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!

Montana 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.

Gallery Credit: mwolfe

The Difference Between Backpacking And Hiking

Backpacking and hiking must-haves

Gallery Credit: Getty Images

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