Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby ErichFromm » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 1:18 pm

I would think pepper spray would be enough of a deterrent if the situation ever arose. After seeing the responses here I'll be recommending the same to female friends who may solo hike.

A plb would take too long to get a response to be any help.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby ErichFromm » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 1:23 pm

GPSGuided wrote:
DanShell wrote:It's very interesting to read the replies of the ladies because in my limited experience I have found 99% of the people I have had a chat too on a hike to be polite, well mannered and a pleasure to talk to.

Then obviously it's that 1% that's the problem.


Yep - like taking a snake bite kit. Very unlikely you'll need it but you need to "just in case".
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby ErichFromm » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 1:25 pm

Double post. ..
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby GPSGuided » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 1:31 pm

ErichFromm wrote:I would think pepper spray would be enough of a deterrent if the situation ever arose.

Irrespective of male or female, what would be the role of pepper spray? I'd think it's just a delay mechanism, to buy time and allow one to run away. Against a really dedicated aggressor, pepper spray isn't likely to be able to put the person down. Even stun guns have trouble with that. Out there, having an exit strategy/route at all times remains important.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby GPSGuided » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 1:33 pm

Strider wrote:What if someone was being stalked? A chopper overhead would almost certainly be a deterrent? Plus, it contains police who could then pursue the weirdo?

True, if one has sensed it early.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby ErichFromm » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 1:40 pm

GPSGuided wrote:
ErichFromm wrote:I would think pepper spray would be enough of a deterrent if the situation ever arose.

Irrespective of male or female, what would be the role of pepper spray? I'd think it's just a delay mechanism, to buy time and allow one to run away. Against a really dedicated aggressor, pepper spray isn't likely to be able to put the person down. Even stun guns have trouble with that. Out there, having an exit strategy/route at all times remains important.


Maybe just having it would create confidence, as well as something to deter without actually using. The reality is there isn't much that would stop someone who is really determined.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby Lindsay » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 1:55 pm

ErichFromm wrote:I would think pepper spray would be enough of a deterrent if the situation ever arose. After seeing the responses here I'll be recommending the same to female friends who may solo hike.

A plb would take too long to get a response to be any help.


Pepper sprays are illegal in Australia. There is nowhere to buy them legitimately.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby Travis22 » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 2:06 pm

Pepper spray and the like are a controlled substance in Vic so unless licensed to carry / use it you would be breaking the law, (not saying I agree with the law) so acquiring it in Vic isn't so simple.

I think hiking sticks would be better then nothing and a bunch of confidence / situational awareness would deter the 0.1% (I don't think there would even be 1% out there in the wilderness looking for trouble / a victim).

Knives are a really bad idea unless you are extremely proficient in their use as a weapon, odds are it would bet taken and used against you.

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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby Travis22 » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 2:07 pm

Lindsay wrote:
ErichFromm wrote:I would think pepper spray would be enough of a deterrent if the situation ever arose. After seeing the responses here I'll be recommending the same to female friends who may solo hike.

A plb would take too long to get a response to be any help.


Pepper sprays are illegal in Australia. There is nowhere to buy them legitimately.


Iirc there are a few states in oz where you can / or used to be able to buy it almost 'over the counter'.

WA and I thought SA used to sell it to you if you were over 18.

http://www.wellingtonsurplus.com.au/lis ... PER+SPRAYS

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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby GPSGuided » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 2:19 pm

Sound like some self-defense training will still be the best option for anyone wanting to go solo.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby Lindsay » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 2:29 pm

Travis22 wrote:
Lindsay wrote:
ErichFromm wrote:I would think pepper spray would be enough of a deterrent if the situation ever arose. After seeing the responses here I'll be recommending the same to female friends who may solo hike.

A plb would take too long to get a response to be any help.


Pepper sprays are illegal in Australia. There is nowhere to buy them legitimately.


Iirc there are a few states in oz where you can / or used to be able to buy it almost 'over the counter'.

WA and I thought SA used to sell it to you if you were over 18.

http://www.wellingtonsurplus.com.au/lis ... PER+SPRAYS

Travis


Did a quick search and found this:

"In most states and territories, including NSW, it is illegal to carry or possess pepper spray or mace. These items are classed as prohibited weapons. The only exception is in Western Australia, where pepper spray and mace are defined as controlled weapons, meaning that ownership of them is legal, but is restricted."

http://www.criminallaw.com.au/blog/crim ... alia/25752

Not sure what the WA restrictions are though.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby walkon » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 4:27 pm

Boy boys boys you are soo being typical testosterone driven males who don't listen. The girls have told you it is all about AVOIDING confrontation but do you listen NO! Think about it we are in the middle of nowhere! If we get an attacker angry with sore eyes where do we go. So stop thinking of fighting all the time and try using your brains instead. The best fight is one avoided! Anyway I always hike in a group so that's a non issue for me.

