11 Safety Tips for Solo Hikers
11 Safety Tips for Solo Hikers
Hiking alone can sometimes be scary and dangerous. In this video I list 11 precautions I take to make my solo hikes as safe as possible!
// h i k i n g g u i d e s
I made my own hiking guides! Find them here: https://floordenil.com/en/product-categorie/hiking/
// m o r e o f m e – d u t c h
floordenil.com
instagram.com/floordenil
// b u s i n e s s e n q u i r i e s
ikwilzakendoen@floordenil.com
// m u s i c i n t h i s v i d e o
My Heart – Jeff Kaale
// t i m e s t a m p s
0:00 – Intro
1:29 – Be prepared
4:01 – Keep at least one person informed on your plans
5:16 – Carry a satellite communicator
6:57 – Take a whistle with you
7:35 – Trust your gut feeling
8:21 – Don’t share your plans on social media
9:21 – No earplugs while wildcamping/no loud music while hiking
10:01 – Talk to hikers who come from the other direction
10:33 – Don’t let your ego make decisions around safety
11:53 – On hitchhiking
13:13 – On having no place to sleep
Super helpful, thank you!
Also take a piece of colored chalk to mark rocks and trees, or colorful ribbon to tie to branches in case you get lost. Stops you from circling the same location.
Definitely do not "call the police" in the United States.
it’s crazy how sweet you are, hopefully I meet you some day on a trail š
Thank you. You gave a lot of confidence on solo hiking. So far I did long hikes/trekkings with a group abroad. The only place I hike alone is in the Belgian Ardennen š
Hi Floor, Just want to leave a message here. It was amazing to run into you in a cafe on a Thurday afternoon š How random! Love your videos!
haha nice video! are you from Belgium? I feel like I recognize the subtle accent š I also go hiking, but, as a guy it seems people are a bit less surprised. It’s cool you’re doing this, my gf loves hiking but would never wanna go alone. I think it’s much more intense than going with people. Especially when wild camping.
I’m sorry but I was hoping you would at least mention any type of self defense gadget.
I’m a 26 years old guy and I would never go several days on my own in places I’ve never been to without my peppergun and knife at the ready.
I’ve been a scout and we used to do this 4 days (in between our summer camp) where our chief randomly picked up one unit during the night and drove us to a place and left us there with a map with suggestions on the nearest town (at least one day on feet) a little bit of food and some water. We had to go to the town and offer to do any type of work in exchange for a dinner and *maybe* a place where to spend the night.
It just happened that our unit ended up in the same place where a female unit was stationed, where a farmer offered to give us some food and let us sleep in his backyard.
That night he drank at least 3 bottles of wine and started harassing some of the females in the other unit and we stopped him various times until we all decided to leave. He then nonchalantly picked up a shotgun out of a drawer and stared flagging us. He didn’t shoot, but it wasn’t a happy moment.
And this is just one of the situations I’ve experienced.
A friend of mine (a very attractive girl) went to Australia on her own and started hitchhiking and had some "problems" along the way.
When she returned she was a completely different person.
I always suggest to have at least 2 or 3 self defense "gadgets" on you.
Even more if you are a girl.
For example you might want to take a look at the JPX4, which is one of the tools I always carry on my belt.
I met an aggressive cow one time what a terrible date…
It is a big misconception until you go hiking one day and not lucky enough to not meet one of these creepy guys waiting for solo female hikers out in the woods. Yes itās a real thing. Only possibly Bigfoot isnāt.
Always carry a gun regardless of where you are. Better to be judged by 12 then carried by 6.
Iām 18 and i really love to start changing my lifestyle and getting out and enjoying nature while getting some exercise. I just really also need to get over my anxiety and long distance driving fears lol
In your first comments you suggested that your chances of being attacked by wildlife was greater than by a human. I would strongly disagree with this comment. Although there is a chance of coming across an animal with a bad attitude or personality, from my experiences in life it is more likely you will encounter a human with the bad attitude or bad personality.
Great videoš¤
and lesson learned (from 127 hours film).
No bear spray? That would be effective for humans and other wild life!
Do not ring random doorbells or knock on doors at night in the US, especially Texas. It will not end well.
Very helpful tips! Thanks a lot!!
remember one thing: Ego of mountain is higher than yours.
I really like hiking alone in Southern California. However, it’s bear country, not to mention mountain lion country, and rattlesnake country, and I now feel I’d better have: satellite SOS device, bear spray, boat horn…
You are a joy to listen to, and admire your enthusiasm and personality!
A European friend of mine told me that if you can’t find a place to sleep, contact the church they will usually put you up, also in really small villages reach out to the mayor/burgermeister (it is their job to welcome guests)
unrelated but i love your hair!!!
The American police would never help you in that situation lol but it’s really good to know that police help in that way in other places
Can I just say, the background of your video is giving me major nostalgia! You talk so calm and I am so excited to hike alone!
Great video and good advices, but I think one is missing:
#12 Do have a "Plan B".
