Many women would like to set out, spend a few days in nature and go on a long-distance hike. But oftentimes the fear is deep-seated that trekking is perhaps dangerous after all and that as a woman you face different dangers than a man. Especially when you are thinking about trekking alone as a woman, you often hear the concern: “Isn’t that dangerous?
In short, no it’s not. A long-distance hiking trail is made for everyone and no one should shy away from pursuing their desire to go long-distance hiking one day.
Table of Contents
- Good preparation is key
- Mindfulness as the key to a successful trekking tour
- Share your location for security
- What to do if you are still afraid?
- Tips specifically for women
- Fear of loneliness?
Good preparation is key
No matter if man or woman, often there are the same dangers on a trekking tour, which can be avoided with a good preparation. Inform yourself in advance about the trail, expected weather conditions, trail conditions, accommodations, drinking water options, and anything else that is really important to avoid accidents or anticipated threats. Information about all these points is available in detail per trail on our website.
For a smooth long-distance hike, you should also always have a power bank with you and an offline map of the trail downloaded. This way you can reach someone by phone in case of an emergency and don’t get lost if you miss the trail marker.
Mindfulness as the key to a successful trekking tour
Another important point for your trekking tour is mindfulness. Know your own limits and don’t take unnecessary risks. This is not about who arrives at the destination the fastest or has chosen the most adventurous path. Your own safety always comes first.
It’s always best to listen to your gut and choose a long-distance hike that suits you and your fitness level. If you have done enough research in advance, you can estimate how long you will need per stage and leave early enough. In fact, it should be avoided at all costs to still be out and about at night, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman. In the dark, the path is difficult to see and you run the risk of twisting or getting lost. Also, there are no other hikers on the trail to help you in an emergency.
Share your location for security
In general, it is also advisable to let a friend know in advance which trail you would like to go on and where you would like to be at what time. If something goes wrong, your friend will know immediately where you are. In addition, in the national parks and inns there are so-called hut or summit books where you can sign in during the trekking tour. If you don’t arrive, the park rangers will go looking for you.
In addtion, there is the option of taking a GPS tracker with you, which sends your GPS data to a server at regular intervals, so it is always clear where you are. In an emergency situation, you can press the SOS button, which will share your location and send out emergency services of the area.
What to do if you are still afraid?
If the tips mentioned so far haven’t convinced you that trekking as a woman isn’t dangerous, here are a few more tips to increase your sense of safety. If it makes you feel safer, for your first treking tour choose a long-distance trail near civilization and where you are sure there is signal. If it does turn out to be a trail without signal, you can also take a satellite phone with you to be on the safe side. Also, you can choose well-known and busy long-distance hiking trails, so you can be sure that enough hikers will come to the rescue in case of need.
Furthermore you can get yourself a whistle, as they produce a very high-pitched sound and thus have a very long range – sometimes up to 2 kilometers. This is the perfect way to make yourself known when you do need help. A pepper spray, on the other hand, is not necessarily recommended, as it is usually considered a weapon and is banned in some countries.
Tips specifically for women
Then, of course, there are always a few tips specifically for women, just because they are obviously built differently than men. It is important to use a backpack model that is made for women, as they have a shorter back and wider hips than men. Also, the filling quantity and weight varies between men and women, so really make sure not to pack too much. We are not necessarily talking about a danger if the backpack is too heavy, but the long-distance hike is definitely more pleasant with light luggage.
If you know in advance that you will get your period and still want to do the trek, be sure to pack enough toiletries and anything else you may need. Depending on the trail, the likelihood of you being able to buy new items may not be high.
Fear of loneliness?
Of course, a trekking tour does not have to be done alone. Most long-distance hikers go in pairs or as a group, so just ask your friends, maybe someone is interested. If that is not an option, there is always the option of booking a guided trekking tour.
The most important thing: Have courage and do it!
That trekking is not dangerous, if you pay attention to good preparation and mindfulness, should hopefully now have become clear. Many dangers can be avoided in advance and nothing stands in the way of your trekking tour!
We have created another post about trekking safety and you can read it here.