Kim
:-)One with the obviously smarter chromosome;-)

EDIT: lol I'll leave this on. I asked her opinion on this topic and now you have it as well
Cheers Walkon

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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby GPSGuided » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 5:41 pm

walkon wrote:...The best fight is one avoided! Anyway I always hike in a group so that's a non issue for me.

Avoid is obviously the first choice. But then there'll be situations where it can't be avoided or not foreseen. Then what? I think we are all just thinking the case through with considerations for the worst possible scenario.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby gayet » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 5:59 pm

You are definitely thinking it through too far.

If a situation has got to the point that you think a PLB is going to save you from a creep, you would need to be very well hidden from the creep in order to remain in the same location as when setting off the beacon. It isn't instant response from one of those out in the bush! If well hidden from the creep, you are also well hidden from the help.

If you are close enough to use pepper spray, you are too close. You have left your run too late.

Avoidance is by far the best option. If unsure or if uncomfortable, discretely leave the area. This can be done without causing offence and without raising any concerns. And the same applies regardless of the gender mix of the group. Women can be far more viscious to other women than a man ......
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby walkon » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 6:02 pm

Gaynet getting back onto the topic question do you walk alone or have friends that do, feelings on safety etc
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby gayet » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 6:13 pm

See my comment page 1.

I do walk alone and I walk in small groups but I do not walk as often as I would like - lack of time etc.

I don't feel insecure when walking, but a campsite can be uncomfortable if there are a lot of people there. A number of other solo walkers is far better than the same number in a group - herd mentality and all that coming to the fore....
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby ErichFromm » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 7:54 pm

walkon wrote:Boy boys boys you are soo being typical testosterone driven males who don't listen. The girls have told you it is all about AVOIDING confrontation but do you listen NO! Think about it we are in the middle of nowhere! If we get an attacker angry with sore eyes where do we go. So stop thinking of fighting all the time and try using your brains instead. The best fight is one avoided!


Too funny :-D

Just shows you some of the gender differences in thinking. Guys (myself included) instantly go to the Rambo option while in the meantime the smart ladies have already navigated the situation and are half way home.

In our defence though, we were trying to find a solution to women feeling restricted in their hiking habits...
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby ULWalkingPhil » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 8:01 pm

I feel very safe in the bush, I find fellow bushwalkers I come across on my walks are very friendly and polite, both male and female.

I am a black belt in martial arts. Having the knowledge and knowhow to protect myself is very assuring for me.

Its a pity Australia has come to this, theres no doubt a lot of dick heads out there, luckily I dont encounter them on my walks, I always walk solo, its been a while since I walked with anyone. I like my own time.

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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby awildland » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 8:10 pm

I just wrote a huge reply to this thread and then it didn;t save…couldn't be bothered writing it all again…in summary, horrible things happen in life anywhere anytime. Bushwalkers are nice people who share my passion for the quiet peaceful Australian bush. I am of the female variety and have solo camped in campgrounds, solo day walked and this week did my first solo over night. Beautiful.

Just don't watch Wolf Creek and everything wil be fine…l :lol:
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby walkon » Thu 14 Aug, 2014 9:59 pm

awildland wrote:I just wrote a huge reply to this thread and then it didn;t save…couldn't be bothered writing it all again…in summary, horrible things happen in life anywhere anytime. Bushwalkers are nice people who share my passion for the quiet peaceful Australian bush. I am of the female variety and have solo camped in campgrounds, solo day walked and this week did my first solo over night. Beautiful.


Congratulations welcome to the slob club (solo liberated overland bushwalkers club) and glad that you liked your time on your own. How did you go with it, the Bush seems more alive when you're by yourself and I like the heightened sense of your surroundings. I suppose all this makes me feel more alive as well.

Glad you could experience freedom more power to you
Cheers Walkon

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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby awildland » Fri 15 Aug, 2014 8:03 am

walkon wrote:Congratulations welcome to the slob club (solo liberated overland bushwalkers club) and glad that you liked your time on your own. How did you go with it, the Bush seems more alive when you're by yourself and I like the heightened sense of your surroundings. I suppose all this makes me feel more alive as well.

