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Women & Backpacking: Myths and Truths

July 20, 2017 by Kristin McLane 3 Comments

GMC recently held a women’s intro to backpacking workshop, which isn’t to say that backpacking is somehow different for women than it is for men.  Sometimes it’s just easier to learn in a group of other women.  There’s a comfort and inclusivity there that is not always found in mixed gender groups.  But even though the act of backpacking itself is absolutely the same for women and men, women do sometimes have questions about it.  Despite the popularity of Wild, society still generally tells girls that certain things aren’t for them, and moving past preconceived notions can be difficult.

So let’s examine some myths that are commonly believed about women in relation to backpacking.

Myth #1: A man (father, boyfriend, etc) has to teach you how to backpack.

Anyone with knowledge and skills can teach you.  Backpacking with other women forces you to step out of any preformed gender roles.  You can even figure it out by yourself, through trial and error or thanks to the wonders of the internet.  (Doing a little research first is recommended to make the trial and error slightly less painful.)  There are tons of bold women backpackers online to follow and see how it’s done.  Check out Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, Heather “Anish” Anderson, Jennifer “Odyssa” Pharr Davis, and Erin “Wired” Saver.

Myth #2: Hiking alone isn’t safe for women.

While a man heading off into the wilderness alone is often praised for his bravery, stoicism, and thirst for adventure, a woman heading off into the wilderness solo often gets told she’s crazy, will be assaulted, eaten by bears, or fall off a cliff.  But why would transplanting a woman into nature suddenly make her inept?  In fact, men are more likely to initiate search and rescue calls.  And as far as crime goes?  Your risk of being a victim of a crime in the backcountry is way lower than in the front country.  This goes for both definitions of “alone:” when you are actually hiking without any other people, and when you are simply hiking without a man, e.g. “What are you two girls doing all alone out here?”

Myth #3: Menstruation attracts bears.

It has long been a myth that menstruating women attract bears and that’s just not true.  Back in 1967, two women were killed by grizzlies in Glacier National Park and the park service was quick to leap to conclusions, which snowballed into this baseless “well-known fact.”  While having your period on trail can be annoying (much like in town), it’s not a big deal.  There are many options for dealing with it.

Myth #4: You should look good at all times, which just isn’t possible in the woods.

A: You are not required to look good for others ever.  Do what makes you feel good, whether that’s full hair and makeup every day or showering once a week.  B: You can keep to high hygiene standards and even wear makeup on the trail if you want, or you can embrace the hiker funk and take the opportunity of a trip without mirrors to forget about society’s expectations.  Even if you enjoy spending time on your appearance in town, taking a break from that can be freeing!  In fact, there’s nothing like seeing what your body can accomplish to realize how beautiful it really is.

See how fun (and safe and simple and liberating) backpacking can be by getting out there and trying it for yourself!  Check out our schedule of upcoming skills workshops to help you get started.

What other myths have you heard about women and backpacking?

Filed Under: Education, Hiking

Comments

  1. Jennifer Berry says

    July 20, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    All of these kind of tick me off but I have experienced them all. Add, you should carry a gun.

    Reply
    • Grace Nelson says

      August 5, 2017 at 10:51 am

      I would use common sense in situations involving dangerous predators both human and animal. I was on this hike and we did discuss safety for women in the woods. Among other things be aware and talk to fellow hikers. I highly recommend this GMC event to anyone interested in gaining or regaining backpacking experience.

      Reply

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  1. Alone: How I Conquered My Need to Avoid Feeling Grief says:
    August 9, 2018 at 4:13 am

    […] for a group of women the day before Mother’s Day. What was initially supposed to be about five women slowly dwindled down throughout the week. By the morning of the hike, I was the only one left. I […]

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Big News for Strategic Conservation of the Long Trail System

May 1, 2025

This article appears in the 2025 Spring Long Trail News and was written by GMC Director of Conservation Mollie Flanigan. In previous editions I've described the process of developing the Green Mountain Club Strategic Conservation Plan that outlines our road map to permanently protecting the Long … Read more

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The Green Mountain Club is the founder and maintainer of the Long Trail - the oldest long distance hiking trail in America. Established in 1910 to build this trail stretching the length of Vermont, the club now also maintains the Appalachian Trail in Vermont and trails in the Northeast Kingdom in its mission to "make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people." Read more...

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