Advice for a female climber that wants to dirt bag it on her own?
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I am 22 and I still have not left the same town I grew up in. Ive been climbing for a year now (so still very new to everything) but I am hooked! Now all I think about is when I can get back to the rock or why am I driving to work its so nice outside, I should be climbing. Wanting to get out of here, travel and climb everywhere and anywhere Im considering the dirt bag life style for a little while. My question is there any other women in this forum who have done this on their own? If so please share stories. What things do I need to be practical about? How much money to save up, food, hammock/camping or just sleeping in the car? I am thinking of trying it out for 3 months to get the feel of it. Really the only thing I am nervous about is doing this on my own but I feel like it would be a phenomenal experience! |
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I too wonder if there are that many women who will have much input for you. Hopefully some run across your post. Alot pair up to road trip or dirtbag life on the road. |
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Hi Amber: |
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Do get a companion. There are a lot of drifters and just people looking for trouble out there. If you cant find somebody and decide to go alone stick to populated areas and litup wallmarts to sleep. When you hit the next town go straight to the local climbing gym and get introduced and start hanging out with groups. Think safety first and stay clean! |
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I don't think I wound find living out of my car, etc. for 3 months much fun, and I don't think I'd wanna do a road trip like that - esp being a single female traveling w/o MY .45 auto with me! Sadly - the world and people aren't getting any safer or better these days! And I know that's a very sad thing. While 99% of the climbers I have met and know ARE extremely nice people - today, one can't be sure of anything. |
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Just one alternative for you to consider that may last longer than giving dirtbagging and try and could be more rewarding...I climbed for years in my 20's and 30's with a flexible job in a great area. I could at least afford a reasonable car and apartment, plus trips to some great places around the world. When I was ready to be a bit more serious about other things in life, I had job experience to build on. It was a great time in my life and I look back on it with great memories...climbing after work until dark, and getting out all day every weekend. Just one option, but one I'd recommend. |
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Stick to the major areas in the beginning: |
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Get a pistol permit. |
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If you're concerned about your safety or plan to do any hitchhiking, pepper spray is cheap and comes in small sizes so it isn't a hassle to carry around. I definitely recommend going, even if you can't go with a partner. It isn't as scary out there as some people make it appear. You just have to use your head and stay away from potentially bad situations. Just be aware of your surroundings and listen to your instinct, if you get a bad feeling about someone get away from them. Chances are if you head to a popular area, you'll meet up with other like minded climbers and soon enough you'll have friends watching out for you. |
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Good luck Amber! Here's a couple sources to consider: |
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lucander wrote:Get a pistol permit.Lucancer - pistol permits are not good for multiple states. For instance - my permit here in NY does not allow me to legally carry my handgun to other states w/o having applied to each of those states to allow me to carry it in. Only a few states don't require permits that I am aware of - such as Texas, etc. I can't take my handgun into VT, CT, MA, PA, NH, etc. w/o a permit in each of those states first before taking it across the border. In fact, as I understand it - one can't even GET a permit is MA these days. Pepper spray would be a good, inexpensive, less hassle way to go. A average handgun these days even used will set you back around $350 and a brand new one about $500+! |
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NYClimber wrote: Lucancer - pistol permits are not good for multiple states. For instance - my permit here in NY does not allow me to legally carry my handgun to other states w/o having applied to each of those states to allow me to carry it in. Only a few states don't require permits that I am aware of - such as Texas, etc. I can't take my handgun into VT, CT, MA, PA, NH, etc. w/o a permit in each of those states first before taking it across the border. In fact, as I understand it - one can't even GET a permit is MA these days.sometimes as Americans we just have to take what belongs to us. The thought that a single girl traveling the country couldn't legally carry even a small 22 is sickening to me. I bet a high percentage of truckers carry. |
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Soooo... to recap, what we have so far is carry a handgun and a baseball bat. |
