Q&A | "How do you feel safe walking alone?"
This one is a summary of something multiple people have asked me when I mention my solo walks on the trails in the woods.
How do you feel comfortable walking alone? I feel nervous about it from a safety perspective.
First, a caveat: everyone has to figure out their own comfort level with personal safety. I'm going to share my perspective, but I am describing it, not prescribing it for you.
Here's how I think about this.
Walking is very, very good for me
Going out for walks by myself is a serious boon for my sanity.
Especially in those earlier months after I left my house, I could not manage to think about lifting weights or doing any sort of formal workout.
But I could throw on my shoes and walk, so that's what I did. I've logged hundreds upon hundreds of walking miles since I left my house in January, and I really don't know how my mental state would be if I hadn't done that.
I'm somewhere near 97% sure that I'd be in way worse shape without this near-daily activity.
I don't have someone to walk with!
Obviously, if you have someone to walk with, then that solves any solo-walking worries that you have.
But I do not currently have someone in my life who is willing and available to walk 100+ miles with me every month. So, if I refused to walk alone, I would just be refusing to walk.
I'm not making obviously risky walking choices
It's not like I'm walking in a sketchy area of a city at nighttime. I'm walking in daylight hours, in predictably safe areas.
The odds are good that a stranger is not going to hurt me
I assume that most women are afraid of sexual assault if they walk alone, but the overwhelming majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by non-strangers.
This is also true of stalking, physical assault, and even murder (do a Google search and see for yourself).
Do strangers sometimes brutally attack women? Yes. But this is the exception, not the rule.
Americans tend to walk around in fear of something that's not very likely (stranger assault), and we tend to not be afraid of the thing that IS more likely (that someone we know will hurt us.)
This is not particularly logical, and it reminds me of people who are too afraid to fly, but who regularly get into a car!
Just because something feels more dangerous, that doesn't mean it actually is more dangerous.
The "safe" choice carries risks too
Let's say you refuse to fly anywhere because you are afraid of dying in a plane crash. Then you can be sure that you will not be the one in five million that dies in a plane crash (See this Newsweek article).
It also means you are 100% guaranteed to be limited in where you can go. Your world will necessarily be smaller. And if you are chill with that, then that's all well and good.
But considering that the risk of dying in a plane crash is so, so small, I'm willing to hop on a plane. I'll take the tiny risk of dying over the guaranteed risk of having a smaller world.
In a similar way, if I refuse to walk alone, I can be 100% sure that I will not be assaulted by a stranger on a wooded path.
But then I also am 100% sure that I will miss out on the myriad benefits of walking in nature. To me, that doesn't make sense, given that the odds of being assaulted by a stranger are pretty low.
To take it to an extreme, you could stay huddled in your house all the time to be sure you avoid all the risks out there in the world.
But then you wouldn't see people, you wouldn't see the world, you'd never have adventures, you'd probably be sedentary, you'd never get the benefits of being out in nature, and you'd probably end up in pretty bad mental and physical shape.
So. I personally am happy to take on low-risk activities that offer clear benefits.
And walking in the woods falls into that category for me.
If you are nervous, but you still want to walk...
You could always try something that feels a little safer.
You could walk on your neighborhood streets.
You could carry pepper spray.
You could turn on your location tracking and share it with a friend or family member while you walk.
You could walk on a local track (maybe at a local school or college).
And you could also arm yourself with the hard facts about the odds of getting hurt. You may still decide that you don't want to walk alone, but at least that way you can make an informed decision based on reality rather than just perception.
Thank you soooo much for this post! You gave me lots of good answers for people who express their worries about me walking and hiking all alone. I do the walking and hiking because it is so important to my mental health and I just love it. Never am I as happy as when walking on natural trails in beautiful nature. It wouldn't be a problem to find somebody to accompany me most of the time - but I actually prefer hiking on my own. Of course I do also walk with friends etc.....I am not an eremit after all.
I agree with you that the "danger" is quite overrated because not very logic!
My dog of course always walks with me - but it would be silly to think he could protect me in case of....
So I continue to enjoy my extensive walking and/or hiking on an almost daily basis.
@Lea, Your dog might not be able to protect you, but he'd probably try and at the very least he could bark. It's a fact that bad guys avoid dogs, people with dogs, houses with dogs.
