[pct-l] Wannabe Solo Female Hikers

[Sherry Smith]

I am a 55 yr old woman who is planning on hiking the Oregon section of the PCT come mid July.  I have been out solo camping, with only a tarp for shelter.  (It poured and I remained quite dry). I wake several times a night and scan the horizon- so to speak, and then I drift back off to sleep (I am sooo hoping this will diminish with time).  
I hadn't realized that I would feel so vulnerable with my head exposed.  The first two times I tarp tented I slept side to side instead of end to end (I hope that makes sense).  Consequently neither my feet or head were exposed. I do feel more vulnerable in a campground than I do out alone in the forest.  A week ago I was out tarp tenting and had the dubious honor of a pica running over my head while I was asleep. (I had covered my head with a small blanket to keep it warm.  I imagine I scared the pica as much as it scared me).  I huddled down in my mummy bag for about 45 minutes before I realized just how silly that was.  (How is this for a good laugh, I had been texting my son earlier.  I told him that when I died I wanted my kids to look back and think:  that was my mom, she wasn't afraid of anything).   If I was going to let a little rodent scare me then how in the heck was I gonna walk the PCT?!?.  I finally came out and told the thing it could have
 free run of my tarp tent, just PLEASE stay off my head.  I spent another two nights and everything was fine.
I am working up to camping without a tarp.  I would love to be able to fall asleep watching the stars.  Weather permitting, of course. I would love to be able to wake up to a deer eating near me, or a rabbit, etc.  Well, maybe not a bear.  lol
I read all the emails I can and I have learned so much, as well as some very good laughs (at the joking).   

Sherry