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JessNicole3608

Women Solo Hiking

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JessNicole3608
, 07-07-2016 at 12:39 (2452 Views)
I want to take a week and hike the rest of the GA section, but would be going alone. Have any ladies had issues hiking/hitchhiking alone in that area? I would be starting at Neel's Gap and going however far my legs will take me for 6-7 days.
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  1. brewcrew1514's Avatar
    I'm contemplating a solo journey through GA soon as well. Did you end up heading out? How was the experience going alone? As a woman, I just wonder what I need to think about or expect when not hiking with large numbers of people as one might during thru hiker season.
  2. JessNicole3608's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by brewcrew1514
    I'm contemplating a solo journey through GA soon as well. Did you end up heading out? How was the experience going alone? As a woman, I just wonder what I need to think about or expect when not hiking with large numbers of people as one might during thru hiker season.
    I did! It didn't go QUITE as expected but it was still a great time as always. I started at Neel's Gap and slept at the shelter that's really far off the trail (Whitley Gap I believe). I saw a bear on the way up so that was exciting/terrifying! The woods were so quiet, I think I saw one other person that whole day. I was the only one at the shelter which was a little spooky. Turns out.. I'm not a big fan of camping alone! I LOVE hiking by myself but nah... I got a shuttle from Hogpen that next morning back to Neel's Gap where I stayed that night and just relaxed in hopes of meeting someone to hike with the for the next couple of days. That worked! I met an awesome brother/sister duo from Jacksonville and a couple from Scotland! We all hung out and had a zero day in Helen. The next day I hiked to Low Gap Shelter from Hogpen (went and explored Dahlonega while they hiked Neel to Hogpen). Stayed one night there which was nice. It had a creek that ran right in front of the shelter where we found crawfish, snails, and salamanders. My bf (now husband) showed up the next morning so I went back to Hogpen, met him, drove to Unicoi and we spent the next couple of days hiking to Dick's Creek Gap.

    All of that to say yes, I did go, but only spent one night on my own! I'm a baby. It was a random day during the week so I didn't see many people but if you get lonely, it's not hard to find someone to hike with once you're out there. Especially if you go to a hiker hostel!