything can happen on even the simplest hike.

[orionexplorer]

i grew up camping in the mountains with pine and oak trees in northern Arizona, I'm in my 60's now. Even as a teenager I carried what you recommended and more. I would use an Army LBE (Load Bearing Equipment) to carry all of my stuff including a butt-pack. I had a rifle with me, plus spare magazines, a minimum of 2 quarts of water, a shovel (entrenching tool), a knife, medical equipment/first aid, a poncho with a poncho liner, matches, lighter, and food for a minimum of 3 meals (C-Rations), and water purifying tablets. Now after spending 13 years in the Army (most of it as a Cavalry Scout), I have updated the style of gear I carry but it's still the same, only I have added an M5 or M7 Field Medical Bag, an IFAK 2 first aid kit, and a .40 cal pistol, and MRE's now instead of C-Rations. I am more careful around the 2-legged type of animals, to me they are the more dangerous, but people see me with all of my gear, and they tend to leave my wife and I alone.

[DennisNowland]

A few years ago I was out on a walk by myself and I passed a group. Believe it or not one of them had just had a heart attack and another one in the group had broken her leg. They were waiting for the Mountain rescue to come. Having witnessed it myself it just made me think about walking alone and appreciating the risks.

[timetraveler]

I hiked alone all my life because I didn't have any friends and no supports either. I took my risk and survived. Hiking is much safer and more fun than playing intense in the stock and virtual currency markets, such as bitcoins.