Atempting, with out success

“I need all of you peoples honest helpful information. My dream hike is the AT and I would prefer to do it alone. I dont want to have to quit because of some weakling Im with. Well every time I bring this up my mom just about has a fit. I thought that it weas just a distance thing, but when I told her my weekend plans for next weekend involve a solo hike she also had a fit. Now the question is how can I convince her that solo hiking is not that bad? right now the only thing that is stopping from going out constantly is the alone factor. I want to give it try. So all of wise backpacking friends what should I do?”

“Try these past threads:

Tips wanted for female solo hiker

Goin' Solo

Tips for Solo Women Hikers

Your first solo hike?

This should keep you busy for awhile.”

“Tell her you are going with Tarpie.

Solo will start to look a lot better.”

“Thanks China. My real problem is my mom though. I know how to be safe. Im not afraid, but I cant get my mom to aprove. All though I am 22 almost 23 and can make my own decisions, I want her to aprove.”

“Good advice bacpac! thanks! lol”

“Tell her professional men like doctors & dentists go hiking :{}”

“Tell her you'll get a cell phone so you can call for help if need be. It will be pretty difficult to ever convince your mom not to worry about you out on a solo hike. If you just go and do it, she'll eventually get more comfortable with the idea. Moms being what they are though, just don't expect her to like the idea. My advice is to do what you want to because life is way to short.”

“Good one Lipstick!”

“I'm 55, male, haven't lived at home for 35 years, and my mother still gets upset when I tell her I'm going out solo for a week. I tell her that I'm safer on the trail than in any American city, that I carry what I need to survive on my back and in my head, that I'm prepared - sometimes overprepared - for any contingency that might arise, and she still worries. It's a mom thing. All you can do is show her that you know how to care of yourself. Some pepper spray and an intimate knowledge of the male crotch pressure points wouldn't hurt.

When I was ridgerunning on the AT, I met quite a few solo women thruhikers. Most had had nothing but great experiences. There are a few weirdos out on the trail - don't know if Ward is out of the hospital yet - but it is somewhat of a microcosm of society at large. Just like what passes for real life, you'll learn to spot the people who can help you and those that might have other intentions. By and large, anyone carrying a large backpack for 5 months or more up and down the AT is not going to be threat. There is a regular community on the AT, with messages and info going back and forth. You'll meet plenty of people who will be keeping tabs on your progress and well-being. Go for it!”

“Just go and tell her about it later. Trust me, that's what she wants.

Ditto with steiny too. Most people I tell about solo trips think I'm nuts. This includes my Mom and Wife.

If I had to wait for approval, I would never go.”

“lie to her!

j/k”

“Slowly get her to come around. Maybe go on a 2 day hike solo in a place nearby that she knows of, and let it progress. I had the same problem with my overprotective mother.

BTW, I thought we were going hiking together! :(”

“Ask your Mom to go with you. Let her see how safe it is. Then next time maybe she won't worry as much. She will always worry a little bit, she's your Mom and that's what Mom's do. Regardless of your age you will always be her little girl.”

“Take Mom on a hike.”

“I have actually thought about taking my mom on a hike. I think it would be good for her. Maybe I will. MAybe I will just go maybe thays the best way to handle it.”

“Take Deathmarch. His mommy won't let him play either.”

“I'm planning on doing a solo overnighter next week sometime before the group arrives on the 15th for our Franconia trip, and my wife isn't all that thrilled about me going solo. It seems no matter how old one is, or how experienced, some family member is going to be concerned about your safety. Just go and do the trip and mention it after you return.”

“I'm with steiny. I'm 44 and my mother still freaks when I go out for a week or more. It doesn't even matter if I go solo or not. My mother's idea of camping is staying at the Holiday Inn. We're going to Glacier this year (which my mother knows is Griz country) and she's already worried. You DO NOT need your mother's approval. You've got to get over that.”

“I agree with folks above, adventuregirl. I have a 23 year old daughter and so can relate to your mom's anxiety. Sometimes we fear what we don't understand. I think you should take her on the trail, even if just a short dayhike. Show her how much you know and how capable you are. But especially show her how much you love being on the trail. Hopefully, all of that will help calm her fears. I can't guarantee that she will have no anxiety, but at least she will have a better understanding of what you do and what it means to you. Good luck! Let us know how things turn out!”

“My husband FREAKS when I'm out alone.

If you are on the AT there are alot of thru hikers right now. All that I have been around have been exceptional. Tell her that you will be hooking up with other solo hikers. Take a phone if that will make her feel better.”

“My friend Nina Baxley went last year. She is a little bit of a woman and she had nothing special about her abilities except a will to do it. She wrote up her experiences for GORP

http://www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/hiking/thruhike/nina/ninab_archive.htm”

“adventuregirl, taking your mom may scare her instead of calm her fears. Not everyone feels comfortable in the woods.

If you go, maybe you shouldn't guarantee your mom that you will call her, because if you have a cell phone, it may not be able to get service from where you will be.

I think you should tell her that you are going. Give her your agenda, where you are going and what trail you are taking. Tell her about the precautions you are taking, then go.

I don't really advocate solo hiking, but I guess you can't just sit around waiting for company to do things or you would spend your life sitting home.”

“Adventure girl, listen to Lipstick Hiker. I'm 4 years your senior, and I just went through the same thing last week. Never mind that the backpack was just to test new equipment, never mind I was just 3.5 miles from the road at the farthest, mom still worried. Leave the deadmans envelope with mom (just don't call it that!), and explain the route, precautions, etc. to her in person. Just make damn sure to call in when you get back to the car.

What I learned on the trip:
1) Going solo sucks, I need conversation
2) The equiptment works fine
3) DEET is worthless against(sd?) biting flies
4) The weatherman is a lying motherf***er”