Walking Alone In The Woods

[Anarchy]

Seriously, no other animal or reptile is as dangerous as humans. Even if you are attacked by an animal or reptile, you are most likely to have instant death

I was going to be clever and write "malaria protozoan, herpes (measels) virus and pox virus"

but the way you've worded it, I'm stuck with mosquitos ticks and tsetse flies.

In terms of Humans, the most deadly form by far are those who are working for governments: at least 220 million non war killings by governments in the twentieth century (about 3 times as many as killed in all of the 20th century wars). Ref; the late Rudy Rummel, university of Hawaii

 

[jaccat]

I have to walk, it's one of the ways I can really get distance from my life and clear my head. But generally I walk the same track every time, one that I used to play on when I was a kid. Nowadays it's popular with tourists, so closer to town there's always people about. Further out it gets quieter and then I can feel myself becoming more aware of my surroundings, there's even one patch which inspires a certain amount of fear, but my need to walk, to push myself, to be calmed by the nature around me overrides that.

On tracks I don't know so well the anxiety is much greater. A few months ago I turned back early because there was a male dog walker behind me who made me uncomfortable. It upset me, but I think it was the sensible thing to do. I might live in a rural area, but in the years I live here I've heard of enough attacks on women to make me wary.

At the same time I wonder how many men would bother to walk five miles out into the woods just on the off chance someone might come by.

 

[intothelight]

I think the decision to venture out alone will depend on where the park is, the time of year and the time of day. There are county parks here that I will walk alone when there are a lot of other joggers and walkers out. However, most of the time I walk with another person or take my dogs. When visiting a state park, when I go alone, I let someone know where and approximately when I will return. I don't take unnecessary risk, nor do I let irrational fear guide me, but just try to follow common sense safety precautions.

 

[joeylittle]

When visiting a state park, when I go alone, I let someone know where and approximately when I will return.

This, what was said, right here.

At the national parks, it's easy and a good idea to check in at the ranger desk. Get the trail guide, ask if there's anything especially worth seeing, and tell them how long you expect to be out for. Part of their job is to know that stuff, and they are usually good about reaching out to people and asking - at least, in my experience.

I go by myself - just not at dusk, I don't like to get caught out when the sun is going down. It gets dark fast in there, with the trees.

 

[StellaBlue]

I don't think I would walk alone at a state park, but there have been women attacked on the "urban" trails around here, so I think it's an accurate assessment of safety. There are a couple of local parks with lakes that generally have a lot of people walking and I would feel safe there. I would also feel safe if I had my dogs with me - unfortunately, they're not terribly well behaved in public, so that's not really an option. I do have a couple of friends to walk with and I'm totally comfortable with that. It's such a fine line to decide - is this really "unsafe" or is it my perception of being unsafe. In the past, I've done a lot of really unsafe things in terms of putting myself places alone, so it is something I think about.

 

[digger]

Going out walking is one of my 'basic digger needs'. Alone most of the time - although usually with a dog now, but that hasn't been and isn't always the case. To be honest the dog I'm fostering at the moment is more likely to get me into trouble than out of it! ;)

I live on the edge of one of the UK National Parks - I'm not sure how that compares to the definition of a National Park in the States though (there aren't any ranger desks.) I have miles and miles of open moorland on my doorstep. There are patches of woodland too but it's not a dense forest type place. In other places I have lived previously there has been more woodland to walk in. I like walking in both.

I like walking alone and I am much more comfortable walking alone in 'lonely' places than I am walking through a busy town centre. As to how safe it is or not, I'm not sure. I think in terms of actual threats to my safety, people aren't going to come top of that list. A bigger danger would be having an accident in the middle of nowhere and no one knowing where I was, or getting dragged into a bog by a wayward dog! Sometimes I can be out for hours and not see another person the whole time.

I do still have some anxiety about other people as a threat, and this tends to ramp up when I do see someone else, even at a distance, but for the most part it sinks well into the background while I'm walking and I'm absorbed in other things.

I think, for me, I have decided that the benefits of being out walking far outweigh any potential risks and so I just say sod it and go!

I think if you are anxious about it, then, to begin with at least, maybe plan to go at busy times when there will be families about or try and find someone to join you and see how you feel.

 

[gone]

I HATE that I don't feel safe enough to hike alone anymore. The woods, the wilderness, the outdoors are NOT always safe, and once that illusion is shattered, it ain't ever coming back—at least for me, I fear. This is one of my most bitter realities. :cry:

 

[holdenmonty]

I'm with the other people that carry. I have my glock 19 that is a 9mm hollow point. I usually carry but I make sure I carry when we go for walks in the park or nature I tell people it's to protect myself from wildlife if I have to but in all honesty it's to protect in general

 

[xena21]

I HATE that I don't feel safe enough to hike alone anymore

Am I the only one that is not afraid for my life? I'm not making other people's lives inconsequential. I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that has no regard or fear anymore for my safety? I go to the state park and walk alone at night on purpose. I hope to run into someone so I can confront them and "scare" them. I feel like an animal now. I have no care for my own safety. Does anyone get that?

I read here that "everyone" tells people where they are, and they are afraid of being alone. I am so opposite that. I want to be alone in nature. I don't care who I run into, but they better watch out for me! I hate this life, except for the freedom of walking in the park or being alone. If people break that, then they should be aware of me.

I suppose I am the only PTSD person like that? I dedicated my life to putting people in jail and killing those that would hurt others. I spent many years in the military and several more in law enforcement, but I didn't think that would make me the only one to want to walk alone in the woods and feel free by myself away from the general public. I guess it does, huh?

 

[Friday]

LOL... What makes you think because I carry, I'm afraid?

I also dress warmly, bring water, etc.

I do have to be wary of going out looking for trouble. But I tend to do that in cities more than the woods. I don't see going out in the woods with no survival gear any different than mouthing off at a bar. Looking for trouble, and ignoring reasonable dangers, is just as problematic as being frozen by them. The fatalistic, daring something to happen? Equally bad news. Just in the opposite direction.

 

[xena21]

I do have to be wary of going out looking for trouble. But I tend to do that in cities more than the woods. I don't see going out in the woods with no survival gear any different than mouthing off at a bar

I wasn't trying to be obstinate or disprove anyone's viewpoints. I was actually trying to see who was more in the category like I am...taking risks instead of caring about protecting themselves. Do you know what I mean?

I assume the general public would take precautions like food and water, and even a firearm into the woods or a dark alley. I am just wondering to those with PTSD...who of you are the other extreme with me who don't care anymore about your safety, and take risks? I mean you let the anger for the world guide you and despite the fear you have in your soul you tempt fate.

That is me anyway. I hear all the stories of PTSD sufferers being afraid to go out at night and alone in the woods, and I guess that just confuses me now, because I hate myself so much that I dare others to come at me now. I have such intense anger in me that I go out at 1am in the city and don't care about my wellbeing anymore. I will die for someone else but not give a s%$# about myself.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I understand why you would take a gun and water into the woods. That makes complete sense. I understand the common reaction of PTSD sufferers who live in fear of others hurting them again. What I want to know, is are there people like me who have gone the other direction, and dare the world to hurt them again?

 

[Friday]

What I want to know, is are there people like me who have gone the other direction, and dare the world to hurt them again?

Yep. Absolutely. A whole lot of us go overdrive into "fight" instead of "flight". And while I'd lay money on Military, First Response, Medics, etc. making up the bulk? Either natural inclination or being trained to run toward danger, instead of away... There are a whole lot of others whose adrenaline hits their fight instead of flight. As well as the inverse.

You're definitely not alone.

I'd suggest you start a new thread, or poll... It's a good topic.