@Rose, I agree. Any dog can offer some protection or at least be a deterrent.
Great post!
I, too, enjoy walking and hiking alone. It is actually my favorite way of traveling. Every year I spend several weeks hiking alone (in Germany, Portugal and Spain) and I have never made a bad experience. On the contrary: The people I have met on my trails (other hikers and locals) have been helpful and friendly.
Sometimes people warn me about a certain trail, like: "Did you know that a woman got murdered/went missing on this trail five years ago?"
It could happen anywhere and the odds are on my side...
@Christine81, That sounds like so much fun:)
When I lived on campus as a young college student, I heard of assaults and worse on my campus, so I never walked alone. I suppose that may happen more frequently with a dense population of young students, I'm not sure. That was also before cameras were everywhere.
When I lived in a city, I was very afraid to walk. Even driving, with my windows down, I'd hear catcalls at a stop light, have people want to wash my windows, knew of car jackings at gas stations. I carried pepper spray.
Then I moved to a coastal rural community. After a month, I felt the weight lift from my shoulders, my guard down for the first time in 2 decades. Now I can walk anywhere, and feel safe. I'm grateful for the daily feeling of safety that not everyone has.
@MommaJo, what is dangerous about people wanting to wash your windows?
I ask because every day after work, at a stoplight on the frontage road for the interstate, I pass by a small group of very-beat-up-looking, skinny guys, obviously down on their luck, who are trying for tips by washing car windshields. I either wave at them, since they now know me, or roll down my window and offer them a dollar bill and a bag of peanuts. They are always gracious. Now, I have heard of some who do this being less than gracious, but I never heard of anyone being in danger in this scenario.
They're just people, people who need to earn money. I sympathize with them.
Depending on where you are, that can be a dangerous situation. My dad had his wallet stolen in the city by a window washer; he opened his window briefly to give the guy some money, and the guy took his whole wallet.
Some cities are trying to address this issue: https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-squeegee-kids-nuisance-need-20181012-story.html
@Anne, depends on your area and the people but this can be an illegal activity, and the people on the street may be part of wider people trafficking or similar.
@Anne, In NYC, squeegee guys have been notorious thieves for decades. They harass women. Back in the bad old 80s, they would threaten to break my windshield if I didn't pay them. (I never paid them.) They steal money and demand cash to be left alone. Giuliani cracked down on them in the 90s but they're back again.
@Anne,
I too know people that have had trouble with the "squeegee kids" of Baltimore. A friend was almost carjacked when she offered snacks. She fought back and did suffer some injuries. Someone else had bikes stolen from their bike racks while squeegee kids "washed" their windshield. These are first hand accounts not hearsay. I am sure that most encounters do not go that way but it has made a lot of people leery of going into Baltimore.
@MommaJo, @MommaJo, I have some boundaries like not going to certain gas stations at night or not walking alone when it’s very dark, but it’s funny bc overall I feel very safe walking in my city, because it’s filled with people. I feel like if anything did happen, so many people are around that it would be easy to find help.
On the other hand, when I visit my mother-in-law in her very rural community I get nervous walking alone because there’s no people and no cell service. I feel like if some weird freak accident happened I’d be done for. (Which I know is irrational.)
I live in a rural area and walk (alone) nearly four miles daily on a desolate country road that cuts through the mountains. We've lived here for 40+ years and I've never had a problem, but I always carry bear spray (not pepper spray) as protection against either two- or four-legged problems.
Even though I carry the bear spray, I usually don't hike alone in the mountains around us only because the territory is rugged, cell service is limited and I'm concerned about injuries if fall when I'm alone. In areas with flat walking trails or good cell service my bear spray and I are comfortable hiking by ourselves.
I'm not oblivious to risk; I just choose to mitigate it and not let it prevent me from doing the things I love. I gain too many benefits from being outdoors to give it up.
When we lived in the city, I found a perfect refuge from “Hey, baby” nonsense in the large cemetery. It was wonderfully hilly, full of history, and all the groundskeepers knew me, my car, and my regular time. Nor was I the only walker, but “cemetery people” are a self-selecting group that are there for the same reasons: beauty, safety, and (relative) solitude. My morning walk of a decade plus actually guaranteed my husband’s hiring as a groundskeeper, as they judged his reliability by mine! 😛 Now that we’ve moved to a rural area, my morning walk is the stretch of gravel road that winds through fields to the local cemetery, which is small but immaculately kept. Every few weeks, when I go into town with my husband to run errands while he works, I still start my day with a walk through that beautiful large cemetery. It still takes such wonderful care of us through my husband’s work (which paid him full hours while we were both sick/hiding with COVID) and through meditation in motion for me.
