I've been hiking mostly solo for a few years and I worried about this a lot in the beginning. I've also camped and road-tripped solo a decent amount. I try to have good situational awareness and listen to my intuition, but beyond that, I don't worry about it that much anymore. Like, if I drive to a trailhead and there is a broken down looking car and two dudes grilling in the parking lot I might decide to go elsewhere (happened last week) but I've really had no bad experiences on trail as far as other humans go. Starting small, being conservative about my own physical ability, picking empty trails, and knowing that I had what I needed in my pack was how I got started. I know some folks are more comfortable hiking popular trails solo to start. I always let someone know where I'm going and when they should expect to hear from me.
I definitely take a whistle and I leave a message on my computer screen at home in case I don't show up for work or something. I'll try to remember my multitool for next time. I also make sure to have snacks & a water bottle.
Also, Apple has “check in” settings/timers to alert someone if you don’t check in with them by the set time.
I use this & temporarily share location with someone I know and trust to be attentive to the agreed check in.
Seconding the whistle & here’s why:
I, like many people (especially women), have been conditioned to “not be rude” even if i don’t feel safe. This makes me less likely to use my pepper spray until things got much further than a whistle…giving me the opportunity to keep myself safe without hurting someone else. I will pull my whistle MUCH sooner than getting in someone’s face spray. BONUS: I can run the other direction and still have the whistle screaming.
I used Birdie (available on their website and Amazon) & ordered for all my nieces too.
Good luck out there, trust your gut & be rude as hell if you don’t feel safe.
I have one of those "kitty cat" tactical defense key rings. Would probably break my fingers if I had to us it, but I feel like I could sufficiently defined myself if needed, and it's not the kind of thing that can easily be confiscated or lost in a struggle. Since it's on my keys, it's always with me.
Never use a knife for defense. It's more likely to be used against you, than protect you, unless you are highly trained in knife-fighting (and almost no one is).
Either bring some bear spray, or, if you are properly trained/licensed, a firearm. But bringing a knife for defense is a bad idea.
(If you are bringing it for some sort of utilitarian reason, go for it. Just don't count on it for a fight, it won't help you.)
I've read that before. But I imagine having the weapon on display could act as a deterrent even if it's not unholstered? But after this thread I'm definitely going to switch from pepper spray to bear spray. I'm even considering a taser gun.
I've needed a knife plenty of times in the past for foraging. And I bet it would be rather helpful in a variety of emergencies- male attacks notwithstanding.
I wouldn't even holster it. Just keep it in your pack. Any potential value as a deterrent would be vastly outweighed by the fact that someone could take it from you in a struggle, and use it on you.
Again, I want to emphasize that having a knife as a tool, is an excellent idea. But it should stay in your pack, with your other tools. It's not a practical means of defense, and the sort of bad people who are likely to attack a woman hiking, are probably not going to be scared away by your knife.
Here's an explanation of why:
For starters, having a knife negates arguably the most important aspect of self defense - range/distance. You always want to be as far away from your attacker as possible. Any weapon that requires you to get within "touching distance" to be effective, is a bad weapon.
As well, the effectiveness of knives is heavily dependent on the physical attributes of the user. Men are, on average, larger and stronger than women (there are of course many exceptions, just speaking in aggregate). Men will typically have longer reach, which is really important in physical altercations. So a knife won't really help a smaller, less-strong person overpower a larger, stronger person, in a head to head fight.
Lastly, knives don't have much "stopping power," when compared to the alternatives. As in, it can take a long time for someone to succumb to a stab wound. Far longer than a fight would realistically last; potentially hours, if you haven't hit anything vital. Obviously a straight stab to the heart or jugular would be quicker, but that's going to be incredibly hard to do. So even if you manage to overcome the physical disadvantages I mentioned above, and you manage to stab someone, they'll likely be able to continue/finish their attacks.
This is why bear spray or firearms are better.
A gun is, on a purely technical level, the best choice. It has the longest range, so you can remain at a safe distance. Using a gun effectively doesn't require size or strength. Assuming you're using a "defensive caliber/bullet" like a .45 Auto HP, it has very high stopping power - if you hit someone in center mass, they are going down. A gun has multiple shots - so if your first attempt fails, you can quickly make another. And in this context, it has the added advantage of being loud - if anyone is around, they will hear gunshots, and understand that something might be amiss, as this isn't something they should be hearing on a hiking trail. Not to mention, even if you miss, your attacker will certainly be aware they were just shot at - there's nothing like a loud bang and a bullet whizzing past your attacker's face, to prompt them to reevaluate the wisdom of their attack. Most people have a visceral fear of being shot, you can't really win a fight with a bullet. You could also fire a warning shot, although there's debate over whether this is ever a good idea.
That said, guns are expensive, require training, licensure, etc. And some people are just morally opposed to them, which is perfectly reasonable. In which case, bear spray is the next best choice. Although it doesn't provide the range of a gun, it still works at a distance. It doesn't require physical strength or size. And it also has good stopping power - if you tag someone square in the face with some bear spray, they cannot really see; it's an incredibly disorienting experience - that will render them incapable of pursuing you as you make your escape. Like a firearm, you can also take multiple "shots"/sprays, in case you miss your first time. Bear spray is also cheap, easy to buy, and easy to use/aim. And in the event you ever have to actually defend yourself, the legal repercussions for bear spray will likely be far less significant than those for shooting a person. Even in a clear-cut case of self defense, there's a lot of legal wrangling involved with shooting someone. It's not something to take lightly. So a non-lethal tool like bear spray helps mitigate that potential legal risk.
You mention a taser, but honestly I wouldn't recommend it. Tasers aren't really intended as a self defense weapon - they were originally developed as a law enforcement tool for an alternative to using lethal force on uncooperative subjects. And while companies advertise them for self defense, this is more to boost their own sales, rather than promoting an objectively useful solution.The training required to use a taser effectively is basically the same as a gun. Tasers also can be pretty easily foiled by things like thick or baggy clothing - which is often what people wear when hiking through brush on remote trails. As well, a taser only has one or two shots, before you need to replace the cartridge - so if you miss on your first attempt, you're going to be in a really bad situation.
I realize this is pretty long winded, my hope here is that people will understand the underlying reasons why some weapons like knives, or tasers, aren't good options, so they can fully explore alternatives and understand which is right for them.
