So, I really want to take a walk/hike in the woods with Dizzy this weekend. My hubby is not a cold weather guy, so I know he won't want to come with me. Is it a stupid idea to want to go myself? Any tips/thoughts on what I need to do to make it safer?

Leave a map with your planned route with your hubby. Cell phone fully charged. Snacks and plenty of water. Small first aid kit.

I hike alone with Kenzi every weekend several miles. I think a lot comes down to the area you're hiking in, but usually people aren't going to be gung-ho to approach someone with a medium to large dog. As long as you're phone's ready and people know where you are you should be fine if you happen to fall or get lost. If being attacked is something you're worried about carry mace or a pocket knife with you. I tend to avoid trails that I have seen groups of guys go down if I can help it. I keep my keys in my pocket so if someone thinks they might get brave I can use them as a weapon but I have yet to have a problem since Kenzi is a very good deterrent and I know she would attack a threat whether it be an animal or person. Once out there follow you're gut. There's nothing wrong or stupid about going out alone as long as you're prepared.

Thanks! I'm not really worried about being attacked on the trail, honestly living in the ghetto in Brooklyn for a year kind of gave me a good sense of judgement. I know how to deal with dangerous human situations. I was more worried about wilderness safety, or falling or something. Mace is illegal here, but I'm thinking I might get some bear spray or something similar. I do the same thing with my keys!

I think it will be fine, I've just always had a buddy, unless it was a trail back home that I knew really well.

I agree, hiking alone is overall pretty safe. I don't do it to often, but when I get the chance, so far I have been fine. I just go on trails that I have been on before to make sure that I don't get lost. So for sure know where you are going or I have an app on my phone called Endomondo, and it works even if you don't have cell service as long as you have gps on your phone. And it actually maps your route. I use it for distance but if I ever got lost you can check your tracks and see where you came from. Might be a good thing to download, plus its free!

My only concern lately with hiking alone is back at the end of October, I was hiking with my mom and Siku and ended up spraining my ankle really bad (stepped off some steps and it ended up being slippery leaves). Had I not been with someone I don't know how I would of gotten back to my car. So watch where you step for sure, and just take normal precautions and you will be fine.

I agree with Kelly about the first aid kit. Just bring something that you can wrap a body part in just in case you fall!

I would add something like YakTrax for traction on ice - sometimes the snow hides the ice spots. At least half my falls this winter have been my own stupid fault, not the big boy's antics - I leave the house either forgetting to put on my yaktrax or thinking I don't need them. And, when Mr. Dog decides to "haul a**", the extra traction on the feet is really helpful.

I tromp alone even late at night on unlit, poorly maintained dirt rodes, we do have all manners of wildlife (fortunately, this time of year, black bears are hibernating)- the worst I have encountered is a herd of deer that makes Mr. Dog go ballistic (thanks to prong collar and Rok leash, I still have a shoulder.) Malevolent 2 legged creatures are not an issue here, basically falling is the worst potential hazard, hence the YakTrax - I've already worn out 1 pair, on the second, have 2 in storage.

Enjoy your hike - the woods are wonderful this time of year.

I second the YakTrax (or any kind of grip). I LOVE mine, and never leave home without them. They are a life saver in the woods this year, especially with how much everything has been warming up and then cooling off.

Definitely going to download the app and try to find Yak Traks! Great ideas!

By the way, which Yak Traks do you have?

I am pretty sure these are the yaktrax that I have:

http://www.amazon.com/Yaktrax-Traction-Cleats-Black-Medium/dp/B001CZEYGI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1391186877&sr=8-4&keywords=yaktrax

Mine are the like full metal X's.

I have also had these:

http://www.amazon.com/Stabilicers-Lite-Serious-Traction-Cleat/dp/B000GUCDDG/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1391187057&sr=8-7&keywords=yaktrax

and they had awesome traction control, but tend to hurt your knees if you walk long distances sometimes.

Thanks!

Jen,
i like to hike alone if its a place i have been before, for me in the winter if its not a well taken trail you can tend to lose direction in fresh snow. i use my tracks app on my phone so that i have a map and way back if i take a wrong turn. as for yaktraks mine did not last long, i got these http://www.rei.com/product/856702/kahtoola-microspikes-traction-system
but ken has these http://www.rei.com/product/839645/kako-icetrekkers-chains-traction-system
hope you have fun!

I agree - the yaktrax do not last long, when I had to replace mine, I kept thinking if the design had the elastic stuff around the top of the shoe and hooked to just the metal on the bottom they would have lasted longer - and it appears that the Kako icetrekkers chain traction system do just that. I did not know about them when I bought my replacements here: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~yaktrax/?perPage=24 - plus I had a deal flyer coupon and only paid $8. per pair so I stocked up. Husband said get them - I'd rather pay for replacing these frequently than see me break a hip!

The ones with the spikes would probably be better on the actual ice and snow, but I wear these from the house (stepping only on the carpet or crawling on my knee 'til I reach carpet for hubbies benefit) and walk up to the garage or wood shed where the floors are concrete...I am sure the spikes and the concrete would not agree with each other and my hands are too arthritic to be putting these things on and off regularly  Also, the roads around here are gravel and the rocks do a number on the elastomer bottoms. I'd be interested to here how the Kako brand holds up over time.

Get a compass in case if your phone dies.