Glad you could experience freedom more power to you


thanks for club membership walk-on….I think the first time you do something it is always a little daunting but I enjoyed overcoming any doubts and fears as much as I enjoyed the walk itself. I just kept walking and then i got to my destination and then I stayed the night and then I walked back and then it was done! To be honest it wasn't too much different to walking with my partner Caz as we often walk along for hours without exchanging a word, lost in our own thoughts and in the feel of the bush. But I love the independence of walking alone and so camping overnight alone on a mountain top was a wonderful extension of that. I will be doing it again for sure….seems I am a well-converted SLOB! :D

ErichFromm wrote: but how comfortable are female hikers going on their own. And if they are not is it because of city safety concerns (i.e, being attacked) or hiking safety concerns (i.e., falling down a cliff or being attacked by wombats)?


and back to the main point of this thread. Erich I think some women will walk solo and some won't in the same way that some men don't walk solo... and safety concerns may not always be the reason for this decision.

but I would definitely encourage your friend to give it a go. Good planning, good backup and support, the right gear and then the next BIG step...putting one solo foot in front of the other.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby puredingo » Fri 15 Aug, 2014 9:40 am

Yeah DanShell it is a slim chance so slim in my opinion that I wouldn't consider it a deterent on whether a girl should solo hike or not. Most sexual harrassment cases on woman i hear/read about take place in city alleys, soccer fields, car parks, home invasions etc...Taking a chance in the bush seems like pretty good odds.

I recently walked the first day of a wild Dogs trip with a german woman. I didn't know her, it was one of those awkward situation where we set off at the same time and seemed to walk at the exact same pace and even if i stopped for a leak and she got ahead, eventually she would stop and i'd catch up and side by side we would be again. Naturally we got chatting and it made the first day until we parted ways quite enjoyable...NEVER throughout our union did it cross my mind to rape her but I imagine that her gauging the amount of gasping going on as i climbed the hills she surmised i wouldn't have a decent shag in me anyway therefor she was safe?
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby ErichFromm » Fri 15 Aug, 2014 9:52 am

awildland wrote:and back to the main point of this thread. Erich I think some women will walk solo and some won't in the same way that some men don't walk solo... and safety concerns may not always be the reason for this decision.

but I would definitely encourage your friend to give it a go. Good planning, good backup and support, the right gear and then the next BIG step...putting one solo foot in front of the other.


Believe me I have been encouraging. I think in my friend's case there is an element of lack of self-confidence too. She loves to hike, but also likes to relax in knowing someone else is in charge of getting safely to where we are going. I'm the guy who obsesses about silnylon / cuben fibre and dew points after all :)
Often we'll do a hike that I've done earlier and she'll say "that trail was pretty easy to find" and my thought is "yeah - you should try it on your own when you don't have someone leading the way and knowing if you take a wrong turn it could be a costly mistake!" :)
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby awildland » Fri 15 Aug, 2014 10:14 am

ErichFromm wrote:Believe me I have been encouraging. I think in my friend's case there is an element of lack of self-confidence too. She loves to hike, but also likes to relax in knowing someone else is in charge of getting safely to where we are going. I'm the guy who obsesses about silnylon / cuben fibre and dew points after all :)
Often we'll do a hike that I've done earlier and she'll say "that trail was pretty easy to find" and my thought is "yeah - you should try it on your own when you don't have someone leading the way and knowing if you take a wrong turn it could be a costly mistake!" :)



LOL: that sounds like me and the way I often rely on Caz. Believe me it is quite pleasant just being able to tag along on an amazing bush walk without having to navigate or pay attention. :wink: Caz started making me go first on some off-track adventures and find the route out or back as a way of building skills. Self confidence does come with experience and experience only comes with experience. But for my first solo I just kept it simple - a good track i couldn't get lost on and not too far and sure of a decent campsite (although not an 'official' one) at the end. Have her read everyone's comments here and maybe that will provide some insight for her.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby perfectlydark » Sat 16 Aug, 2014 12:14 am

Aside from the usual personal safety issues anyone would face (ie snakes, cliffs yada yada) an encounter with a 'wild' hermit would be enough to scare the pants off anyone, male or female. The good thing as these sorts generally wont be seen and try to.avoid attention so probably ok.
Biggest risk for a solo female I guess is potential for unwelcomed flirtation (however I would expecr this would even be rare...bogan sites excluded).
Most people ive met on track are friendly, polite, and I cant really imagine anyone out there trying to pick up.
Thats just my 2c though for what its worth
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby gayet » Sat 16 Aug, 2014 11:37 am

and I cant really imagine anyone out there trying to pick up.