The key factors to remember are: distance, ability for repeat use, stopping power, and effectiveness regardless of the physical size/strength of the user.
I wouldn’t recommend carrying a .45 ACP handgun for self defense. Modern 9MM JHP rounds are equally or more effective while being lighter and smaller which allow the user to more easily carry for self defense as well as having more rounds per magazine. Not to mention better recoil control on small single stack 9mm handguns vs .45.
Aside from that, I agree with all advice given here. Especially about the taser. Tasers are not good self defense tools.
You raise a good point. This was more to provide a clear cut example of a "defensive caliber," rather than a specific recommendation of firearm. Obviously any gun is dangerous and can be fatal, but I wanted to convey that a smaller caliber, such as a .22 or .38, might lack the stopping power of a larger round. I think a 9mm would be a perfectly acceptable choice, for all of the reasons you mention.
Knives really suck as a self defense weapon unless you're a [mythbuster and bring it to a gun fight.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGzeyO3pGzw) If you do ever use one though "Never stab, always slice. Never once, always twice." is what they used to teach in self defense. Get bear spray, its the best all purpose defense you can carry on the trail and stick with using the knife for foraging/utility.
I do it all the time and I have for years. I usually don’t worry about people I might meet on the trail, it’s the people around the trailhead or car campgrounds that concern me. My only real advice is to practice good situational awareness and trust your gut. The vast majority of people are out there for peace and quiet just like you.
Not to disregard your concerns, but your risks from people when solo hiking are statistically very low. It helps me to stay aware of real crime stats. Most risk, unfortunately, comes from people you have connections with. Random crime isn't actually that common. Hiking areas tend to be populated by affluent, educated people who are not likely to commit random violent crime (they may buy your neighborhood from under you, but that's unrelated).
That said, to stay safe, follow standard procedure. Be conservative with your physical risk tolerance, let people know where you're going, carry some simple personal protection, and maintain awareness of the area (there are some real weird forests around Eugene, for instance).
Idk man there's just something about the whole Eugene - Medford - Redding corridor, that corridor and out to the coast. It's inhabited by this weird blend of hippies, rednecks, and bums that I've never encountered anywhere else. I wouldn't call it bad. I'm quite fond of it myself. That said, I've heard lots of weird stories, and I've never seen so many suspicious cars parked way out in the woods. The big trees really add to the flair
Naw, you can regularly find me laid out on my belly viewing things through the loup I always wear. I've had my share road side picnics too. No stuffy national park service tourist stereotype here. I'm talking more burned out husks with bullseyes painted on nearby trees! Do I know this is standard redneckery? Yes. Are the vibes of that bad at midnight? Very
“To FBI experts who profile serial killers, the Pacific Northwest is ‘America’s Killing Fields,’ because the people are so friendly and trusting. The wilderness is always nearby. It rains, and things rot fast.”
- Chuck Palahniuk in A Walk in Portland, Oregon.
I wouldn’t trust Chuck P of all writers to not be almost entirely misanthropic. He has built his career on crafting sensationalizing narratives around the most extreme tendencies of a narrow group of people. He also loves to capitalize off Portland’s “weirdness”. I know, I’ve read several of his books and enjoyed them as a youth including his Portland guide. I wouldn’t take advice from them.
That being said
I have done a long distance trail that took me six months, hitchhiked outside of that, and spent time hiking around the PNW (including some solo basic mountaineering). And I am a medium size queer woman.
I spent a long time feeling really scared because I wanted to do a lot of things that others deemed dangerous and I felt like it was hard for me to trust my judgement. I started feeling angry because these people (family, friends, complete strangers) weren’t helping me or giving me solutions. Mostly I felt like if something did happen to me I wouldn’t be able to turn to them because they’d “warned me”.
I feel like after a lot of media about strong independent women going on adventures came out they treated me differently. I think they just globbed on to whatever dominant narrative about sexual violence was being proffered at the time and maybe culturally things have shifted a little since then. It hasn’t really made me feel more supported but it’s made it easier to talk about risk assessment in a variety of situations.
Mostly the worst things that have happened to me were done in crowds or by people I knew. That and situational danger like running out of water, getting lost, being stalked by a bear, etc.
Over the course of my life strangers have tried to forcibly abduct me a couple of times but only in the city. Aside from that when I’ve been in remote areas I’ve had people get a little weird but it’s usually easy to clock them and then leave the situation immediately.
It’s always helpful to have a solid story about whoever’s waiting for you or you’re meeting up with just around the corner. A weapon like a knife or mace is good too in case of an emergency. If you have to engage with someone and things start getting dicey having an exit plan immediately is a good strategy. Always tell people where you’re going and an estimated time you’ll be back. If you get in to a car while hitchhiking (backpacking long distances, need a resupply) and you feel unsure, trust your gut. Or if you feel like you’re incredibly anxious and you can’t tell what’s dangerous tell the driver you’re going to take a picture of their license plate and send it to your family. And then do it. If they react badly don’t ride with them.
All of this is anecdotal. It can be hard to know what’s actually safe and if it’s worth the risk. Informing yourself and getting direct experience can help you feel more confident.
I know you mentioned you’re autistic and not looking to hike with others but there are people who have similar neurodivergent issues who would be happy to hike ahead of or behind you. Maybe with headphones in. Maybe they are looking for a carpool situations and they also prefer to be alone and unobserved.
Anyways, I wish you luck and happy hiking.
Same. I’ve lived here my whole life. Have never taken any type of “weapon” hiking and have never had an issue - nor do I know anyone who has ever had an issue hiking.
I have a big ol dog. She’s a marshmallow, but they don’t know that. I am also autistic and like to zen out on hikes. I have considered the meditative hiking meetup, as it is less talky. Feel free to DM if you want a neurodivergent introverted hiking buddy.
I’m also neurodivergent and have a large dog. We love to hike without a lot of chatter (I talk to him a little though), and I’d like to get back out there in 6-8 weeks after I heal from surgery.
I carry a buck knife and taser in my clothing pockets and bear spray and an air horn in my day pack. I always turn my Find My Friends on on my phone so my mom will know where to tell the police to start looking for me.