What I mean is, that you have to have a plan B for the most important things. A second lighter, food for 1-2 days more you need or whatever. For example, last year I was hiking solo in nowhere in Norway (BlĆ„fjella-SkjƦkerfjella) with no path and I dit not see anyone for a week. And there, I lost my phone with my gps/gpx, my tickets home, with absolutly everything. I had luck, that I took printed map, a compass, a printed tourplan and printed ticket home. Hiking without a path, without gps and without a clock was the hardest I’ve ever done, but still possible and the compas and the maps rescued my live. And with the tickets I could travel home.
Excellent video. THANK YOU. I also carry a loaded handgun BTW.
one of your videos popped up on my feed lol I ended up watching all of them. you’re so awesome!
Great vid.
1. take a womens self-defense course, taught only by feminist women, preferably lesbians, not a martial arts course. there is a well-vetted body of knowledge about feminist self-defense. the group discussions are the most valuable part. its not mostly about fighting techniques. Seriously, every woman should take these classes, at least every 5 years, for life.
until you can find such a class in person, read everything you can about FEMINISTself-defense, from women.
2. NEVER get in a car with a man. even if a woman is in it. that is the most likely situation for being kidnapped, trafficked, raped or murdered. and never give a man you dont know a ride, even if a woman is with him. If a man pulls over for you, say you changed your mind.
Or hold a sign saying "female driver."
3. hike and camp with, or near, other women. introduce yourself to women on trails. if there is no man with them, tell them where youre going and where your starting and return points are, and vehicle/license plate.
all of this is based on crime data, and professional feminist self-defense advice.
thank you.
Good š
Read and watch David Paulides Missing 411 series of people missing in USA national parks and forests
Floor Denil PLEASE TELL US HOW , YOU KNOW THE CAMPING SITE OR THE PLACES WHERE TO SOLO HIKERS ?? WHEN i WAS YOUNG IN LOS ANGELES CA, i KNOW PLACES BUT HERE WHERE I MOVE, CANT FIND ANY RIVERS OR MOUNTAINS TO HIKE OR CAMPING,? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS, ?? I HOPE YOU RETURN, AND ANSWER TIHS QUESTIONS?? THANK YOU ?? DENIL
12) carry a firearm. Regardless of social or political opinions. Just do it. Ruger makes a 380 that weighs a mere 10 oz and fires 10 rounds. Legal in all National Parks to carry. There’s a young woman from Memphis that would be alive today if she would of heeded that advise….
A gun
My garmin can sent a gps signal to a person I pre uploaded! This can help as well I think.
If you have to watch this video then you need to stay on the couch.
Great video, good information! Your cute..you look good!
Since telephones were invented, I always called my mom at every stop (a quarter coin per stop). Now a days, we have cell phones and satellite devices. Your latest location and a regular check-in plan with someone you trust is your best bet if something goes south. I always carry mace/bear spray and a whistle since the ā80ās. Never had to use them, but felt better having them of I needed it. Share where you were(past tense) to the āpublicā by several days at a minimum. Check in with park rangers/hosts at logical points, or if cross country some public service facility. NEVER hitch hike unless itās desperate/urgent circumstances. These days you can call an Uber or Lyft if close to town,or the local police.
only guilty on the 7th one; i usually listen to music with the speaker at max volume, i thought to this thing, cause if some stones falls down you probably hear it too late.
Lol Iād love it if some stranger knocked on my door in the middle of the night asking if they can set up a tent in the middle of my garden for the night because thereās no camp sites or hotels available š¹. Thatād be the greatest. Iād surely say yes and allow them to pick any vegetables and fruits for their own sake.
The Garmin inreach mini 2 you can buy for 250 euros. You can send messages and receive it. Direct contact with the police etc. Keeps live updates. Worth the money. š
The thing for me is opposite of picking people up but instead what are you picking up lol
13:06 yes, because a normal person won’t mind being identified
Use, a gun works well
awesome upload Floor Denil. I crushed the thumbs up on your video. Keep on up the really good work.
These were great tips ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤š„¾š„¾š„¾š„¾
Holy cow you’re a high energy person. All that fresh mountain air. Lol. Great video and advice.
Bear spray
When you hitchhike, in addition to everything you said, first think of where you want to go and then think of (or look at a map for) a place that isnāt going where you want to go. Then when a car stops and you approach the car, you start the conversation with āhey thanks for stopping, where abouts are you going?ā, which gives you a few seconds to make the split decision of whether or not you can trust the person. If your gut feeling says no, then after they say where theyāre going, you say that youāre going elsewhere and back away from the car. If they decide to get out of the car and start trouble, that gives you some time to run and hopefully hide. Pepper spray in those situations is pretty useful. Another thing, if you sat in the car and things are bad, say that you desperately need to use the bathroom, then when they stop pretend youāre in pain and look for the moment when you can grab your belongings and dash out the car. Hence, never put your backpack or anything into their trunk, always keep it with you.