Irrational Fears

[WingedMonkey]

Being killed and eaten by an alligator. Being crushed and eaten by a big serpent like a python. I guess I won't be hiking certain parts of the Florida Trail anytime soon.

So far the only alligatorsattacks olong the Florida Trail trail only bit arms off (and they weren't hiking).

Pythons eat alligators and alligators eat pythons, I'm rooting for the alligators.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

Hey everyone, Kinda new here, however I've been hanging around for a while reading ... Although I have lots of experience with going backpacking and being outdoors alone, I can't seem to get over one of my most frustrating fears. Its totally irrational, and has always driven me nuts! Its my fear of running into other people (that may do harm in some way). Whether hiking my local trails or backpacking for three nights. My family thinks me nuts, as I am in the woods on a daily basis either hiking, mtn biking, snowshoeing or otherwise (so it is not debilitating) ... I am dying to know what other think, and what other people fear irrationally, and/or if some others have the same fear, while out in the woods... Take care everyone!

First off, there's nothing irrational about this fear...certainly not when one considers where you live. Not maligning LINY here, but the fact is that the densely populated east coast has a high crime rate, and those subject to NY news stations have that fact driven home on a regular basis. The world can be a scary place, and it's the people that make it so.

Secondly, while it's a fear you perhaps are having trouble overcoming, you're not letting yourself be overly impeded by it. You're still planning to hike. Kudos to you.

Finally, the anecdote:

Snacktime and I were hiking from Milesburn Cabin to Woodrow Rd. in So Pa. Just after we were dropped off, and while we were Deet-ing up on the porch of the cabin, a car rode past, then stopped a short way up the road. The occupants didn't get out; they did nothing other than sit in the car. For whatever reason, paranoia bordering on panic set in. Fortunately Snacktime was not affected, but when I brought out my knife and stored it somewhere accessible, along with the pepperspray, he commented "You're worried about them?" To which I responded...."Don't mind me, kiddo....it's just Grandma being paranoid and overprotective." He had no problem with that concept and was unconcerned. (so at least one of us was being rational!)

When we started up the trail, I could see the car up the road with the passengers still inside. When we were about 100 feet in I heard the first door open...then the second...then shortly both doors and the trunk close. But no motor started. (OK....blood pressure RISING!) I turned to Snacktime and told him that I wanted to walk as fast as we could to avoid meeting strangers for a while, that I was feeling cranky and didn't really want to be friendly yet. If he questioned it, he didn't say, but just picked up his pace and we kept hiking.

Now us picking up our pace to put distance between us and trailing hikers is a ridiculous concept. At our fastest the most we could hope is to delay the point where we'd be overtaken by a small bit. We could always hear footfalls behind us, though we couldn't see anyone. They were advancing on us, but slowly, and I could not get it out of my head that they were in pursuit. So I kept my head down and focused on the trail.....and promptly walked smack into a giant human wall.

No, I didn't scream like a little girl...my voice is too deep for that....I howled like a....a petrified howling person! Then, with a huge...HUGE...sigh of relief I shouted...DAMMIT BUSHMAN....ANNOUNCE YOURSELF NEXT TIME!!!

Not three minutes later, as Snacktime, Bushman and I chatted about how his hike had been going since we'd seen him last, our pursuers came upon us. Hikers...2 average guys with day packs on a nice stroll in the woods. We greeted, and they moved on....nice guys, by the way. I felt like an idiot.

This was the one and only time I feared others on the trail. When those guys left, all the reassurances I'd received about the "friendly community" came crashing back, and they were all true. We had made a bunch of friends during our previous hikes...like Bushman...had handed out our magic bags and got to hear stories and had only received positive vibes from all we'd met. I'd had no reason for my New England xenophobia, but it had popped up nonetheless. I'd wasted all that time focusing on my feet and running away when I could have been leisurely appreciating the beautiful woods and time spent chatting with Snacktime. Idiot.

Anyway, I still carry a knife, and I still carry pepperspray, 'cause hey...it's not irrational to be aware of vulnerability, but foremost I carry confidence that those I meet on the trail will be like me...happy to be there and happy to meet others who share that joy.

[2015 Lady Thru-Hiker]

Something like this?

Elf, that is perfect!! Why couldn't I think of that one? (Irrational fear maybe?) All I could think of was one of those little net tent-like things they sell a the dollar store to put over your picnic food Couldn't that have been a hoot. My trail name could have ended up being "Face Tent" or "Face Net" or "She who fears mice so much she wears a picnic net" And, it's dual purpose!! You've totally saved me Elf!!

[Teacher & Snacktime]

My husband, the eternal smartass, says you need to change your trailname to "wiener dog".....we get no respect!

[devil dog]

Teacher & Snacktime - your story hits the nail on the head! Exactly what I'm talking about and I'm sick of it! My first assumptions are always the irrational ones. Maybe your husbands on to something ...

[HikerMom58]

My husband didn't worry about my daughter hiking alone as nearly as much as I did. My daughter was fine with it. Not me so much.

Being female makes me feel more vulnerable for sure.

Living in VA may have something to do with it as well. There's been a few crimes that's happened in VA on the AT.

It would be interesting to see the stats on each state. I'm betting VA would not do so well.

