Personal safety when hiking alone

Hannahwalksfar

Statistics are great but I should still be prepared.

Lillymoo01

Hannahwalksfar wrote: »

Statistics are great but I should still be prepared.

Absolutely you should, just pointing out that the media are great at enticing unwarranted fear. I guess it is how they sell stories. I am wondering how statistics look in other countries though in comparison to Australia where you have more chance of dying from a snake bite when in a remote location than anything else.

Lillymoo01

Double post grhhhh

Hannahwalksfar

Well I have been bitten by a snake before so Im not taking my chance with being alone in a remote area and unprepared. I think it depends on the remote area though. Around here we have recently had a massive hike in meth and crime so it’s suddenly not as safe. Where I will be shortly it’s pretty much wild dogs, snakes, wild camels, feral pigs and cattle that pose the biggest risk. And the heat.

Lillymoo01

Hannahwalksfar wrote: »

Well I have been bitten by a snake before so Im not taking my chance with being alone in a remote area and unprepared. I think it depends on the remote area though. Around here we have recently had a massive hike in meth and crime so it’s suddenly not as safe. Where I will be shortly it’s pretty much wild dogs, snakes, wild camels, feral pigs and cattle that pose the biggest risk. And the heat.

I am a wee bit jealous. I'd like nothing more than to get away from it all for a while. Which state do you live in? I am in South Australia.

Hannahwalksfar

I’m currently in NSW but live in The Pilbara

Lillymoo01

I'd love to visit the Pilbara and Kimberly regions. My husband much of his youth in Carnarvon.

Hannahwalksfar

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

I'd love to visit the Pilbara and Kimberly regions. My husband much of his youth in Carnarvon.

It’s a beautiful and unique spot. Definitely visit when you can

ceiswyn

Does Australia have some kind of organisation (like the Ramblers Association here in the UK) that does organised hikes, or through which you could meet other people who also like walking?

Hannahwalksfar

ceiswyn wrote: »

Does Australia have some kind of organisation (like the Ramblers Association here in the UK) that does organised hikes, or through which you could meet other people who also like walking?

Not in rural areas and not every day. I legit hike 6 days a week. No one has the time but I’m off work for a month so can go for hours every day. Plus I love hiking alone.

BarbaraHelen2013

My Dad, who was a keen hiker always told me to hike carrying a stick. I rejected an actual walking stick but kept a sturdy branch in my hall cupboard which I’d take if where I was going wasn’t likely to have fallen branches available.

His reasoning was that distance from an attacker when whacking them with a stick was always better than self defence close up, especially as a small female! Whack and run! Problem there is that if you can’t whack them hard enough and you’re way out in the wilds can you run far and fast enough! But it made me feel a bit more empowered than walking without the stick.

darklyndsea

You might want to talk to the local police to see what they recommend. You might get useless advice like "hike where it's more populated," but there's also a chance that they'll have good suggestions. And they'll know what's legal and what's not, of course. And it can't hurt to have them be aware that you're out hiking 6 days a week.

Hannahwalksfar

darklyndsea wrote: »

You might want to talk to the local police to see what they recommend. You might get useless advice like "hike where it's more populated," but there's also a chance that they'll have good suggestions. And they'll know what's legal and what's not, of course. And it can't hurt to have them be aware that you're out hiking 6 days a week.

Yeah I have had this chat recently and got the “you should be pretty safe but just be smart”. Which is fair enough as it’s rural and still in phone service where I hike.

HilTri

I take my dog and a big knife. I text someone and tell them where I am going and text again when I am out. Nothing better than hiking alone!

jnomadica

Are any animal sprays legal there? I don’t think there are bears in Australia, but here in the US I carry a giant can of bear spray. It has a reach of over 20 feet. I’m more worried about bears than people, but I believe the spray would be quite effective against any bad guys. And even though the dog I bring hiking isn’t large, I think she’s a detterent.

Hannahwalksfar

No sprays are legal

cbihatt

What about something loud, like an air horn? It could be loud enough to damage a person’s hearing if used up close, and at the very least it would help you to signal for help.

Hannahwalksfar

Good idea!

deputy_randolph

I would always take the dog even if it was a friendly dog...I'm sure if a situation escalated, most dogs would become defensive of owner...and strangers don't know your dog and may be avoidant of any dog. I'd probably consider getting a second, intimidating looking dog. Your dog might like a friend.

Lillymoo01

Another trick I was told was that if you start feeling uncomfortable just grab your phone and pretend to have a conversation about where you are and who is around you. They are less likely to attack you if they feel they could be more easily identified.