FWIW, my mom is autistic and I’m on the spectrum as well and work with children with various needs. It’s usually just me on hikes these days, so DM me if you ever want a hiking buddy and/or to meet up first to decide if I’m a safe person!
I don’t solo hike anymore these days due to husband and a kid but when I did (which was for many years in the Gorge) I always let someone know where I was going and when and would text again when I was done. I was more worried about injuring myself somewhere without cell service rather than someone hurting me. I would bring pepper gel and keep it accessible. Whistle too. Enjoy the miles underfoot!
You can do meet up even if you are using the other attendees to feel safe on the trail instead of seeking community. That's as valid a reason to join a group as any.
For me, just doing it repeatedly and making sure i was prepared for whatever hike I had planned increased my comfort level. I still don't do technical hikes solo.
I switched my pepper spray up to bear mace.
I always have a knife because I’m a wild food forager.
It did take me a bit to not be nervous out on the really wild trails alone. The scariest stuff is when the elks come through, they are soooo loud. Or when a tree falls! Wow.
I also get off the trail and hide if I hear people, but I’m on like back, back, back trails out on the coast range.
My GPS also has an SOS.
Did you switch to bear spray because of the range?
I havent seen either of those things- that would be incredible though! Someone else recommended a knife and I've been silly not to bring mine because I'm often wishing I had one for my foraging too.
Sounds like you and I are the picture of "same hobby, different levels" Haha. I appreciate your advice!
What GPS do you have? I've been considering it since my phone is very unreliable as far as service and charge goes.
Not the person you asked the question of but bear spray is great because A) The Range and B) It also works on bears.
I have a satellite communicator that works via an app on my phone called a [Zoleo](https://www.zoleo.com/en-us/) but it also has a dedicated SOS button. These things do require a monthly subscription (I pay $20) but I take it anytime I'm potentially going out of cell range just in case.
Not worried about bears! The last grizzly bear sighting in oregon was in 1937. And black bears wont fuck with you unless you give them a reason to. But its good to know that they have a larger range than pepper spray - that's an important thing to consider.
Thanks for the rec, I'll check it out!
I'd caution you off that nonchalant attitude towards animals in the wild. Don't expect nature to ever be reasonable. Wild animals follow their own logic and behavior you don't expect might occur if they happen to be starving, sick, or with young. If you come around the corner and see two black bear cubs you're in a world of danger.
Remember a woman died to a cougar attack on one of the gorge trails in 2018. That is more than died from human violence in the same area in the same time frame.
I totally understand. And am appropriately cautious. I'm just less afraid of death, and more afraid of what man can inflict. Cougars for example - I'm far less likely to see a cougar before being decapitated by one. Nothing can be done about that! And as far as bears go, I've taken a class about how to react in different interaction scenarios.
I switched it to bear mace because there are bears :) and cougars (seen both, luckily I was in my vehicle for the baby bear!)
I have a Garmin.
The only reason I’m a different level is I’ve been living on the coast a couple years :) (moving back to Portland hopefully soon) and I needed to sort of “make my own trail” since there wasn’t a lot of defined trails around me (I have since discovered a bunch). Once I started getting good at mushroom hunting it’s an addiction so I just had to go deeper and deeper into the forest lol. So when I have to decide between my nerves and mushrooms(my special interest lol) I put the fear away to get those mushrooms haha.
A Garmin InReach is the way to go for an SOS device. It can be used as a satellite phone got texting (will take several mins to send and receive), you can share coordinates, and there is an SOS function.
Often times when SAR finds people alive on Mt Hood it's because they had an InReach.
It does require a subscription but you can pause it anytime. We have one for camping and only activate our subscription during the warmer months if we know we're going on a trip.
You should worry more about falling and being unable to get help and less about someone attacking you. Letting people know your route and when you should be back is very important
I empathize, I also love the city hikes but wanna branch out while still feeling safe, and solo hiking can be such a blast and confidence-booster.
Like other people, I def recommend carrying something for self defense. And whatever it is, make it readily visible. Make it so someone would look at you and decide you’re gonna be too much trouble to fuck with. So instead of carrying a knife/taser/pepper spray in a pocket or in a bag, either hold it in your hand or strap it to your belt/backpack strap. One time I was walking in a sketchy area alone and a guy walking near me was making me nervous. I pulled out my pocket knife and pretended to pick at my fingernails with it, just so he would see that I had it. He backed off. And this surely goes without saying, but look aware of your surroundings. No earbuds, no looking at your phone for long stretches.
Thank you so much for asking this question. I told myself for years that I shouldn’t hike alone. But I love being alone. I spent 15 years not hiking and it of fear and last year I decided that life is too short to love like that. Like you, I mostly limited myself to hikes in Portland. Then one day I realized that I’ve had all kinds of sketchy stuff happen to me in the middle of cities and that I’m more likely to be attacked I’m town than out in the woods. That having been said, I’ve be admittedly shied away from hikes out of town out of fear. Trying to challenge myself to move past that.
People have given some good advice so I won’t repeat it, regarding carrying something visible with you: I’ve heard that you are statistically you are less likely to be attacked when hiking if your holding some kind of object (that could presumably used as a weapon).
I wish you all the best in your hiking. While I am not autistic (to my knowledge) I typically find interacting with others to be exhausting. Though I do enjoy being around folks who are more introverted, like me.
am a frequent solo female hiker and backpacker, honestly usually feel much safer on the trails alone than most places in an urban environment (though feel pretty safe in those too generally). if i get creeped out by anybody (v rare) i find a fam or someone that seems helpful to keep within eye or earshot when possible but mostly it’s not a big worry. have a whistle and a knife on me too but anything more than that would mess with my vibes personally. you’ve got this!
When solo hiking I stick to popular trails (generally using the All Trails app for reference, based on how popular they say trails are/number of recent reviews). I love a secluded hike, but I save those for being with a fellow hiker. I always bring bear spray, and make sure it’s visible on my pack while hiking. As others noted, letting people know your location but I also use the feature on Google Maps/Apple to share my location with a few close friends. Generally trying to stick to places with some cell service, if possible. Also not wearing headphones or hats covering ears to ensure people see you can hear them (if that makes sense?)
All the advice I can think of has already been given, so just putting out another offer for a hiking buddy with zero pressure to socialize.
