Two-Legged Predators: Solo Hikers Be Wary
Go Nomad, November 27th, 2017
THE TWO-LEGGED PREDATORS Attacks on the trail are rare, but are you prepared? By Heide Brandes
I was deep within the quiet wilderness of the Buffalo River Trail in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, when I suddenly realized I wasn’t alone.
I was trekking the fall-drenched 36-mile trail that winds up and down mountains, through oak-hickory forests and along limestone bluffs without seeing a single soul. I almost never see another person while hiking; only fading footprints in the dirt trail even hint that others exist here besides me.
I worry about a few things when I solo hike. What happens if I roll an ankle? What if a bear decides I would be a delicious little snack? What if a crabby rattlesnake crams my calf with burning poison?
I’ve never worried about what would happen if I saw another person on the trail - until I smelled the cigarette smoke. The distinctive smell of cigarettes wasn’t strong, just a hint on the breeze, but it stopped me dead in my tracks. It was the moment that I realized, after two days of pure solitude, that I wasn’t alone in these woods.
I’ve never been frightened hiking alone, but in that moment, I was unprepared if someone came barreling out of the woods like a charging bull, intent on doing me harm. I could scream, but only the birds would hear me. I could run, but the forest would echo my route. I could fight, but I’m all of 5’2” and a buck-twenty, so likely I would be overpowered.
I was woefully unprepared for this. Sure, I followed all the rules of solo hiking by letting someone know my exact route, having an approximate time of arrival, carrying extra water and food, double-checking my light source and first-aid kit and checking my trail map and compass often.
I never prepared for what I would do if another person meant to do me harm.
Luckily, according to trail experts and outdoor guides, assaults on trails are few and far between. Nevertheless, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. While the likelihood of having a problem with another person is slim, all hikers should – as with every possible scenario – have a plan.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
“Encounters with aggressive people while hiking are extremely rare,” said Carl Ewald, executive director of terraMar Adventures adventure club in Philadelphia. “They are almost non-existent. They make the national news because they are the stuff of nightmares. But, this is not a reason to avoid hiking.”
Many experts agree that solo hikers rarely have to worry about physical assault from another human being on the trail. But attacks do occur. In September 2013, a group of hikers was attacked by bandits in a remote part of Papua New Guinea and two PNG porters were killed.
Two female hikers in the Comanche Peak Wilderness area west of Fort Collins, Colo., were hiking the Signal Mountain Trail in September of that same year when a man attacked them. In June 2013, authorities say a man sexually assaulted and stabbed a lone hiker at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
So while assaults are rare, being prepared is key to escaping such an attack.
“People are animals at the core. So, I would give the same advice as I would for encounters with a potentially aggressive animal,” Ewald said. “Give it a respectful distance. Move in a calm or deliberate manner away from the threat. Be prepared to defend yourself.”
Robert Richardson of Off Grid Survival specializes in self-defense, and although he agrees that trails are generally not a problem area, he adds that many hikers do not prepare as well as they should for the possibility.
“Often times hikers make the mistake of thinking they're safe while out on the trail. While they might carry survival equipment, and even have things like bear spray to protect themselves from wild animals, very few are prepared to deal with a violent person or attack while out in the wilderness,” Richardson said.
WHAT TO DO
Jessica Cargill specializes in self-defense. As a Mixed Martial Arts champion and leader in the RunHERS Safe Woman project, Cargill says confidence and self-defense training can improve a lone hiker’s chance when faced with an assailant.
“Holding yourself with confidence is important,” she said. “Most attackers are looking for easy prey. They want someone they can overpower quickly and easily, so if you stare them straight in the eye and walk with confidence, you become a less attractive target.” If threatened by another person on a hiking trail, Cargill said hikers can do several things to protect themselves including:
Get trained. Even a basic self-defense course improves your chances of getting away from a violent attack.
Carry protection. Bear spray works just as well on humans as it does on bears, but the key is to have the spray readily available and easy to reach.
Act confident and strong. If you feel threatened, walk with shoulders back and an open posture. Make eye-contact with the person in question. Cargill said directly addressing the threat with a question like “What do you want?” or a statement like “You need to back off” creates the impression that you are not an easy target.
Make distance. Whether you are faced with a mountain lion or a creepy stalker, create distance between you and the threat. The more distance you have, the better chance you have to avoid a sudden surprise attack.
Never admit you are alone. If stopped on a trail by an aggressor, always imply that you are with other people by saying statements like “My group is moving slow, so I was scouting ahead” or “I’m waiting for my boyfriend to catch up with me. He’s taking a short break.”
When in doubt, run and fight. Use every dirty trick in the book to escape your attacker and run. Never hesitate to hurt an enemy and bite, scream, kick, scratch and punch until you can escape.
Carry communications. At the very least, carry signaling devices like a whistle, a reflective LED light with strobe functions, brightly-colored gear. Though pricey, consider investing in a locator beacon (PLB) or a satellite phone, like the SPOT II GPS Messenger or Yellowbrick GPS messenger.
“Most of the time, an attacker won’t take the effort to hike deep into the woods on the off chance that he will come across a female hiker by herself – it’s just too much trouble,” said Cargill. “But, it can happen. Get trained in self-defense. Make sure you have a plan and an evacuation route if something does occur. Above all, don’t ever give up – fight for your life.”
I still hike solo, and to this day, I’ve never encountered trouble on the trail. What I do have now is a plan of action in case I am threatened. Like getting lost or injured, being prepared for any scenario can save your life.
