That load of crap is no articleOriginally Posted by Roots
Just in my head. You can take the Yankee out of New York...still in NYC huh mowgli?
Taking risk is taboo; that's why kids don't get out, video games trump tag, seeing old reruns of "Animal Planet" suffice for bee stings, knee pads reduce scarring, bike helmets avoid injury, sunlight causes cancer, strangers are strange, it goes on... Thank God the real Pioneers didn't watch tv. We'd all be bunched up on the East Coast worried about people in New Jersey.
The article may have its points...
But it's a waste of time. A small minority of people in any social strata would agree to the measures it would take to make the whole country safe for lone women. Far easier to make women not lone.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE GOSPEL OF ABBEY!
"Women who love only women may have a good point."
THANKS BE TO ABBEY!
"I'd rather kill a man than a snake. Not because I love snakes or hate men. It is a question, rather, of proportion." Edward Abbey
I always hike alone, but I tell my family that there are always lots of other hikers out and about. I've only felt nervous a couple of times so I moved on. I did purchase a little gun this past January to carry, took lessons and read the book, Trail Safe - Averting Threatening Human Behavior in the Outdoors. It is about how to be smart and alert and, sadly, how to think like a predator. This July the Rangers in SNP were looking for a certain hiker wanted for asaulting a woman along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I spent a few anxious hours, but when I called to report a journal entry by him, I was told that he was in custody as of that afternoon. But when the Ranger first told me of him, I was first somewhat afraid, than angry that my hike might be messed up by him. The further off in the woods I am, the safer I feel. I stay in contact with home as much as possible, I leave a very detailed itenerary and do not share any information about my plans with other hikers, unless I really feel safe with them after a few hours of conversation. I also tune in to my intuition as I pass people along the way. It is not always possible to find hiking partners.
Here, Here! Or is it: Hear, Hear! Or maybe it's Hear, Here! Or possibly Here, Hear!
What I'm trying to say is: YEAH!You pegged it Tipi!
And I could get hit by a bus or in a car crash tomorrow. God willing I will never again fall victim to one of those craze men....
But I will continue to try and live my life to the fullest.
Hammock Hanger -- Life is my journey and I'm surely not rushing to the "summit"...:D
http://www.gcast.com/u/hammockhanger/main
nor I to a crazed woman, or man for that matter
"I'd rather kill a man than a snake. Not because I love snakes or hate men. It is a question, rather, of proportion." Edward Abbey
You are correct about Alaskan Women, you can't even hide under your bed, because they find you.
I completely agree with Tipi Walter. Culture of fear.
And this man is a tool.
I'm 25 and female and I have lived in a city (Boston) in a fairly rough area. I have lots of stories I could tell about bad things happening in my neighborhood, even to my roommates. But I felt unsafe only once in 3 years... and the men who approached me turned out to be lost and needed directions. And I walked by myself at 2 am or later... on a regular basis. Anywhere there are human beings you have to accept there might be a few bad apples. You may never encounter them, though. No way am I going to cloister myself up or require an escort because of that. You just need to be alert and aware, and accept that there will be risks no matter where you go or who you are with.
Same with the woods. I'd venture a guess that I feel safer out hiking than that author does. Woman (and men) get murdered many places. It stands to reason that the woods is not exempt. Does that mean I should avoid it or venture out only with a chaperone or armed with a weapon? No. I think the odds of me getting raped or murdered are about the same in the woods as they are at home: slim to none. Judging from what I've read in articles*, it appears that since the 70's there have been 10 known murders on the trail. That's not too bad of a statistic, given the fact that thousands of people hike the AT each year. In fact, it's pretty good.
* Do a search online. There are articles as recent as May 2008 stating these numbers.
I agree that this is silly. Anyone can be a target in the woods. I'm a skinny disabled fella so I suppose that I shouldn't either. You are more likely to have something happen in a trail town along the way. Besides I'm single now so if any ladies need a hiking partner just let me know.
Women Should Not Hike Alone
Folks keep moving to this small NH town from mostly NJ, NY, CT, MA. I live across the road from a 70 mile long rail/trail. It's not a remote trail. It's where the rail road tracks used to be. Walking, biking and snow mobiles are approved uses. No one has ever heard of a crime of any kind being commited on it. Yet every new comer is afraid to use it for fear of some unknown danger. Those of them who exercise do so on the major road (rte 4) that runs through this little town. In fact, more bad things have happened on that road than any where else in town. Car accidents are the biggest danger here. We have a one man police dept. who primarily has to deal with the out of staters who aren't used to driving on winding back roads. To re-cap...newbies fear the safe rail-trail but feel safe on the dangerous major road.
Actually we can do both - be a solo hiker and be barefoot and pregnant making a tasty meal in the kitchen. There's nothing wrong with either.
Very good point!
Don't take anything I say seriously... I certainly don't.
As someone that has been in the media industry going on 35 years now, articles like this are nothing more than justification of having a person like Stephen Black on staff.... They read about something and then pontificate on the difficulties or the risks associated with what they read about.... It's about THEIR agenda. They wouldn't get out there and do it, they would rather sit behind a keyboard and talk about why others shouldn't do it.
Tipi, you hit the nail on the head there....
Randy
Randy, I was talking to some teachers at the middle school, and when one of them heard that I walk on the greenway, alone, they were shocked and asked me if I weren't afraid of being molested. I almost fell out of my seat laughing. Can you imagine being afraid to walk the greenway in White House? She was dumbfounded when I told her how I backpack alone. She's sure I'll be murdered.
"It was on the first of May, in the year 1769, that I resigned my domestic happiness for a time, and left my family and peaceable habitation on the Yadkin River, in North Carolina, to wander through the wilderness of America." - Daniel Boone
Hey Mary!
I can believe it..... Many people believe that the only place they are secure is their house, work, or car.... yet that is exactly the places where most crimes happen....
My wife (5'2") goes out there a lot as well.... Sometimes she's by herself, and sometimes she has our 2 dogs (male and female German Shepherds)... I'm sure that most people think the same when she is out there by herself, and then they fear for their lives when she is out there with a 115 pound German Shepherd, and a 60 pound German Shepherd.... and both are EXTREMELY protective of her...
Again, it gets back to the media making everything out to be bad.... Good news doesn't bring in ratings.... Most days on the website I work at the page views stay the same until bad news happens.... Today Jerry Reed passed away.... when we put that up on the home page, the page views jumped thru the ceiling.... and inbound referrals from all sorts of places have increased.... Just like Don Henley said, "Give us dirty laundry"
Randy
I just hope...
She doesn't neglect to keep them leashed and (not "or") muzzled 100% of the time she's on public land, just as a CCW-license-holder is expected to keep his pistol holstered and/or concealed, rather than waving it around and pointing it at random passersby. Her fears (valid or not) don't entitle her to make other innocent people feel threatened.
Good point.
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