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Fall Guy wrote: sometimes as Americans we just have to take what belongs to us. The thought that a single girl traveling the country couldn't legally carry even a small 22 is sickening to me. I bet a high percentage of truckers carry.She can have it in the car, just not concealed on her person. In any case, I doubt a single woman pulling a gun when threatened is going to get her charged with having the gun. |
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Pathetic, yeah what you need is a gun to be safe lol what is wrong with people... |
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David Sahalie wrote: She can have it in the car, just not concealed on her person. In any case, I doubt a single woman pulling a gun when threatened isn't going to get her charged with having the gun.David, I guess you don't understand guns laws. If it's a handgun - having it hidden in your car or not - is a felony. Go and kill someone during an encounter and they won't look at it that it was self defense much - especially after what this moron did in Newton, CT - where a AR-15 was blamed and the kid never even HAD one in the school! That right there led to a complete BAN here in NY of owning a AR-15. So the way things are going - unless one lives in a state like Texas where the gun laws are pretty lean - I wouldn't recommend it. A rifle or a long gun - that's diff. Handguns are wicked tightly controlled - esp now with all these clowns shooting people like in CO, CT, etc. |
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The dog option was a brief thought, but pets are not always welcomed in certain campgrounds/trails and aren't allowed in National parks more than 75' from the roadway. |
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Sorry to open that can o' worms. I did a lot of traveling before settling into a sedentary life of middle age. Naivete definitely got me in some sketchy situations that could have gotten worse if the people I was dealing with thought I was vulnerable. |
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APBT1976 wrote:Pathetic, yeah what you need is a gun to be safe lol what is wrong with people... Try a good head on your shoulders to start and you should be fine. Always the chance you wont but that is the chance we all take with life every dam day we get outa bed and venture out into the world. Always has been always will be. I would agree follow the weather to the popular climbing areas and you will find other like minded people doing the same thing. These people will become your friends problem solved. Sure you still have to use judgment and think on the fly but fuck we gotta do that at home these days also. Go have fun live it up you are young. You will never regret following your heart. You will figure out quickly if it is for you or if it is not. If it is not for you use your head cut your loses and go home nothing lost really. But shit if you insist go ahead add to the increasing mass of batshitcrazy people out there and get a gun. Surely that will solve everything lol....APBT - had one of those teachers in Newtown, CT or one of those folks in the CO movie theater been carrying a legal handgun - all those people wouldn't have been killed but stopped way sooner in their tracks. The best defense is a good offense. Perhaps you think everyone is of 'trusting' nature these days? read the newspaper dude or watch the news on TV. You'll think different! You don't have to be bat shit crazy to own a firearm! Shit - I've owned them since I was 15 yrs old, and was a responsible hunter and target shooter for years, and an armed guard as well when I was a EMT. have some asshole break into YOUR house, rape your GF or wife, or kid - and see how YOUR tune changes! Your mindset is what has America on the verge of ruination today and why our 2dn Amendment Rights are being messed with. Our forefathers must be turning over in their graves for sure! |
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NYClimber wrote: David, I guess you don't understand guns laws. If it's a handgun - having it hidden in your car or not - is a felony. Go and kill someone during an encounter and they won't look at it that it was self defense much - especially after what this moron did in Newton, CT - where a AR-15 was blamed and the kid never even HAD one in the school! That right there led to a complete BAN here in NY of owning a AR-15. So the way things are going - unless one lives in a state like Texas where the gun laws are pretty lean - I wouldn't recommend it. A rifle or a long gun - that's diff. Handguns are wicked tightly controlled - esp now with all these clowns shooting people like in CO, CT, etc.What you are saying is true for the northeast in the cities, but not the west: AZ,TX,NM CO, WY, UT, etc (also known as places with lots of rock, good weather and free camping... places worth dirtbagging). The car is an extension of your house, and there is no law or permit to have a gun in your car, backpack, etc. |
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Take a couple week vacation and give things a sort of trial run on your own. This will let you sort out things like sleeping, cooking in bad weather, figure out how insecure (or scared) you find yourself alone in different situations, what equipment you need that you don't currently have etc. Better to figure things out and be well prepared before you quit your job and hit the road for real. |