Happy to share! My sister and I often talk about how we sometimes feel over-prepared, especially when we see people on hikes in Converse with just a tiny bottle of water. But nature is no joke, and if one small thing goes wrong, you can be in real danger. I'd say we're adequately prepared, but if I had my choice I'd pick over versus under any day.
Thanks, Melissa for sharing your experiences and such practical advice! I appreciate that you included the rough cost for the Garmin - while it's not inexpensive it definitely cost less than I had expected. I'm taking a solo trip this fall to the Grand Canyon and and then maybe up into UT, and will definitely be putting your tips into practice!
I live just east of Scottsdale (recent transplant west) and after seeing emergency helicopter pickup points on trails that aren't that challenging, I definitely err on the side of over preparing!
I follow SLC Search and Rescue (a volunteer org in the Wasatch), and many of their rescues are people who got off-trail and weren't prepared with water or layers. Had they downloaded a map and had some basic safety gear, it's likely they wouldn't have required the time and expense of sending a full team out to retrieve them. The Garmin is a life-saver and I won't travel without it.
This is very helpful. Thank you. I hike by myself all the time. I definitely need to level up.
Better safe than sorry. XO
Thank you so much for these tips. I just did my first solo hike and loved it but didn’t think about any of these things. 😬
Happy to share! My sister and I often talk about how we sometimes feel over-prepared, especially when we see people on hikes in Converse with just a tiny bottle of water. But nature is no joke, and if one small thing goes wrong, you can be in real danger. I'd say we're adequately prepared, but if I had my choice I'd pick over versus under any day.
Such great advice! I love to hike but have never hiked alone, maybe using some of these strategies I will feel more confident to do so!
Thanks, Melissa for sharing your experiences and such practical advice! I appreciate that you included the rough cost for the Garmin - while it's not inexpensive it definitely cost less than I had expected. I'm taking a solo trip this fall to the Grand Canyon and and then maybe up into UT, and will definitely be putting your tips into practice!
I live just east of Scottsdale (recent transplant west) and after seeing emergency helicopter pickup points on trails that aren't that challenging, I definitely err on the side of over preparing!
I follow SLC Search and Rescue (a volunteer org in the Wasatch), and many of their rescues are people who got off-trail and weren't prepared with water or layers. Had they downloaded a map and had some basic safety gear, it's likely they wouldn't have required the time and expense of sending a full team out to retrieve them. The Garmin is a life-saver and I won't travel without it.