@N, I used to live near a gorgeous historical cemetery and it WAS the best place to walk! So many trees. I miss it.
I live, alone, in a rural area in a country with a low crime rate. I trail run in a very remote location with spotty cell reception. 90% of the people I meet on my runs are men and their attitude towards me is that I am crazy to be doing what I do. Only twice, in 8+ years, have I met any negative behaviour.
I am a risk taker but these are very calculated risks. Statistically I’m more at risk of breaking an ankle or being bitten by a snake than being attacked. But if either of those happened I’d be in trouble. But, for the sake or my mental well being, these are things I need to do.
I have walked alone for decades (I do walk with friends and my husband sometimes) and it is something that I relish. While I love walking, and talking, with other people there is also something wonderful about walking alone, it is conducive to thinking about issues. I tend not to walk in the woods closest to our house alone because the terrain is quite rocky and uneven and I could injure myself (though I never have). That being said, the paths in your pictures look like they are wonderful for trekking alone.
The benefits of being in nature, your woods, make it worth your while to walk there, whether you have someone to walk with or not.
I sometimes walk alone in the dark, if it is not the middle of the night, or I stick to our neighborhood.
I love your points about who is really a threat to us. Not only is violence often perpetrated by those we know but so are financial crimes like identity theft. The media loves to scare us into continuing to consume their news about random violent events.
Great topic.
I admit I did wonder about your walks.
The concept of differing perspectives to risk is interesting. I'd think nothing of walking in my city at night but I am a little scared of the woods. Too many scary fairy tales growing up?
I bike ride by myself on a paved path in the woods. At first I was nervous because of my anxiety, but my husband knows where I am. And I also have an app on my watch that if I fall, he will be contacted.
And yes, it is scary to get out there on your own, especially a person with anxiety. But like you said, Kristen, if you don't try (or push yourself) you will miss out on this great, big, beautiful world and the free exercise that comes with it.
I have walked the streets of my city neighborhood for 40+ years, and I'd rather do it and run a few risks than stay home and be afraid. (I also like to pick up trash and NY State deposit bottles/cans, thereby improving my neighborhood and making myself a few extra bucks with the containers.) A few things that probably keep me safer:
(1) I'm usually out between the hours of 5 and 7 am (depending on available daylight/time of year), when few other people are.
(2) I carry a phone, but for emergency use only. I am not talking/texting/catching up on social media when I walk. I'm out to get away from distractions, not add to them.
(3) Also, I don't listen to music, with earbuds or without. Situational awareness is important, whether you're walking on the streets or on woodland paths.
I've been home with Covid for two weeks. I miss walking so much! I hope to be back to it in a few more days.
@Dicey, Three out of the four members of my household had Covid this summer. It was not fun, especially for the adults. I hope you feel better soon!
Oh man! I hope you are feeling more like yourself soon.
I love walking and have been walking alone for years. I try to minimize risk by carrying my phone and walking in daylight hours, but with that being said, I live in Wisconsin and it is hard to walk in daylight in the winter. I walk on trails that are lighted. My biggest safety concern is crossing a busy street. I wear reflective gear and where a lighted vest in the winter.
I also walk about 100 miles a month. I do it for many reasons, health, mental, physical and community. I think that by my being out it makes others feel safer. I also walk to run my errands, to my volunteer activities and to be with friends. I live in a big city so there are often people around but not always. The thing with that is even if there are threats, there are people to help as well.
When I had a dog we went more places that I wouldn't go alone, think alleys. But there are alleys everywhere and the dog thought rhey were great and I couldn't always say no. I learned that the world is mostly safe. I also learned that people have a healthy respect for a dog. My dog would have been zero protection, but others didn't know that. She was neither large nor intimidating.
In my youth I used to teach self defense. I completely agree with Kristen that some of our fears are exaggerated. The national quality of our news means we hear of every bizarre creepy event. And our entertainment is often true crime or horror stories. Growing up we see thousands of murders through entertainment and women are often the victims. All that gives us a very skewed vision of the world. That being said, a person should always trust their instincts, and, if things don't look right, turn around and go a different way. I do. I cross the street or turn 180 degrees and walk away if things don't appeal to me.
