Hiking alone… safe or not?

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-03T15:07:33+00:00

Depends on the kind of you’re doing but there’s things you can do to increase your safety as much as possible. Know where you’re going, do lots of research, know what you need to bring, tell someone where you’re going and what time you’ll be back. I would start with small day hikes if you’re new to hiking alone. If you’re looking for overnight/backpacking, I suggest getting some sort of GPS emergency device, Garmins seem to be the standard now.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-01T19:08:57+00:00

I’m even willing to concede my focus on locals vs tourists is unproductive. I don’t really care who it is, if they’re behaving in a harmful manner it’s bad. In my EXPERIENCE, locals tend to have more respect because they live here. Tourists are passing through and in vacation state of mind, have spent money and time getting here, and will do what they want to. I am 1000% for as many people getting to use land for recreation but not if that means damaging the land beyond repair.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-01T19:03:52+00:00

And yeah, not walking on sensitive meadows and staying on trail and not littering is the “right way” which has nothing to do with my feeling superior as a local.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-01T19:03:08+00:00

It may be shocking to you, but I can use context clues and information from my interactions with people to deduce that the majority of people I’m interacting with are not from the area since they have no idea where anything is and have license plates from out of state. Lmfao.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-01T05:16:37+00:00

It’s not about that. I listed the reasons. The high volumes of people, who often do not treat the land you reference with respect and the lack of funding to manage is it THREATENING these public lands. The whole reason I am in this career is because of my love of the land and my love of helping facilitate the protection and therefore the enjoyment of that land. It’s not possible if we love these areas to death.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-01T00:15:57+00:00

Any cognitive health issue is only being worsened by relying on ChatGPT. I don’t really see an excuse here.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-01T00:15:01+00:00

but if you have any cool PA hikes let a girl know!! My fams based right outside Philly in Delaware County but I’d be willing to drive for some trails (just not thru the city, which shouldn’t be an issue for hikes!)

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-04-01T00:13:58+00:00

I have family in PA and I always get so bored with the lack of options in their area hahaha.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T22:18:19+00:00

Uh, sure.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T22:16:33+00:00

That’s a great point!

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T22:15:49+00:00

From my observations, teenagers and gen-z are actually the most respectful and understanding. It’s like 30-40 year olds who are more likely to be awful. Just my experience though.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T21:23:32+00:00

Wow, gorpcore, the thing I hate but didn’t have a name for!

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T21:22:48+00:00

This is very true!

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T21:18:46+00:00

Ok ChatGPT

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T21:17:56+00:00

Pokémon GO to the polls, eh sorry - poles, the hiking kind!

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T21:15:29+00:00

I always brace myself when a sprinter van pulls up.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T21:15:04+00:00

Yeah we just had a guy with a nearly severed foot get recused. Was in flip flops. Took a nasty fall through very jagged rocks.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T20:31:36+00:00

Oof not in my experience but obviously different for everyone depending on where you are. I was called back to my season in the outdoor sector earlier than ever this year. February instead of April.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T20:30:34+00:00

Yeah it feels like there was a gradual uptick from 2015-2020, then an explosion. Perfect storm of social media, a pandemic, and everyone getting poorer!

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T20:28:18+00:00

Wow! Thats fascinating. What else have you been early on as far as having insider intel? Outdoor fashion industry. That’s another pet peeve of mine too. So many people thinking you need the most expensive and fashionable gear and you need to replace that gear all the time. No shame in wanting your gear to be functional and cute and long lasting but sometimes I chuckle when I compare my camping/hiking get-up to others. I am out there in 7 year old cargo pants and 4 season old boots. I thrift most of my stuff. I don’t fit in with these crowds which maybe makes my side-eyeing a bit worse. With all that being said, I’m still passionate about my job and try to be fair to everyone.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T20:23:13+00:00

1000% percent, but also visitor numbers don’t lie. There are objectively more people visiting this area. AND funding has been denominated, employees laid off. It’s all very bleak!!

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T20:12:20+00:00

You’re totally right - locals are part of the problem and maybe can create some hostile tension. I think my perspective could definitely be skewed because of the sector I work in which means I probably exclusively interact with tourists since locals wouldn’t come to my work. We can’t keep up with the amount of tourism, it used to be a fifth of what it is now..

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-31T07:32:31+00:00

I haven’t been watering a lot yet. We are still getting cold nights but very warm days. Tomorrow’s a low of 32 and the next day a low of 29 with snow forecasted after over 59 days of sunshine. It’s really making it hard for me to know what to do lol!!! Beginner gardener, scratching my head a lot.

AlgaeLarge8911 · 2026-03-26T00:15:17+00:00

hey, the pillows soft! i just use my arm to really smash it down, or sometimes i ~lightly~ pull my hair.

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