HikeArizona.COM

As a female in my early 40’s, it feels almost impossible to find friends who want to go backpacking with me. (Not my husband’s idea of a fun time, either.) I am moderately experienced as a backpacker, but want to start doing some longer trips - maybe 1-2 weeks, longer even? I’d love to do some sections of the AZT. I day hike alone regularly, and have done some solo backpacking as well, but all my trips longer than a weekend have been through guide services. I am now at a level that I feel confident enough to plan my own trips and don’t need a guide, but I would still love to have some buddies to keep company. Any backpacking women out there? I’m in the Phoenix valley area, but will travel!

I would suggest seeking out Meetup groups such as this one: https://www.meetup.com/Arizona-Backpacking/

Well, I'm not female, and I'm not going to pretend to be either, but I just want to say that there seems to be quite a lot of women out backpacking these days. I hiked the JMT this last July and I would say at least half of the PCT hikers I saw heading north were female. I hope you can find a group of women to backpack with, they're out there.

@rcorfman
Same on the AZT, we see lot's of hikers while out on trail projects and a huge percentage are women.

They're equal now you know, since sometime in the mid '80's. :-)

@tibber
I'd kind of caution against meetup groups, mainly because of the anonymity. I have a couple of female friends who had a negative experience with one of them.

I manage a couple of meetup backpacking groups (Arizona Backpackers Club and Copper State Backpackers). I go by the name of sleepsunderstars. I don't and won't tolerate any harassment of members regarding sex, race, age, nationality, or sexual orientation. I agree with ShatteredArm, you don't know what you're getting into when you sign on to a trip, there have been a few turds as leaders that I've met in other groups. Although we usually only do 1 or 2 long trips a year (about a week) we do get out. Some trips we put on are all male and on some, I've been the only male. Check the signups and you get a sense of the mix of participants.

@Sundial
I’m in my late 40’s and hike and backpack alone.I am able to get a week out a few times a year. I’ve never had a hiking partner and it might be fun. Like you my hubby isn’t interested and calls my hiking “like a forced March”. Which they’re not but he cracks me up. I’m in Tucson where we have access to some amazing sky islands to hike or backpack in year round. I’m also open to driving to other amazing places. If you think you might be interested, send me a DM. Who knows, maybe our hiking styles, travel distances, and personalities will match up.