The down side of not walking is your bones, muscles and circulation deteriorate, you end up separated from your community and there is the added stress of living in fear and giving up a certain level of independence.
I am definitely in the camp of let's walk!
@Big City Ann, may I add to your comments on the news. The news itself can be awful, as blood writes too many headlines. But the real awfulness is all the repetition. The same awful stories are repeated so much that they create a kind of gloomy force. If we refused to watch the repetitions, and practice using the OFF buttons, maybe it would pressure the system to back off the sensational blood. I am an adult. News once a day is plenty. I love to read newspapers, especially infrastructure stories, that almost never make the front page. But it is the life of the future. I hope to be making better and better decisions about electricity uses, water uses, and transportation issues, based on reading the inside pages of the paper.
This is not a solution for everyone, but if you have a home that can accommodate a pet and the time and money to care for one -- get a dog. A nice medium to large dog will encourage you to walk every day (because they love it!) and most people are hesitant to approach someone with a dog. This is not the reason I have dogs, but I do feel it is a benefit.
I have been walking almost daily for around 45 years now, often alone, usually with a dog or two, but even without dogs, I have never had a scary encounter, so I do think as long as you are being sensible (not walking at night, not in sketchy areas) walking is safe.
@Cindi, Though I would add--possibly not a scent hound? I'm a beagle/foxhound/coonhound lover and owner and would always choose those breeds, but the endless sniffing of everydarnthing gets a little old sometimes, if want you want to do is keep striding and not stop every two feet. Oh well, I knew what I was getting into with these breeds, ha.
@Rose, Ha ha! That's so true.
@Rose, My beagle is learning to trail run with me. We are making progress but when he puts the brakes on it gets messy. He broke a loop on my belt last week with his hard-stop to sniff something *really* important.
@Mands, dying. I love them so much.
@Cindi, The absolute safest I ever felt was when I had not one but two Irish wolfhounds. Both over 160 pounds and over 6 feet when they reared up, which was not often but it happened at least once when I was somehow telegraphing uneasiness about a guy. And when they opened their mouths to bark, you'd swear they could bit your face off in one gulp. The most gentle dogs I ever had but no one except other IW owners realized that. Now we have a lab we adopted from the pound who is a great companion but he could have played the cowardly lion in Wizard of Oz. If we were confronted, I am convinced he would shove me at the person to distract them while he ran off to safety.
@Rose, me too. I’m new to beagles and this one came into my life by chance. He is a loving, cheeky, destructive goof ball and I am deeply in love with him.
I prefer the solitary walk, without music or podcast. It’s thinking time in a noisy world. I always let my husband or kids know exactly where I’ll be walking and approximately what time I’ll be home. Most of my walks are in my rural neighborhood or the neighborhood that adjoins the senior center after a class or along our river, always in daylight. We have a great walking trail behind our college but I find I don’t feel as secure walking that trail alone—mostly fear of animals and snakes rather than humans, though. There are always options if someone is not comfortable walking alone—and cell phones are a way to feel connected to help in an emergency, whether it’s a fall or fear of harm from a person. And for many, walking with a friend is a good incentive and meets the social need. To each his own, but like, you, I walk a lot of miles each month and would hate to give it up out of fear!
Our house is about 1/2 a mile from a huge nature preserve. While I love hiking with friends, I often end up alone, and am often out for a couple of hours on weekends. I'm much more concerned about the risk of tripping & injuring myself & trying to get someone to come across me on the trail (there is typically no cell service), and/or the risk of wildfire. Stranger danger is usually not on my list of concerns.
Like you, I'll take the tradeoff of getting to enjoy time in nature.
I run alone outside most mornings, and have for 15 years now. I run around my suburban area and the nearby open desert (no trees here for me, sadly). The scariest things I've encountered in that time are drivers not paying attention, and unfenced/unleashed dogs. As long as I pay attention, I've been able to mitigate these risks so far.
@Megan, Yes, the unfenced/unleashed dogs can be a big problem, especially when I am walking dogs. When I think of it, I bring a walking stick so I have something to use if they run at me (or a dog I am walking).
