Lone females in woodland - dangerous?

[Earth Mother]

A bit of a dodgey title but there you go I had a great day today thanks to the manager of Rosswood Scout campsite. He allowed me access to the relatively secure woodland within the site so that I could feel safe to go about my bushcraft pottering - I'm really grateful for that but would hate to impose too often. I feel really vulnerable walking in isolated places as a lone female and was wondering if you have any suggestions as to how or where I could enjoy my hobby safely.

 

[Kim]

Just be aware of the area you're going into really, if it ajoins a 'dodgy' estate or trouble spot. Let someone know when and where you're going. Awareness is a must, wherever and whenever you're walking. Know whose around if anybody is, where they are in relation to you and if they continue on their own way or get a bit too interested in what you're doing. But I would ask the question, why do you feel vulnerable? Is it something in nature you fear, how you feel when you're alone within it, or do you fear meeting someone who may do you harm? Statistically, men are far more open to violent attacks than women are, but the media...curse them...perpetuate the whole, women are vulnerable, are always getting attacked and you can't possibly be out on your own without being vulnerable. Not true, women are incredibly powerful whether they're out on their own or out with others. Let's face it, getting run over is something far more likely (which I'm hoping will never happen - to either of us!!!) Attitude is also essential, and the state of mind you're in when you go out. If you walk confidently wherever you are, then that's what you're telling the world, I'm a confident person, not a vulnerable one.

Hope I read you're original post correctly??

Enjoy crafting!!

 

[Toddy]

Know your area.
Take a dog (for a walk)
Go with a friend.
Carry a small pack and a pocket guide plant book.....you just look like someone collecting for something 'arty'
Don't wear overtly *camouflage* clothing, but quiet colours allow you to blend in gently.
In a new area wear a hiking style cagoul, you're obviously just out for a walk.
Go and do a police sponsored self defence course.
Be Aware, but not jumpy.

Any of the above make things a little easier & you look as though you belong there and that makes you unremarkable.
I'm 46 & I won't bivvi out by myself even now, silly isn't it?
Most attacks on women are in their own homes, very few are by strangers, most people you meet are decent folks who would go out of their way to help rather than hurt, but we're still cautious. Men are too though, and fewer of them like to admit to feeling scared, worried, or concerned for their safety.

My biggest scare was about half a mile from my own home, re-tracing my steps up from a deep pool I found myself surrounded by a dozen adult sized teenage boys high as kites on booze and dope. I didn't confront them, just quietly 'excuse me'd' my way up to the pathway and then as the comments got really ribald slipped quietly into the woodland and onto the path home. Not funny Met a neighbour walking his dog and walked home with them.
I just wasn't paying enough attention to who was about and what time it was.
Be well,
Toddy

 

[Andy]

women are far less of a target for a few reasons, when they are the chances of it being violent are far less.
Most crime is driven by money rather then anything else, out in the woods wheer your on your own peopel wouldn't bother going just to mug someone as they aren't as likely to find anyone to mug.

After having two incidents in one week I decided to investigate personal attack alarms. Ross (a policeman on britishblades) recommended a criminal marker. I got one from ebay here (for £1 more I might add)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20589&item=5978825719&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
I think it's a better option for in the woods as a load noise might not bother someone out ther anyway

I have a bunch of photos I took of the spray for a mini review, at the moment I can't get them on the net but I'll try and sort it next week if you want

 

[TheViking]

Know your area.
Take a dog (for a walk)
Go with a friend.
Carry a small pack and a pocket guide plant book.....you just look like someone collecting for something 'arty'
Don't wear overtly *camouflage* clothing, but quiet colours allow you to blend in gently.
In a new area wear a hiking style cagoul, you're obviously just out for a walk.
Go and do a police sponsored self defence course.
Be Aware, but not jumpy.

And more importantly, bring a double bit axe.

 

[Kim]

Know your area.
Take a dog (for a walk)
Go with a friend.
Carry a small pack and a pocket guide plant book.....you just look like someone collecting for something 'arty'
Don't wear overtly *camouflage* clothing, but quiet colours allow you to blend in gently.
In a new area wear a hiking style cagoul, you're obviously just out for a walk.
Go and do a police sponsored self defence course.
Be Aware, but not jumpy.

Toddy

Toddy's right, blend in, be relaxed and aware. Mmm, lots of teenagers, high as kites, in a wood, what a nice surprise...!

 

[Toddy]

And more importantly, bring a double bit axe.

Well there is that Personally I fancy the double barrelled shotgun approach myself I was offered a lady's handbag pistol but reckoned I'd really have trouble explaining that one

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[beachlover]

Well there is that Personally I fancy the double barrelled shotgun approach myself I was offered a lady's handbag pistol but reckoned I'd really have trouble explaining that one

Cheers,
Toddy

Go for the pistol, but make sure you can use it or leave it at home!