Also my (Android) phone can be set to do a safety check that, if you don't mark yourself safe at the set time, automatically starts location sharing with your selected emergency contacts. It says it continues working if your phone turns off or loses reception and shares your last known location. Not sure if iOS has something similar.
I’ve always texted both my parents and sent them the trail head coordinates. If I’m by myself, I pick a trail under 4 miles round trip, and I tell my parents that if they don’t hear from me in 3-4 hours, call the police/forest rangers. Usually I pick a place close enough to town that I can still get some reception, but I feel good knowing my parents will expect to hear from me and they know my location.
Dog, knife, gun, pepper spray, good cardio, aware of your surroundings, tell people where you’re going and when you’ll be back. I see comments in here that say “I’ve never had an issue, I’m not worried about it, chances are so slim”. That kind of mindset is an accident waiting to happen. It’s how you get complacent. I’ve never had a fire in my house, and the chances are low, but I still have a fire extinguisher.
I carry bear spray and a knife. And my best advice is just do it. You will get used to it and recognize that you are safer than your anxiety is telling you that you are.
I would say situational awareness/saying Uk what this doesn’t feel good I’m out ..bear spray (downwind) also having it available so your not digging around with and a small air horn and whistle
I have two husky mix dogs. Incredibly friendly, but one looks like a wolf (she’s 25% according to dna panel) and the other looks like a coyote (0% coyote lol), that seems to do the trick.
You are in far more danger walking around Portland than anywhere out in the woods. Your biggest threats aside from trailhead break ins are falling and getting injured and getting lost. If you plan to spend a fair bit of time out on trail without cell service I would look into a Garmin Inreach.
I’m another ND lady. I have a very large dog and a weapon I’ve taken multiple classes with. I really enjoyed my class at threat dynamics and it was a very diverse group (women, liberals, minorities, elders, etc) that showed up for the beginner class. Highly recommend.
https://www.threatdynamics.com/
I’ve been hiking solo for at least 10 years now. Literally don’t do anything special besides personal safety equipment on hiking.
The best advice is trust your gut, and be aware.
Bring bear spray if you’re scared or in bear country.
If I’m in an area with recent cougar sightings I’ll usually put a few rocks in my pocket.
I'm a guy and I hike by myself sometimes. It's hard to convince friends to be active at times. I had a bad experience last fall. I wondered in to a forested area. I felt confident on my way in but when I got ready to go back I couldn't find my way. It was very scary. The problem was the area I was in was extremely dense with vegetation. I knew not to panic. Eventually after a few hours I was able to get out.
After that I started bringing a compass, whistle, trail marking tape the orange kind you tie to a branch of something, protein bar, water bottle, full cell phone battery, a knife, disposable poncho, basic first aid. You will find what you need as you go
Beware of wild life and homeless camps. I have ran across some pretty strange stuff in the forests around Portland. Bear mace can protect against both. Although in my experience, both the homeless and wildlife are more scared of you than you are of them.
Sorry you had a bad experience! Getting lost is scary, I'm sure! This post isnt about women protecting themselves from animals or from homeless people trying to life their lives- it's about not getting harassed or raped by men.
Good idea with with poncho though, I can add that to my pack.
My partner solo hikes and just lets me (or someone) know where she's going and when she'll be back. She feels pretty comfortable going out by herself, I think.
She gets weirded out by seeing people with guns on the trail, so might be worth considering other trail users when thinking about how (and if) you're arming yourself.
While assaults are common in an urban environment, it’s very unusual on a hiking trail. You’re infinitely more safe hiking. Most of the time when that happens it’s something the person is hiking with or a random serial killer.
I’ll be honest with you, this is the reason the wife and I left California, it’s simply not safe anymore. It was kind of an eye opening experience to me when I went with her once and we suddenly found ourselves in a big group of tents in the middle of nowhere, to me I didn’t even think about it as I work construction and am a pretty big guy , but she’s 5’0 tall and was just relieved I was there, kinda made me look at the area from her perspective and it’s a bit fuckin scary. So I would just say don’t go alone, if the area is sketchy turn around and leave, you could get a gun or mace but the reality is you are not safe alone.
I'm a dude, so the more difficult it is to get somewhere, the more likely only well prepared people will be there. Popular trails full of tourists will have problems. 20 miles of dirt road to really hard hike? Only hard cote hikers. Get there and see people drinking and burning tires? Keep driving.
If you are autistic and have decided that you can't connect with people, you will need to protect yourself on your own, which is more difficult than being with other people. But it's your life.
In that case, get a concealed carry permit.
The thing about life is that you need to make difficult choices. You either figure out how to get protection from groups or you do it on your own.
I never said I cant connect with people. Its just challenging. I also said other than guns. Not everyone wants a gun or should have one! I fall into both of those categories. Which is why I was here asking other women what they specifically do to feel safe (other than carrying a gun).
I've been hiking mostly solo for a few years and I worried about this a lot in the beginning. I've also camped and road-tripped solo a decent amount. I try to have good situational awareness and listen to my intuition, but beyond that, I don't worry about it that much anymore. Like, if I drive to a trailhead and there is a broken down looking car and two dudes grilling in the parking lot I might decide to go elsewhere (happened last week) but I've really had no bad experiences on trail as far as other humans go. Starting small, being conservative about my own physical ability, picking empty trails, and knowing that I had what I needed in my pack was how I got started. I know some folks are more comfortable hiking popular trails solo to start. I always let someone know where I'm going and when they should expect to hear from me.
I take pepper spray, a knife, a whistle, and let someone know where I'm going and when I'll be back.
I definitely take a whistle and I leave a message on my computer screen at home in case I don't show up for work or something. I'll try to remember my multitool for next time. I also make sure to have snacks & a water bottle.
Whistles are great! Especially if you've run out of water or lost your voice for some reason!
Also, Apple has “check in” settings/timers to alert someone if you don’t check in with them by the set time. I use this & temporarily share location with someone I know and trust to be attentive to the agreed check in.
Seconding the whistle & here’s why: I, like many people (especially women), have been conditioned to “not be rude” even if i don’t feel safe. This makes me less likely to use my pepper spray until things got much further than a whistle…giving me the opportunity to keep myself safe without hurting someone else. I will pull my whistle MUCH sooner than getting in someone’s face spray. BONUS: I can run the other direction and still have the whistle screaming. I used Birdie (available on their website and Amazon) & ordered for all my nieces too. Good luck out there, trust your gut & be rude as hell if you don’t feel safe.