I can't say I have ever thought that was an option. I think its more avoiding the potential hassle by the bunch of testosterone charged blokes (and perhaps their girlfriends) all trying to prove themselves "better" than each other.

You do what you feel comfortable with. And if that means moving elsewhere or walking in more 'general walking population' areas, so be it. Likewise, walking in more remote areas, less likely to run into groups, is also an option.

Some how I just can't see any sensible man or woman thinking a walking track a long way from the nearest hot shower and change of clothes is going to be the best place to try to pick. Not likely to show either party in the best light. :roll:
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby neilmny » Sat 16 Aug, 2014 11:50 am

Travis22 wrote:................ I'd like to think the younger hikers / outdoor size guys today are much more educated on what's write and wrong and not objectifying women etc...??

Travis.


Dream on Travis, as a father of 2 daughters the knuckle heads (being polite here) come mostly in the younger ages.
Besides as an older bloke I can tell you that fellas of older age are too busy surviving the effort to be aroused by the presence of a random female.

Kainas I'm saddened by your experiences/outlook but rest assured most people are decent but I can see from your sailing experiences where you got your sad view of things.

I'll shut up now.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby Travis22 » Sat 16 Aug, 2014 12:06 pm

neilmny wrote:
Travis22 wrote:................ I'd like to think the younger hikers / outdoor size guys today are much more educated on what's write and wrong and not objectifying women etc...??

Travis.


Dream on Travis, as a father of 2 daughters the knuckle heads (being polite here) come mostly in the younger ages.
Besides as an older bloke I can tell you that fellas of older age are too busy surviving the effort to be aroused by the presence of a random female.

Kainas I'm saddened by your experiences/outlook but rest assured most people are decent but I can see from your sailing experiences where you got your sad view of things.

I'll shut up now.



Your saying younger guys while out bushwalkng are knuckleheads? I have no doubt that there are IMO many more issues with the younger generation today etc. but my thinkng is that the younger guys who are into nature/ bushwalking as opposed to boozing it up of a weekend type guys, are the minority and thoughts younger guys IMO pose zero threat to a lone female hiker. (What I'm trying to say is yes loads of younger guys are knobs but the few young guys who are really keen on bushwalking etc are much less likely to be knobs)

In my experience (with my wife) is it tends to be to older guys who are a bit more sexist and set in their ways. Not saying all older people are like that again were talking a real minority hear but I think a lady is more likely to receive the odd inappropriate / creepy comment from someone from a generation where it was more acceptable and common place.

At the end of the day I think this topics been blown so far out of proportion. And IMO any solo hiker regardless of sex is equally likely to feel somewhat insecure or less safe encountering other people in the bush v's the same person in a group.

Travis.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby Nuts » Sat 16 Aug, 2014 12:17 pm

I can say that iv'e met just as many creepy women in bushwalking (amongst some of the warmest, most gentle souls..) ahem - sometimes the damning can be even worse when their attentions Aren't met.

Leaving that alone, on busy tracks you do occasionally meet single guys with desperate intentions. Hut Wardens here would be insightful.
Even without being able to relate to the threat some good precautions come to mind.. set camp as late as possible, after dark even. Be vague about movements, when you'll move on, what your plans are. Keep an ear out (ask around) about locations of staff and or check numbers leaving on booking systems (for your day and the one or two after). I think Neil's right, older blokes are likely thinking about dousing the pain and the comfy mattress (alternatively don't blame them if you were after more :) ... )

Grow leg hair, carve apple with a bowie knife, practice (easier for some than others) your sourest face.. spit a lot.. haha, sorry, serious topic. Good topic.
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Re: Female solo hikers/bushwalkers

Postby yeverett » Sat 16 Aug, 2014 7:28 pm

I have recently done three 10km solo walks in Sydney metro bush - Garigal and Kuringgai. I absolutely loved walking solo, although I did it with quite a lot of apprehension as not walking alone has been ingrained in me over decades. My father died after slipping and falling off a cliff while hiking (not solo) in bush contained within a city (not Sydney), so yes it does happen. I didn't tell my mother, she would not be happy if she knew I had walked solo.

On two of my walks I met men that worried me slightly in the bush. I was scooting around a pretty rock overhang cave next to the path on the mt Kuringgai track, and stumbled on a man living in the cave. I went looking for a view rock to enjoy a tea break just off the path on another day different place and stumbled on another man living in the bush who made me uneasy. Two friends have met a solo man who hikes naked on the Sphinx track. So yes, safety is a concern for solo women hikers.
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