 

[Andy]

Forgot to mention

I've spent quite a long time going through ways of making it harder for people to mug you. Since people have tried more then once but never succeded I think they help. (this is mostly with the police)
A lot of it isn't so useful for the bushcraft setting I wont go into it but the object was making it easier for you to see and hear other people in order to prevent them coming within striking range in the first place. In bushcraft you don't have so much background noise and wont have an Ipod in your lug holes your going to notice sooner anyway.

 

[grahoom]

dogs are good - if you like them that is.

 

[Kim]

Do they count if they stand lower than 20 centimetres...!

 

[outdoorcode]

dogs are good - if you like them that is.

True, I often sleep out alone in 2 different woods, in the country not town I might add, and I always feel safe as these two always sleep out with me and always warn me if anybodys about. Warm to snuggle upto too (I'm a softy)

 

[grahoom]

Do they count if they stand lower than 20 centimetres...!

lol. - if its a jack russell it might well do

 

[Gary]

Only enough I had a similar problem, not one of worrying about being attacked (god help the attacker) but one of being viewed with suspicion.

I lone man wandering in the eoods wearing drab clothes - in todays sad world how many peole would view him as a threat, a pervert or worse?

It was a concern of mine and so much so that I not only take my dog to the woods every time (not that he minds) but I also drag along one of my kids!

That said I just pictured a male brushcraft wandering the woods spotting a lone female bushcraft and both of them nervously flitting about avoiding each other for fear of the other - great little world we now live in eh, once upon a time two strangers passing on a trail would have said hello, shared news of events from where they had come, maybe even traded a skill or tool - now we cant trust anybody, women cant feel safe in the woods, men worry about being labelled a pervet ---- lovely little PC world!

 

[grahoom]

once upon a time two strangers passing on a trail would have said hello, shared news of events from where they had come, maybe even traded a skill or tool - now we cant trust anybody, women cant feel safe in the woods, men worry about being labelled a pervet ---- lovely little PC world!

i do always try and say hello or acknowledge people of i am walking in the woods or the countryside; i think this comes from me growing up in a village, and it was the done thing to do when you saw someone else on a foot path etc.

 

[Great Pebble]

Mobile phone is always good for peace of mind if nothing else.
I'd imagine though that the majority of woodland is safer than the majority of the urban or even sunurban sprawl.

It's the fact that the environment is different to you that makes it seem scarier, it works both ways.

I just take SWMBO. She scary.

 

[Toddy]

That said I just pictured a male brushcraft wandering the woods spotting a lone female bushcraft and both of them nervously flitting about avoiding each other for fear of the other - great little world we now live in eh, once upon a time two strangers passing on a trail would have said hello, shared news of events from where they had come, maybe even traded a skill or tool - now we cant trust anybody, women cant feel safe in the woods, men worry about being labelled a pervet ---- lovely little PC world![/QUOTE]

I usually say hello or at least acknowledge everyone I meet.....hey, I live in a village, if I ignore someone it looks like I'm being snooty.....and our nearest city, Glasgow, is full of people who will cheerfully have hour long conversations with complete strangers they'll never meet again, but the atmosphere (vibes?) from some people is very off putting, especially when you meet them solitary in woodlands. Most furtive fellas are just laying snares I find I did meet a very peculiar man recently though who asked me about dogging. I calmly replied that we had very little problem with the schoolchildren. He looked absolutely stunned. I mentioned it later to a friend who tied himself in granny knots laughing and when he could draw breath he explained that skipping school *wasn't* what the manny had meant Well, *I *didn't know!

Maybe this post ought to be mod-ed, sorry guys.
Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Kim]

Lol.

I always have more problems with people in my immediate vacinity than anywhere else, like my neighbour (a small, strange little man) who having done some very dubious things in the past (for which I got him VERY arrested) asks me to marry him every six months or so. The last note I got from him actually specified the church and the honeymoon location...

However, I digress. The woods I go to, everybody is pretty friendly and there are loads of dog walkers. It's a 'middle class' sort of a wood!!! If you know what I mean. However, a parnoid habit I have, although I'm not sure why, is if I see a man with a dog lead, I always like to check to see if he has actually got a dog with him. As if that makes him less suspicious or something...?

 

[Earth Mother]

Thankyou so much, I feel so much calmer now. My fear isn't of nature (even though I was sitting under my tarp with a thunder storm raging above me earlier today) but of the worry of an attack. The newspapers certainly don't help the situation as Kim mentioned, but rather make many people nervous about walking in our beautiful homeland. I had never thought that men on occasion feel uncomfortable too and this, strangely, is of some comfort too. I'll take all the advice offered and walk confidently (and with an axe) in known places. Cheers guys - you're great!

 

[Kim]

You could always hire 'outdoorcode' and his two, small canines...!!