Looking after yourself?

[jonnno]

This is the last thing I needed to read when I'm finally getting round to my first solo trip - and I'm fairly ****ting it already. I can get spooked walking out to the garage at night to get the washing, God knows how I'll feel at 3am in the pitch dark miles from anywhere

However, the mention that this happened somewhere that you see women with prams means that it's very close to civilization and easily accessible. I'd never solo camp unless I was either a couple of miles from the nearest road or at a decent height that your average chav couldn't be arsed with (200m or more). Even then I'd want to go a bit further to a spot a bit more inconvenient to get to. Once you're in that sort of area you're only really going to see other people who are committed to the outdoors and I'd hope they'd have a reasonable attitude! I'm also planning to tarp it, cook on a mini trangia and bring a hobo for some minor heat and light so I should be fairly well concealed.

If I did think someone was around I think fright would probably get the better of me and I'd grab my knife, walking pole and any valuables and creep off into the night and hide. When it's properly dark you would be harder to find than was worth the effort to a hoody. However I think once you've gone down this route you'd be spooked until first light.

The only other thing to worry about is a proper psycho. Staying away from chavs can be done with distance, height and concealment but if it's a silver screen escaped nutter who wants to make a coat from your skin what can you do - that's likely what I'll be pondering for a solid 7 hours on my first solo. Well that or the Blair Witch - either way I'd best take extra toilet paper

 

[nuggets]

boo

 

[LordRose]

I don't know... Sounds kind of uncomfortable. I'd try putting the knife under the pillow.

It's interesting though, how if something freaks us out in the woods a lot of us go straight for our knife or axe. If it's nothing then everything's fine, or if someone is there but they turn around and leave, but what if someone is there and they keep on coming? A knife's great for scaring people off but after that, if they're not scared you might be in trouble if you don't know how to use that knife for self defense.

I think it's probably a good idea to keep your knife out of the confrontation to begin with, unless you really end up needing it to protect your life. First of all, because if you end up injuring them or worse with that knife and they had nothing then you may have a hard time explaining to the police why you felt you should use a knife against an unarmed person. Or if they manage to disarm you and take the knife, then you're in real trouble. Maybe you should try to let them know that you know they're there like some people in this thread have done, or of course running is a pretty good idea.
I'm just saying that getting stabbed probably isn't too fun but it becomes a bigger possibility if you introduce a knife into the (possible) fight to begin with, so unless you're up against a group or someone who's armed, it's probably safer (a little) to try fighting them off with your fists or just plain running.

Maybe this isn't appropriate to talk about but I think that it's something to think about instead of relying on holding something scary to scare the bad guy off. This is just what I was thinking though, I'm no self defense expert and it's really up to you to decide if you should pull your knife out or not.

I think the main concern for many would be getting attacked whilst your still in your sleeping bag. Its likely never going to happen unless there is a proper nutjob out there, but I think its mainly a comfort thing to allow you to sleep. I did worry though what if a policeman woke me up and I got startled lol. It doesn't bare thinking about.

 

[Walks with dogs]

Lest anyone think I was serious, I was joking. I don't actually sleep with a knife at all, just with the wife who is infinitely more dangerous.

 

[rik_uk3]

This is the last thing I needed to read when I'm finally getting round to my first solo trip - and I'm fairly ****ting it already. I can get spooked walking out to the garage at night to get the washing, God knows how I'll feel at 3am in the pitch dark miles from anywhere

However, the mention that this happened somewhere that you see women with prams means that it's very close to civilization and easily accessible. I'd never solo camp unless I was either a couple of miles from the nearest road or at a decent height that your average chav couldn't be arsed with (200m or more). Even then I'd want to go a bit further to a spot a bit more inconvenient to get to. Once you're in that sort of area you're only really going to see other people who are committed to the outdoors and I'd hope they'd have a reasonable attitude! I'm also planning to tarp it, cook on a mini trangia and bring a hobo for some minor heat and light so I should be fairly well concealed.

If I did think someone was around I think fright would probably get the better of me and I'd grab my knife, walking pole and any valuables and creep off into the night and hide. When it's properly dark you would be harder to find than was worth the effort to a hoody. However I think once you've gone down this route you'd be spooked until first light.

The only other thing to worry about is a proper psycho. Staying away from chavs can be done with distance, height and concealment but if it's a silver screen escaped nutter who wants to make a coat from your skin what can you do - that's likely what I'll be pondering for a solid 7 hours on my first solo. Well that or the Blair Witch - either way I'd best take extra toilet paper

Best not put this on your iPod then

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying_Breed

 

[Sleepy Weasel]

3 people, one of you. Statisticaly you are 3 times more likely to hit one of them that they are of hitting you.

An aura of quiet confidence works wonders here, oh and a black belt in the martial art of your choice......

 

[Cromm]

Hello? Yes that is my camp and this is my gear...Do you like??

JOKE.

 

[woof]

3 people, one of you. Statisticaly you are 3 times more likely to hit one of them that they are of hitting you.

An aura of quiet confidence works wonders here, oh and a black belt in the martial art of your choice......

Hi SW, i'd be interested to know where your statistics come from, as you've got to get "lucky" 3 times, they've only got to get lucky once.