Idk why I never thought of bringing my knife- I'll definitely pull it out of my camping gear.
Good to have a knife for practical reasons but I don’t think it’s a safe self defense option… can turn against you pretty quick.
Could definitely help against dogs, bears, or mountain lions.
Say you’ve never seen a bear or a cougar without saying you’ve never seen a bear or a cougar
I've camped with all of the above. Would you rather not have a knife? Maybe a shovel would be better...
it would, better reach
I have one of those "kitty cat" tactical defense key rings. Would probably break my fingers if I had to us it, but I feel like I could sufficiently defined myself if needed, and it's not the kind of thing that can easily be confiscated or lost in a struggle. Since it's on my keys, it's always with me.
Never use a knife for defense. It's more likely to be used against you, than protect you, unless you are highly trained in knife-fighting (and almost no one is). Either bring some bear spray, or, if you are properly trained/licensed, a firearm. But bringing a knife for defense is a bad idea. (If you are bringing it for some sort of utilitarian reason, go for it. Just don't count on it for a fight, it won't help you.)
I've read that before. But I imagine having the weapon on display could act as a deterrent even if it's not unholstered? But after this thread I'm definitely going to switch from pepper spray to bear spray. I'm even considering a taser gun. I've needed a knife plenty of times in the past for foraging. And I bet it would be rather helpful in a variety of emergencies- male attacks notwithstanding.
I wouldn't even holster it. Just keep it in your pack. Any potential value as a deterrent would be vastly outweighed by the fact that someone could take it from you in a struggle, and use it on you. Again, I want to emphasize that having a knife as a tool, is an excellent idea. But it should stay in your pack, with your other tools. It's not a practical means of defense, and the sort of bad people who are likely to attack a woman hiking, are probably not going to be scared away by your knife. Here's an explanation of why: For starters, having a knife negates arguably the most important aspect of self defense - range/distance. You always want to be as far away from your attacker as possible. Any weapon that requires you to get within "touching distance" to be effective, is a bad weapon. As well, the effectiveness of knives is heavily dependent on the physical attributes of the user. Men are, on average, larger and stronger than women (there are of course many exceptions, just speaking in aggregate). Men will typically have longer reach, which is really important in physical altercations. So a knife won't really help a smaller, less-strong person overpower a larger, stronger person, in a head to head fight. Lastly, knives don't have much "stopping power," when compared to the alternatives. As in, it can take a long time for someone to succumb to a stab wound. Far longer than a fight would realistically last; potentially hours, if you haven't hit anything vital. Obviously a straight stab to the heart or jugular would be quicker, but that's going to be incredibly hard to do. So even if you manage to overcome the physical disadvantages I mentioned above, and you manage to stab someone, they'll likely be able to continue/finish their attacks. This is why bear spray or firearms are better. A gun is, on a purely technical level, the best choice. It has the longest range, so you can remain at a safe distance. Using a gun effectively doesn't require size or strength. Assuming you're using a "defensive caliber/bullet" like a .45 Auto HP, it has very high stopping power - if you hit someone in center mass, they are going down. A gun has multiple shots - so if your first attempt fails, you can quickly make another. And in this context, it has the added advantage of being loud - if anyone is around, they will hear gunshots, and understand that something might be amiss, as this isn't something they should be hearing on a hiking trail. Not to mention, even if you miss, your attacker will certainly be aware they were just shot at - there's nothing like a loud bang and a bullet whizzing past your attacker's face, to prompt them to reevaluate the wisdom of their attack. Most people have a visceral fear of being shot, you can't really win a fight with a bullet. You could also fire a warning shot, although there's debate over whether this is ever a good idea. That said, guns are expensive, require training, licensure, etc. And some people are just morally opposed to them, which is perfectly reasonable. In which case, bear spray is the next best choice. Although it doesn't provide the range of a gun, it still works at a distance. It doesn't require physical strength or size. And it also has good stopping power - if you tag someone square in the face with some bear spray, they cannot really see; it's an incredibly disorienting experience - that will render them incapable of pursuing you as you make your escape. Like a firearm, you can also take multiple "shots"/sprays, in case you miss your first time. Bear spray is also cheap, easy to buy, and easy to use/aim. And in the event you ever have to actually defend yourself, the legal repercussions for bear spray will likely be far less significant than those for shooting a person. Even in a clear-cut case of self defense, there's a lot of legal wrangling involved with shooting someone. It's not something to take lightly. So a non-lethal tool like bear spray helps mitigate that potential legal risk. You mention a taser, but honestly I wouldn't recommend it. Tasers aren't really intended as a self defense weapon - they were originally developed as a law enforcement tool for an alternative to using lethal force on uncooperative subjects. And while companies advertise them for self defense, this is more to boost their own sales, rather than promoting an objectively useful solution.The training required to use a taser effectively is basically the same as a gun. Tasers also can be pretty easily foiled by things like thick or baggy clothing - which is often what people wear when hiking through brush on remote trails. As well, a taser only has one or two shots, before you need to replace the cartridge - so if you miss on your first attempt, you're going to be in a really bad situation. I realize this is pretty long winded, my hope here is that people will understand the underlying reasons why some weapons like knives, or tasers, aren't good options, so they can fully explore alternatives and understand which is right for them. The key factors to remember are: distance, ability for repeat use, stopping power, and effectiveness regardless of the physical size/strength of the user.
I wouldn’t recommend carrying a .45 ACP handgun for self defense. Modern 9MM JHP rounds are equally or more effective while being lighter and smaller which allow the user to more easily carry for self defense as well as having more rounds per magazine. Not to mention better recoil control on small single stack 9mm handguns vs .45. Aside from that, I agree with all advice given here. Especially about the taser. Tasers are not good self defense tools.
You raise a good point. This was more to provide a clear cut example of a "defensive caliber," rather than a specific recommendation of firearm. Obviously any gun is dangerous and can be fatal, but I wanted to convey that a smaller caliber, such as a .22 or .38, might lack the stopping power of a larger round. I think a 9mm would be a perfectly acceptable choice, for all of the reasons you mention.
