This month's newsletter is packed full of little tidbits to help you gear up (mentally, physically) and face what the trail will bring you in 2025.

Let's start with a rain jacket review.

NEW GEAR REVIEW

If you're in the market for some new rain gear, give my Xerocloud rain jacket review a close read.

If you like what you see and are a co-op member, use code MEMBER2025 to save 20% on this item, thru 3/24.

REI XeroCloud women's rain jacket review

GREAT BURN

Where is the "Great Burn"? It's a huge ecosystem (nearly 2 million acres) in the Northern Rockies, specifically the northern Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border.

What does this organization do? Trail improvement, campsite monitoring, cleanup, restoration, education and a whole lot more.

If that sounds like your kind of outdoor focus, peruse their volunteer stewardship projects which begin in June 2025:

Great Burn stewardship projects

This one is for women only, October 11 - 12, 2025. It begins at the Hoodoo Pass trailhead near Superior, MT. Looks like a great chance to meet other female hikers!

Heart Lake Cleanup women only

INSPIRING WOMEN HIKERS

The best part? They're a mother-daughter hiking team!

Read how they earned this award here:

NCTA award honors hiking duo

THIS MONTH'S HIKING TIP

And by resources, think time, effort and money. An example: "throwing good money after bad."

Do you know what the "sunk cost fallacy" might look like in a hiker or hiking group facing a decision on the trail?

Here's how I've seen it play out, sometimes leading to a bad outcome:

"I've gone this far already and don't know exactly where I am, but I might as well keep going until I meet another hiker." (Or maybe you should turn around because of weather, time, or your energy level.)

"We're already soaked to the bone, why not hike further and try to warm up?" (Hypothermia clouds our judgment just as much as stubborness.)

"I've always hiked this trail at top speed and I'm not going to slow down this time just because it's hailing." (Gravity rules all of us, a tough lesson for some hikers to learn.)

Here's a good article on this issue, with some research results that might make you re-think your approach to decision making as a hiker:

Are you susceptible to sunk cost fallacy?

Now you know how to avoid making a bad decision.

To keep yourself and your trail buddies safe on a hike, know what to watch out for and what to do in any situation.

I've gathered together my hiking safety tips for you all in one place. Take a look through them whenever you have a bit of time this month:

Hiking For Her tips on hiking safety

GARMIN 2024 SUMMARY

The report shares the top activities which triggered emergency calls, plus the cause of the call and the response to the call.

Quick summary: The majority of people who triggered emergency calls were hiking or backpacking, injury was the #1 reason for calling, and helicopter or ambulance were the emergency responses to the calls.

More details here:

InReach SOS statistics 2024

If you're planning to purchase a Garmin inReach Mini2 for your 2025 hiking plans, now through 3/31 is the time to save 25% at REI Co-op.

In fact, lots of Garmin products are on sale. Check it out! Garmin Mini2

HIKING RESOURCE

The app shares a long list of communities and organizations that you as a hiker might be interested in joining or supporting, too.

If you've used it already, I'd love to hear your feedback both positive and negative. I'll share a summary next time if I receive enough intel.

Any other apps that you use regularly and recommend? Send those along, too!

OuterSpatial resources

BACKPACKER INSURANCE

I'm referring here to the kind of backpacking that makes you dirty, sweaty, exhausted and never wanting to come home ;)

Since we're focused on the theme of safety this month, you might be interested in options for insuring yourself against misadventures or accidents on a backpacking trip.

I just ran across an insurance company that offers backpacking insurance. I know nothing about this company and am not endorsing it, just sharing this information with you.

If you have experience with this type of policy, or with this company specifically and are willing to share your knowledge, I'll pass along your advice via next month's newsletter.

SAR included in backpacking insurance policy

And while we're thinking about backpacking, did you know that the cost to thruhike the PCT has almost doubled in the past 5 years?

PCT hiking isn't cheap!

HIKING FOR HER GIVEAWAY

This month's giveaway is based on our theme of hiking safety. You have until April 15, 2025 to enter for a chance to win two small but mighty safety items.

Hiking For Her Giveaway Details

Just a note

Nothing glamorous, just well tested over the years and very much appreciated by me on each and every hike.

Enjoy your outdoor time

Until next month...

Happy Trails,

Diane a.k.a. Happy Hiker

diane@hiking-for-her.com

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