Re: Female Solo Backpacker

HI,
I solo backpack as a matter of preference. One important aspect of your 'situation' is your problem sleeping. From my experience it is imperitive to be warm while sleeping. If I am even a little chilly in my bag, I toss and turn all night and never feel rested. In that condition I am suseptible to all kinds of mental wanderings, including overereacting to every little noise outside my tent. I carry two "Therm-A-Rest" self inflating matresses and use the best Down bag that I can afford. I wear long underwear and socks when sleeping in even cool nights. I frequently hike in bear country and my greatest weapon against fear is knowledge. The more I know about my environment and the critters in it, the more confident I am that I will be able to cope with whatever 'crisis'is encountered. I look forward to all of the little encounters in the backcountry, imagined or real, now, because I have learned that those are the reasons that I go solo! Please don't give up on your solo trips, for the rewards are remarkable!