Knives really suck as a self defense weapon unless you're a [mythbuster and bring it to a gun fight.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGzeyO3pGzw) If you do ever use one though "Never stab, always slice. Never once, always twice." is what they used to teach in self defense. Get bear spray, its the best all purpose defense you can carry on the trail and stick with using the knife for foraging/utility.
I think there’s a PNW women hikers Facebook group that regularly discusses this topic. Could be a good resource
Thanks! I'll check it out
I do it all the time and I have for years. I usually don’t worry about people I might meet on the trail, it’s the people around the trailhead or car campgrounds that concern me. My only real advice is to practice good situational awareness and trust your gut. The vast majority of people are out there for peace and quiet just like you.
Not to disregard your concerns, but your risks from people when solo hiking are statistically very low. It helps me to stay aware of real crime stats. Most risk, unfortunately, comes from people you have connections with. Random crime isn't actually that common. Hiking areas tend to be populated by affluent, educated people who are not likely to commit random violent crime (they may buy your neighborhood from under you, but that's unrelated). That said, to stay safe, follow standard procedure. Be conservative with your physical risk tolerance, let people know where you're going, carry some simple personal protection, and maintain awareness of the area (there are some real weird forests around Eugene, for instance).
Now I just want to hear more about these weird forests around Eugene.
Idk man there's just something about the whole Eugene - Medford - Redding corridor, that corridor and out to the coast. It's inhabited by this weird blend of hippies, rednecks, and bums that I've never encountered anywhere else. I wouldn't call it bad. I'm quite fond of it myself. That said, I've heard lots of weird stories, and I've never seen so many suspicious cars parked way out in the woods. The big trees really add to the flair
“Suspicious car” probably equals my parents pulled off, while out driving to see game (wildlife), so my mom can bust out their sweet-ass picnic.
Naw, you can regularly find me laid out on my belly viewing things through the loup I always wear. I've had my share road side picnics too. No stuffy national park service tourist stereotype here. I'm talking more burned out husks with bullseyes painted on nearby trees! Do I know this is standard redneckery? Yes. Are the vibes of that bad at midnight? Very
Yeah - I grew up in Eugene and suddenly want to know more myself.
I just… do it. the chances of being attacked by a nefarious person seem so slim to me that I just don’t sweat it.
“To FBI experts who profile serial killers, the Pacific Northwest is ‘America’s Killing Fields,’ because the people are so friendly and trusting. The wilderness is always nearby. It rains, and things rot fast.” - Chuck Palahniuk in A Walk in Portland, Oregon.
I wouldn’t trust Chuck P of all writers to not be almost entirely misanthropic. He has built his career on crafting sensationalizing narratives around the most extreme tendencies of a narrow group of people. He also loves to capitalize off Portland’s “weirdness”. I know, I’ve read several of his books and enjoyed them as a youth including his Portland guide. I wouldn’t take advice from them. That being said I have done a long distance trail that took me six months, hitchhiked outside of that, and spent time hiking around the PNW (including some solo basic mountaineering). And I am a medium size queer woman. I spent a long time feeling really scared because I wanted to do a lot of things that others deemed dangerous and I felt like it was hard for me to trust my judgement. I started feeling angry because these people (family, friends, complete strangers) weren’t helping me or giving me solutions. Mostly I felt like if something did happen to me I wouldn’t be able to turn to them because they’d “warned me”. I feel like after a lot of media about strong independent women going on adventures came out they treated me differently. I think they just globbed on to whatever dominant narrative about sexual violence was being proffered at the time and maybe culturally things have shifted a little since then. It hasn’t really made me feel more supported but it’s made it easier to talk about risk assessment in a variety of situations. Mostly the worst things that have happened to me were done in crowds or by people I knew. That and situational danger like running out of water, getting lost, being stalked by a bear, etc. Over the course of my life strangers have tried to forcibly abduct me a couple of times but only in the city. Aside from that when I’ve been in remote areas I’ve had people get a little weird but it’s usually easy to clock them and then leave the situation immediately. It’s always helpful to have a solid story about whoever’s waiting for you or you’re meeting up with just around the corner. A weapon like a knife or mace is good too in case of an emergency. If you have to engage with someone and things start getting dicey having an exit plan immediately is a good strategy. Always tell people where you’re going and an estimated time you’ll be back. If you get in to a car while hitchhiking (backpacking long distances, need a resupply) and you feel unsure, trust your gut. Or if you feel like you’re incredibly anxious and you can’t tell what’s dangerous tell the driver you’re going to take a picture of their license plate and send it to your family. And then do it. If they react badly don’t ride with them. All of this is anecdotal. It can be hard to know what’s actually safe and if it’s worth the risk. Informing yourself and getting direct experience can help you feel more confident. I know you mentioned you’re autistic and not looking to hike with others but there are people who have similar neurodivergent issues who would be happy to hike ahead of or behind you. Maybe with headphones in. Maybe they are looking for a carpool situations and they also prefer to be alone and unobserved. Anyways, I wish you luck and happy hiking.
Almost got abducted in the Toyota parking lot in 2012. This city is sketchy as hell.
Chuck used to be a regular of mine at the Bagdad on Hawthorne. Him and his lil pup Egg. Good dude.
Egg is an amazing name for dog
lol, people used to be friendly and trustworthy here?
Same. I’ve lived here my whole life. Have never taken any type of “weapon” hiking and have never had an issue - nor do I know anyone who has ever had an issue hiking.
This
I have a big ol dog. She’s a marshmallow, but they don’t know that. I am also autistic and like to zen out on hikes. I have considered the meditative hiking meetup, as it is less talky. Feel free to DM if you want a neurodivergent introverted hiking buddy.
I’m also neurodivergent and have a large dog. We love to hike without a lot of chatter (I talk to him a little though), and I’d like to get back out there in 6-8 weeks after I heal from surgery.
I dont have big dog privileges, but I'd be happy to share yours Haha. I'll DM you soon!
Another lady spicy brain here chiming in to also silently introvert hike!
I carry a buck knife and taser in my clothing pockets and bear spray and an air horn in my day pack. I always turn my Find My Friends on on my phone so my mom will know where to tell the police to start looking for me. FWIW, my mom is autistic and I’m on the spectrum as well and work with children with various needs. It’s usually just me on hikes these days, so DM me if you ever want a hiking buddy and/or to meet up first to decide if I’m a safe person!