[Odd Man Out]

There was a story on the CBS Sunday Morning news show today about why criticism sticks in your brain so long. They reported that Neuroscientists attribute this to a primitive part of the brain that is hard wired to react to and remember dangerous situations (caveman survival skill). It is my guess that some people have this more than others and it is just the way their brains are built. My wife is a terrible "back seat driver". She sees and alerts me to every potential threat (look out for that pedestrian, the driver of that car is distracted, that car has an out of state license plate and driver is probably lost, etc...). The fact that I have driven over a half a million miles with out an accident should be proof that these warnings are not really necessary. But she can't help it so the easiest thing is to just ignore her. But that is sometime hard to do.

[steve0423]

Mice running across my face while i sleep in the shelter. So much so planning to stay out of them as much as possible. Have tried to figure out if I can rig something up to cover my face but still let me breathe in the event i really need to sleep in one.

Woke up one night to find a mouse eating from the beard of a sleeping hiker. Maybe it just smelled like food? Maybe he was collecting materials for a nest. It made an impression on me regardless. I started carrying a little comb, washing my beard more often and staying out of shelters when practical.

[BillyGr]

Living in VA may have something to do with it as well. There's been a few crimes that's happened in VA on the AT.
It would be interesting to see the stats on each state. I'm betting VA would not do so well.

As long as VA has no more than 1/4 of the total crimes it's no worse than anywhere else (since the state also has about 1/4 the total trail miles). Although it could be a little higher, depending on what crimes are listed, as you might suspect a few extra small issues where there is a higher interaction of hikers with other people, as would seemingly happen in about 1/5 of VA (AKA Shenandoah)?

[HikerMom58]

As long as VA has no more than 1/4 of the total crimes it's no worse than anywhere else (since the state also has about 1/4 the total trail miles). Although it could be a little higher, depending on what crimes are listed, as you might suspect a few extra small issues where there is a higher interaction of hikers with other people, as would seemingly happen in about 1/5 of VA (AKA Shenandoah)?

VA has had it's share of AT crimes.

1981- Wapiti Shelter near Pearisburg. VA. A VA AT section had to be closed in 2008 because the same guy started shooting at some Fishermen at a campsite, near the AT.- Randall Lee Smith. (He's deceased)

Scott Lilly was in VA. (still don't know who did it)

A VT couple (not hikers) were randomly shot not far from VA 621, Craig Creek. (they still don't know who did it)

In 2008, a hiker was abducted in Daleville, VA. (He was caught)

The Shenandoah too.

Not long ago on WB, some hikers said they were threatened by a guy (in a truck) on a road crossing, near Catawba, VA. That was never reported.

Hiking in a group is best, IMHO. The Beauty Spot incident is proof of that... the gunman was subdued by the group of hikers present. That was just plain AWESOME!!

If you hike alone, stay alert!

Many hikers hike with dogs. That works well for some.

I could hike alone but it causes me stress. I just ask one of my hiking friends to hike with me.. it works!

[Tuckahoe]

There have been 12 murders and 2 attempted murders on the AT between 1974 and 2011.

Of the 12 murder victims 8 of them were part of a pair and the two attempted murder victims were also a pair.

Hiking in a group is in no way a guarantee of safety nor a deterrent to crime.

[Malto]

You can't rationalize irrational fears....... By definition.

[rickb]

There have been 12 murders and 2 attempted murders on the AT between 1974 and 2011.

Of the 12 murder victims 8 of them were part of a pair and the two attempted murder victims were also a pair.

Hiking in a group is in no way a guarantee of safety nor a deterrent to crime.

Of the 12 you mention, I think several were associated with the AT but not on actually it. That is a distinction that matters little to their families, of course.

Of those killed on the AT itself, 5 were thru hikers many hundreds of miles into their thru hikes, and one was a long distance section hiker. No northbound hiker who was hiking in the modern bubble has ever been targeted.

[Odd Man Out]

You can't rationalize irrational fears....... By definition.

+Agreed

This thread would be more interesting if it would stay away from using statistics to prove or disprove the legitimacy of a fear/concern.

[HikerMom58]

+Agreed

This thread would be more interesting if it would stay away from using statistics to prove or disprove the legitimacy of a fear/concern.

Agreed..

This thread would also be more interesting if it would stay away from using statistics & by reading more TJ's in addition to talking with AT hikers that can share their own personal experiences on the trail. I find that information far more valuable and interesting.

There wasn't any norovirus outbreak on the trail last year until actual hikers, on the trail, had to beat some people over the head with the facts.

[q-tip]

I lived in NYC for 5 years, can't get much worse than that for crazies. I did get kidnapped in India after leaving the airport, but was released unharmed, (No Kidding). Like they say, feel the fear and do it anyway, but being aware if the situation feels wrong, IT IS !!!

[Tuckahoe]

+Agreed

This thread would be more interesting if it would stay away from using statistics to prove or disprove the legitimacy of a fear/concern.

So true. And in turn those with irrational fears should refrain from giving advice based on their fears.

[HikerMom58]

So true. And in turn those with irrational fears should refrain from giving advice based on their fears.

I don't believe you have a right to tell anyone they should refrain from giving advice on this site.

If you go back to the original post you will see that HE asks this question....

"I am dying to know what other think, and what other people fear irrationally, and/or if some others have the same fear, while out in the woods... Take care everyone."

A few of us don't think that his fear is irrational and we have a right to express our opinion just as much as you do.

GO HOME!

[devil dog]

My new irrational fear is starting a thread about irrational fears which turns into a fight between others!

[Oak88]

Snakes, well its not irrational. Eastern Timber rattlers, water moccasins and Copper Heads were some of the snakes I encountered during last years thru hike. Photo by "Babyface" somewhere in PA on the Appalachian Trail July 23, 2013.
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