Solo female backpackers?

Has anyone here done it? Have you met someone doing it?

What are your suggestions? I'm nervous about it. I'll do it anyway, so I want any advice I can get.

Well I'm not a female. But you asked for advice. I have wandered North America various times and learned so much from it. Both with a partner and solo. I could write pages. But I will stay on topic.. What part about it are you nervous about? The main thing is to hope for the best but always be prepared for the worst. In every situation. Carry a knife, or another means of protection, at all times. And follow your intuition. Having a partner go with you would be quite beneficial. Mainly with the safety part of it.
Maybe specify anything you were really wondering about.

Just be careful hitching. Keep your pack on you and be ready to bail if people get weird. I recommend avoiding men on the roads. Get food stamps if you can...idk lol

Yes, always keep your pack with you! That is very important. And just stay aware and ready for anything.

Originally Posted by GuerrillaLorax

Well I'm not a female. But you asked for advice. I have wandered North America various times and learned so much from it. Both with a partner and solo. I could write pages. But I will stay on topic.. What part about it are you nervous about? The main thing is to hope for the best but always be prepared for the worst. In every situation. Carry a knife, or another means of protection, at all times. And follow your intuition. Having a partner go with you would be quite beneficial. Mainly with the safety part of it.
Maybe specify anything you were really wondering about.
Yes, always keep your pack with you! That is very important. And just stay aware and ready for anything.[Yes, always keep your pack with you! That is very important. And just stay aware and ready for anything.[

I don't mean to exclude the males. Thanks for posting.
I'm worried about creeps, so I'll definitely bring a knife.
I'm worried I won't have the muscle to lug around a backpack and pick up work while I travel.
I'm worried I'll be an easy target 'cause, knife or not, I don't think I'm aggressive enough to make someone back off.
I will keep my bag with me, thank you!

But I think I just realized that I'm worried because I've been told "it's not safe, you're a girl" my whole life. There's a purpose to that, but I have to take it with a grain of salt. Sorry to rant, but that's a cool revelation.

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Just be careful hitching. Keep your pack on you and be ready to bail if people get weird. I recommend avoiding men on the roads. Get food stamps if you can...idk lol

Ahah, yeah I'll be careful about that, thank you.

Shouldn't worry about carrying your pack - if you're seriously considering this you shouldn't need to question whether you're fit enough. Personally, I'd postpone it until I'm sure the pack carrying won't be an issue.
Regarding the knife, you should have a decent camp knife anyway if you're going out solo.. not only for defence, but because they're infinitely useful and if you end up getting lost/stranded/whatever, having a decent knife makes a stupidly huge difference for survival.

Have you done anything similar to this before?

Originally Posted by MeatyMushroom

Shouldn't worry about carrying your pack - if you're seriously considering this you shouldn't need to question whether you're fit enough. Personally, I'd postpone it until I'm sure the pack carrying won't be an issue.
Regarding the knife, you should have a decent camp knife anyway if you're going out solo.. not only for defence, but because they're infinitely useful and if you end up getting lost/stranded/whatever, having a decent knife makes a stupidly huge difference for survival.

Have you done anything similar to this before?

Ahh, yeah I've been working out so I'm in better shape by the time I leave. I can run a few miles fine, but I can't lift stuff for crap. I'll see about weightlifting more.:/

I'll keep the knife thing in mind. It's mentioned a lot.

I'm used to being outside all day, I have a light backpack on all the time, and I live off of almost no money... but I don't have much camping experience. I haven't backpacked anywhere either. Maybe I'll try actually backpacking this weekend.

I have done a pretty fair amount of it. Never had any problems at all with other people. Everyone has been very pleasant. And I'm planning on doing a lot more of it in 2013.

Originally Posted by gina899

I have done a pretty fair amount of it. Never had any problems at all with other people. Everyone has been very pleasant. And I'm planning on doing a lot more of it in 2013.

Oh, good. Thanks for letting me know. Where've you been?

Yeah cool, just go on a few short trips and get used to it all. It's good fun, but setting up camp, taking it down and repacking it is a pain in the ass :P