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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Hikers go missing in the woods regularly, because it's REALLY easy to get lost in dense forests, particularly if you leave the trail. You think you can get back on it quickly, after taking a pee or whatever, you go in that direction, and you can't find it again.
It's dangerous to go hiking alone, and as an experienced hiker, she must have known this.

There are also hypothermia risks, and occasionally bear attacks, viruses, and crazy killers.[/quote]

This really isn't applicable to Shenandoah NP.  I think at its widest you are talking 6 miles, so depending on which side of the mountain you are on you are never more than 2-3 miles from someone's backyard.  You could get lost/turned around on the trails, but because of the topography it really would be rather difficult to get lost in the woods and very far from a trail or road.  Black bear attacks - no that's just not reality.  Also really hard to accidently fall.  It seems a fall would need to be on purpose.

I find it hard to believe a lone female would randomly go hiking and not text a family member or friend to let them know where she was going, "just in case."  It would be very impulsive.  Only her family would know whether she tended to go off and do things like that without telling anyone.  [b]But most women are going to tell someone their plans[/b].[/quote]

Or at the least leave a note with a quick itinerary in the car at the trailhead for Rangers to find in car of emergency.  Especially if not at an obvious trailhead / trail like (for example) Old Rag.[/quote]

I'm a female that has been hiking by myself for years.  Usually I will tell my husband that I plan to go hiking, but I don't always tell him exactly where (which specific trail) and I have never left a note in my car with an itinerary.   
Also, I have slipped and fallen many times on trails.   I've never injured myself, thankfully, but I can see where it is definitely possible that would happen.

[/quote]

Sure you could slip and hurt yourself... but Shenandoah is nothing like hiking some of the crazier trails in Zion, or Yosemite, or rim of the grand canyon, or other remote mountain steep crazy trails where you could plunge to your death.  At worst at Shenandoah you'd either knock yourself unconscious and be found on the trail, or be hurt badly and try to drag your self back to the parking lot....  There's no "plunging" unless you are really, really doing some foolish stuff.
[/quote]

Mother Nature is also just more forgiving here, more gentle and hospitable to humans.  I think t was a hike in Big Bend where I finally really understood what it was like to hike somewhere where nature merely tolerated humans at best.[/quote]

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