When people move to Bozeman, there is one thing they are for sure incredibly excited about; all the hiking possibilities. Coming from a state that is incredibly flat (North Dakota), I knew that hiking wasn't something I could OR should just go and tackle. Hiking is not just a "walk in the park", its uphill, down hill, rocks, dirt, and if you are on a popular "site seeing" hike, you may get lucky and have a paved trail.

As I was planning my first solo hike, I started to think about all the things that could happen. What if I got hurt, or didn't drink enough water, got lost or off trail, or worst case, encounter a bear or other wild animal.

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Canva
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Most trails you don't have the luxury of cell phone service so you really should be prepared for all situations without service.

I went online and started searching for "hiking must haves", "hiking dos and don'ts", and there was SO much information I could hardly keep it all in focus. I decided to just focus on one article that seemed to have a bit of all the other ones.

Photo by Alice Donovan Rouse on Unsplash
Photo by Alice Donovan Rouse on Unsplash
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So here is what I got from it:

  • Know your limits. Do not try and outdo yourself. (You are alone remember..no one to impress)
  • Check the weather. You don't want to get caught in rain, snow, or even extremely high temps.
  • Bring your CHARGED phone. Yes you may not have service, but your GPS will still locate your last location.
  • Let people know. You want to make sure that you let a few people (not everyone) that you are hiking alone. Taking a break from the world is nice, but you don't want people to worry.
Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash
Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash
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These are just a few that I found were very important. There are more here for you to check out. I highly recommend reading through and making sure your must-haves for solo hiking are all checked off! Enjoy ladies and as always, BE SAFE!

Hiking Trail Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts

We have countless, wonderful hiking and walking trails within easy reach of town. But being a Montanan means caring for your surroundings, AND others. Keep in mind these trail basics while enjoying the outdoors. Safe hikers are happy hikers.

The Difference Between Backpacking And Hiking

Backpacking and hiking must-haves

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