Air horn is a great idea. I will DM you soon!
I don’t solo hike anymore these days due to husband and a kid but when I did (which was for many years in the Gorge) I always let someone know where I was going and when and would text again when I was done. I was more worried about injuring myself somewhere without cell service rather than someone hurting me. I would bring pepper gel and keep it accessible. Whistle too. Enjoy the miles underfoot!
You can do meet up even if you are using the other attendees to feel safe on the trail instead of seeking community. That's as valid a reason to join a group as any. For me, just doing it repeatedly and making sure i was prepared for whatever hike I had planned increased my comfort level. I still don't do technical hikes solo.
That's a good point. I hadn't thought of using a meet up that way- thanks!
I switched my pepper spray up to bear mace. I always have a knife because I’m a wild food forager. It did take me a bit to not be nervous out on the really wild trails alone. The scariest stuff is when the elks come through, they are soooo loud. Or when a tree falls! Wow. I also get off the trail and hide if I hear people, but I’m on like back, back, back trails out on the coast range. My GPS also has an SOS.
Did you switch to bear spray because of the range? I havent seen either of those things- that would be incredible though! Someone else recommended a knife and I've been silly not to bring mine because I'm often wishing I had one for my foraging too. Sounds like you and I are the picture of "same hobby, different levels" Haha. I appreciate your advice! What GPS do you have? I've been considering it since my phone is very unreliable as far as service and charge goes.
Not the person you asked the question of but bear spray is great because A) The Range and B) It also works on bears. I have a satellite communicator that works via an app on my phone called a [Zoleo](https://www.zoleo.com/en-us/) but it also has a dedicated SOS button. These things do require a monthly subscription (I pay $20) but I take it anytime I'm potentially going out of cell range just in case.
Not worried about bears! The last grizzly bear sighting in oregon was in 1937. And black bears wont fuck with you unless you give them a reason to. But its good to know that they have a larger range than pepper spray - that's an important thing to consider. Thanks for the rec, I'll check it out!
I'd caution you off that nonchalant attitude towards animals in the wild. Don't expect nature to ever be reasonable. Wild animals follow their own logic and behavior you don't expect might occur if they happen to be starving, sick, or with young. If you come around the corner and see two black bear cubs you're in a world of danger. Remember a woman died to a cougar attack on one of the gorge trails in 2018. That is more than died from human violence in the same area in the same time frame.
I totally understand. And am appropriately cautious. I'm just less afraid of death, and more afraid of what man can inflict. Cougars for example - I'm far less likely to see a cougar before being decapitated by one. Nothing can be done about that! And as far as bears go, I've taken a class about how to react in different interaction scenarios.
I switched it to bear mace because there are bears :) and cougars (seen both, luckily I was in my vehicle for the baby bear!) I have a Garmin. The only reason I’m a different level is I’ve been living on the coast a couple years :) (moving back to Portland hopefully soon) and I needed to sort of “make my own trail” since there wasn’t a lot of defined trails around me (I have since discovered a bunch). Once I started getting good at mushroom hunting it’s an addiction so I just had to go deeper and deeper into the forest lol. So when I have to decide between my nerves and mushrooms(my special interest lol) I put the fear away to get those mushrooms haha.
A Garmin InReach is the way to go for an SOS device. It can be used as a satellite phone got texting (will take several mins to send and receive), you can share coordinates, and there is an SOS function. Often times when SAR finds people alive on Mt Hood it's because they had an InReach. It does require a subscription but you can pause it anytime. We have one for camping and only activate our subscription during the warmer months if we know we're going on a trip.
You should worry more about falling and being unable to get help and less about someone attacking you. Letting people know your route and when you should be back is very important
100%, there was a very sad recent case of that in Mount. St. Helen’s
Following this thread cuz I been wondering the same myself
I empathize, I also love the city hikes but wanna branch out while still feeling safe, and solo hiking can be such a blast and confidence-booster. Like other people, I def recommend carrying something for self defense. And whatever it is, make it readily visible. Make it so someone would look at you and decide you’re gonna be too much trouble to fuck with. So instead of carrying a knife/taser/pepper spray in a pocket or in a bag, either hold it in your hand or strap it to your belt/backpack strap. One time I was walking in a sketchy area alone and a guy walking near me was making me nervous. I pulled out my pocket knife and pretended to pick at my fingernails with it, just so he would see that I had it. He backed off. And this surely goes without saying, but look aware of your surroundings. No earbuds, no looking at your phone for long stretches.
Thank you so much for asking this question. I told myself for years that I shouldn’t hike alone. But I love being alone. I spent 15 years not hiking and it of fear and last year I decided that life is too short to love like that. Like you, I mostly limited myself to hikes in Portland. Then one day I realized that I’ve had all kinds of sketchy stuff happen to me in the middle of cities and that I’m more likely to be attacked I’m town than out in the woods. That having been said, I’ve be admittedly shied away from hikes out of town out of fear. Trying to challenge myself to move past that. People have given some good advice so I won’t repeat it, regarding carrying something visible with you: I’ve heard that you are statistically you are less likely to be attacked when hiking if your holding some kind of object (that could presumably used as a weapon). I wish you all the best in your hiking. While I am not autistic (to my knowledge) I typically find interacting with others to be exhausting. Though I do enjoy being around folks who are more introverted, like me.
Gun, satellite phone (Zoleto), and situational awareness.
Satellite phone could be useful
am a frequent solo female hiker and backpacker, honestly usually feel much safer on the trails alone than most places in an urban environment (though feel pretty safe in those too generally). if i get creeped out by anybody (v rare) i find a fam or someone that seems helpful to keep within eye or earshot when possible but mostly it’s not a big worry. have a whistle and a knife on me too but anything more than that would mess with my vibes personally. you’ve got this!
Stop worrying and go hiking.
When solo hiking I stick to popular trails (generally using the All Trails app for reference, based on how popular they say trails are/number of recent reviews). I love a secluded hike, but I save those for being with a fellow hiker. I always bring bear spray, and make sure it’s visible on my pack while hiking. As others noted, letting people know your location but I also use the feature on Google Maps/Apple to share my location with a few close friends. Generally trying to stick to places with some cell service, if possible. Also not wearing headphones or hats covering ears to ensure people see you can hear them (if that makes sense?)