Rob

 

[FreddyFish]

What about this;

*Party Popper Tripwire Alarm*
http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/popperalarmpalindrome.htm

 

[Sleepy Weasel]

Hallo Woof

The trick is to be lucky enough to hit the ringleader very hard first as you've only got a 1 in 3 chance of doing this, but you are still 3 times more likely to hit one of them. Probably.

 

[sc_steve]

About a week ago I did my usual jaunt into my favourite spot in the woods, put up the tarp, got the woodgas burner on the go did a bit of videoing etc.

All was going smoothly, surprised that it only rained a bit, then I noticed 3 fella’s trying to creep around the tree line towards me! I carried on, keeping an eye on them as they got closer, so I stood up and retrieved my staff I had leant against a tree 10 feet away. I don’t know if it was this action that changed events, but I heard them stop and finally watched as they retraced their steps.

I am not the smallest of people, so was it this that put them off or were they just pratting about? I have been in enough situations when I know I am being threatened, and wondered how others cope when out and about by themselves?

As they left, I saw them backtrack, and my thought was to creep around the back of me! Paranoia again. This point I had slowly been getting my stuff together anyway, I packed up and left through a way I knew they would have difficulty following.

Now as I say, I’m not paranoid but find this weird, and since there have been a couple of homeless/refugee camps in the woods over the summer. From what I could make out they weren’t kids either, but if they were trying to improve their stalking skills, well I would have to tell them to give up now! lol

I go out quite a lot and camp out alone, and will continue to. Hopefully no one will say it only happens in films!

So I ask, has anyone else experienced this type of thing and do you have an action plan for events like this?


Stay safe.

Sounds like you did the right thing and avoided any confrontation which is the best self defense. Usually if you think something is wrong with a situation and it doesn't seem quite right, it's because it probably there is something up. I'm sure you won't see them again. Just don't watch Blair Witch before you head out into the woods

 

[SMARTY]

Just be aware the the military use areas of Cornwall for evasion training, some in military clothes, some in civilian clothes. May be your camp was mistaken for someone involved in the exercise.

Where in Cornwall did this happen?

 

[1234]

hi
i read the first page of reply's and couldn't help noticing all the people who said to try and get out of there asap
well............. this might just be me, but i (all 5ft10 and the nutter within)wont be intimidated by anyone, if i had people creeping up on me i would stand up straight, breath in (puff that chest up ), give them the look ( you know the crazy, im looking you dead in the eye and im a nutter, look) if they cause trouble i would hide my knife ( i wouldnt want to use it on them and i wouldnt want them to use it on me) and the boxer within would be unleashed , if all turns out well ( my temperment + adreanline says i hope it would) id pack up my kit (properly, not rushed) and be on my way, but if they seamed ok the nice guy would come out

thats just me though, if we all lived in fear we would never leave the house and get to experience own little patch of wilderness

 

[jntroisi]

I take my dog with me in the woods. I highly recommend the American Bulldog. If you want a really great outdoor companion that does not tolerate strangers, have a look at the Fila Brasileiro or Caucasian Ovcharka. The only thing is both of these dogs don't really want anyone around you or your family at any time, which makes it hard to have company over. In fact, Filas rarely accept anyone they meet after a year old.
Also, I carry at least two knives in the woods. One bushcraft knife on my side, a neck knife under my shirt and usually some spyderco in my pocket.
At the end of the day, people must look at me and think I'm a weirdo out in the woods building fires, and cooking over a fire when there's plenty of good restaraunts in town!
I usually wave them over and get to talking to them and offer them some tea or something to eat.

 

[J4C3]

In a situation of them and me id not be too worried i can handle myself but i do have concern for a moment id be maybe solo and taking a toilet away from gear a little bit so i cant protect it or when im fast on in a hammock and caught unaware.

Anyone going into a remote area is risking a little i think.maybe more from getting an injury and not being to get to safety/help or get assistance

 

[woof]

We are more at risk of injury, than asault, when on our own, keep calm, but be prepared.
Rob

 

[Tricia]

As a middle aged woman, I`m sensible enough to know that if a couple of blokes were trying to harrass me I wouldn`t really stand a chance, so I never go camping alone and if I did, my first aim would be to hide until they went away!
Having said that when I was growing up I was taught to knife fight by older male members of the family (don`t ask, we lived in the back of beyond and I was raised by men as mum died when I was still young) but it isn`t anything I`ve ever had to put into practice!
I honestly do think such situations are very different for men than they are women. Equality be damned when it comes to physical threat, I`m five foot nothing and not a contender for Mrs Universe so would have to rely more upon my wits than physique to get me out of danger.

Buggrit. That`s me doomed then......

 

[Twodogs]

Chalk it up and move on ..........

 

[Emile]

All this talk of knives for defence... if you're like me you'll have a brew going non-stop until you turn in for the night, and that cup of freshly brewed tea could then become your potential defence if confronted by someone, as it will surely scald someone if aimed correctly, giving you some time for follow up action, be that running away or decking them.
If its a false alarm you've still got your tea and some company to drink it with.
bushcraft is about improvising, right...