All the advice I can think of has already been given, so just putting out another offer for a hiking buddy with zero pressure to socialize. Also my (Android) phone can be set to do a safety check that, if you don't mark yourself safe at the set time, automatically starts location sharing with your selected emergency contacts. It says it continues working if your phone turns off or loses reception and shares your last known location. Not sure if iOS has something similar.
https://www.disabledhikers.com/
I tell my roommate I'm going, walk fast, and hope for the best (do not listen to my advice)
I’ve always texted both my parents and sent them the trail head coordinates. If I’m by myself, I pick a trail under 4 miles round trip, and I tell my parents that if they don’t hear from me in 3-4 hours, call the police/forest rangers. Usually I pick a place close enough to town that I can still get some reception, but I feel good knowing my parents will expect to hear from me and they know my location.
Dog, knife, gun, pepper spray, good cardio, aware of your surroundings, tell people where you’re going and when you’ll be back. I see comments in here that say “I’ve never had an issue, I’m not worried about it, chances are so slim”. That kind of mindset is an accident waiting to happen. It’s how you get complacent. I’ve never had a fire in my house, and the chances are low, but I still have a fire extinguisher.
Hot take: I don't think anyone should hike solo unless on a popular trail where there will be other hikers.
Honestly, not unreasonable Edit: I must have had a stroke when I originally wrote this comment - edited for clarity
take a couple of self defense classes. You’ll feel more confident.
I carry bear spray and a knife. And my best advice is just do it. You will get used to it and recognize that you are safer than your anxiety is telling you that you are.
I would say situational awareness/saying Uk what this doesn’t feel good I’m out ..bear spray (downwind) also having it available so your not digging around with and a small air horn and whistle
I have two husky mix dogs. Incredibly friendly, but one looks like a wolf (she’s 25% according to dna panel) and the other looks like a coyote (0% coyote lol), that seems to do the trick.
Dog
You are in far more danger walking around Portland than anywhere out in the woods. Your biggest threats aside from trailhead break ins are falling and getting injured and getting lost. If you plan to spend a fair bit of time out on trail without cell service I would look into a Garmin Inreach.
why do you think this? just curious as someone who walks almost 100% of the time
By not posting where you go
I’m another ND lady. I have a very large dog and a weapon I’ve taken multiple classes with. I really enjoyed my class at threat dynamics and it was a very diverse group (women, liberals, minorities, elders, etc) that showed up for the beginner class. Highly recommend. https://www.threatdynamics.com/
Does anyone else have a Birdie Alarm on a keychain? This might be useful, but same as an airhorn I would think.
I'd never heard of that! Looks better than an air horn because of the size. This is a great idea, thank you
Borrow a dog
I’ve been hiking solo for at least 10 years now. Literally don’t do anything special besides personal safety equipment on hiking. The best advice is trust your gut, and be aware. Bring bear spray if you’re scared or in bear country. If I’m in an area with recent cougar sightings I’ll usually put a few rocks in my pocket.
I'm a guy and I hike by myself sometimes. It's hard to convince friends to be active at times. I had a bad experience last fall. I wondered in to a forested area. I felt confident on my way in but when I got ready to go back I couldn't find my way. It was very scary. The problem was the area I was in was extremely dense with vegetation. I knew not to panic. Eventually after a few hours I was able to get out. After that I started bringing a compass, whistle, trail marking tape the orange kind you tie to a branch of something, protein bar, water bottle, full cell phone battery, a knife, disposable poncho, basic first aid. You will find what you need as you go Beware of wild life and homeless camps. I have ran across some pretty strange stuff in the forests around Portland. Bear mace can protect against both. Although in my experience, both the homeless and wildlife are more scared of you than you are of them.
Sorry you had a bad experience! Getting lost is scary, I'm sure! This post isnt about women protecting themselves from animals or from homeless people trying to life their lives- it's about not getting harassed or raped by men. Good idea with with poncho though, I can add that to my pack.
My partner solo hikes and just lets me (or someone) know where she's going and when she'll be back. She feels pretty comfortable going out by herself, I think. She gets weirded out by seeing people with guns on the trail, so might be worth considering other trail users when thinking about how (and if) you're arming yourself.
Carry a phone and let someone know beforehand your route.
Carry a hammer.
Are you worried about human threats?
Men - yes.
While assaults are common in an urban environment, it’s very unusual on a hiking trail. You’re infinitely more safe hiking. Most of the time when that happens it’s something the person is hiking with or a random serial killer.
Very experienced female friend of mine was murdered solo hiking. I haven’t hiked alone since then.
I'm so sorry for your loss
You’re very kind. I just want to present a very ugly piece of *my* experience, which may not be part of yours, ever. Whatever you do, *enjoy*.
It’s just statistically more likely in an urban area
Read the room and be silent ffs
I’ll be honest with you, this is the reason the wife and I left California, it’s simply not safe anymore. It was kind of an eye opening experience to me when I went with her once and we suddenly found ourselves in a big group of tents in the middle of nowhere, to me I didn’t even think about it as I work construction and am a pretty big guy , but she’s 5’0 tall and was just relieved I was there, kinda made me look at the area from her perspective and it’s a bit fuckin scary. So I would just say don’t go alone, if the area is sketchy turn around and leave, you could get a gun or mace but the reality is you are not safe alone.
I'm a dude, so the more difficult it is to get somewhere, the more likely only well prepared people will be there. Popular trails full of tourists will have problems. 20 miles of dirt road to really hard hike? Only hard cote hikers. Get there and see people drinking and burning tires? Keep driving.
You’re way more likely to be attacked by a transient within the city during your day to day activities than on a hiking trail
Scream when you see a cougar.
Not worried about cougars. Why comment if you didnt read the post?
If you are autistic and have decided that you can't connect with people, you will need to protect yourself on your own, which is more difficult than being with other people. But it's your life. In that case, get a concealed carry permit. The thing about life is that you need to make difficult choices. You either figure out how to get protection from groups or you do it on your own.
I never said I cant connect with people. Its just challenging. I also said other than guns. Not everyone wants a gun or should have one! I fall into both of those categories. Which is why I was here asking other women what they specifically do to feel safe (other than carrying a gun).