We are blessed in our community to have a lady who teaches a form of martial arts. She has worked with other guys who teach situational awareness and self defense. She has taught some interested older folks, young people and children from a Godly perspective about how best to handle scary situations. Because our church building is close to the state park where there is a possible "armed and dangerous" fugitive, we are having a class this Saturday for our ladies who want to learn the basics of situational awareness. If someone is truly fearful of walking alone but still would like to, look for this opportunity in your community.
Coincidentally, I sent my 78 yr old mother a photo from a solo run last Sunday. She proceeded to be very fretful re: 57 yr old me out running by myself. Similarly to you, none of my friends run & if I waited for one of my adult kids to go with, I’d rarely get any exercise. I, too, exercise caution (pun intended!) & I assured her that there are far more good than bad people & that I can’t live my life in fear. Onward!!
@Diane, I'm with your 78 year old mom! My 37 year old daughter hikes on trails through wooded areas every morning. She does carry pepper spray and a whistle, but it really makes me nervous. (Someone mentioned bear spray and I will mention that to her.) Kristen and others, I understand your rationale that the benefits of walking outweigh the risks, but as a mother there is no way I'm not going to worry!
@Alice C, same!!!
I get this question often. I hike and walk alone or with my dog. Actually, walking on a trail in my downtown unnerves me more than a remote mountain trail, but not enough to stop doing it. I always let someone know where I am walking and what time I leave. I also carry my phone with me at all times.
With mountain hiking it's more a risk of being injured than being attacked, but I take the risk and try not to climb anything to steep or treacherous when I'm alone. I agree my mental health would suffer if I wasn't able to get out regularly and that is far more detrimental.
I walk alone most of the time. I’m mindful of my surroundings. I could never give up my alone time.
Yes, I walk alone without fear but with appropriate attention given. I live alone and I am in my seventies, and have yet to find a walking companion who keeps my pace, so to speak. Plus I especially value the contemplative quiet solitary walking provides. I have mixed feelings about the "dangers" one faces, because although it is only sensible to pay attention to where you are, the current fear of stranger danger is hysterically overblown. I sometimes walk to my local suburban library branch, and the worst that has happened is that some guy exposed himself to me in the fiction section. Thank you, Kristen, for your balanced reasoning in today's post.
@Jean, Here was my response the one time I saw an exposer. "Wow, that looks like a penis, only smaller." I read that line someplace and it finally came in handy!
@Lindsey, I've gotta remember that one! Thank you!
You mention often about leaving your home.....that part makes me so sad for you....will that be back on the table to take it back over or to sell it and have you each able to acquire your own home?
I can't predict the future and this decision is not entirely up to me, but I anticipate that the home will be sold.
And I am at peace with that; while it has been very hard to leave the home I made there, I think that it makes sense, as a newly single person, to find my own place for a fresh start.
@Kristen, It's hard but it's good. Hugs to you. I love that Lisey said that wherever you are is home. Beautiful.
Yes. I felt like that was such a high compliment.
@Kristen,
On the bright side, I remember you always mentioning that you didn't like having a split level and that it was not your dream home so you had to work hard at finding contentment living there. Perhaps this is your opportunity to finally find that dream home that you just love.
I also walk alone both in the woods and in urban settings. It pisses me off when people tell me they are worried for my safety because I feel like it's another way women get infantalized. No one ever tells men to be careful walking or running alone.
When Zoe and I were looking for rentals, we did tour a split foyer and then I was like, "Zoe. Hold on. Right now is our chance to NOT live in a split foyer. Let's not waste this opportunity." lol
And yes, whenever I buy a house again, I will be looking for a cute little house that is anything but a split foyer. 😉
@Becca,
I worry about men alone, and so does my extended family. I have numerous nephews, all grown, and several of them love to go trail bike riding alone, way out in the middle of nowhere. There have been breakdowns, broken bones, heat exhaustion and some iffy characters following them. They always have their phones, but they also have devices on their bikes now that let their families know if they stop motion for too long or the bike isn't upright anymore.
I have to say first, I love your woods pictures anytime you post them.
I used to walk the woods alone on my grandfather's farm and later our farm when I was a kid and later a teen and I just loved the peace and beauty, but I will not walk the woods around me now that I live in Florida. There are too many brambles, poisonous snakes, coyotes and bears in our woods, and at the ordnance plant where my daughter works, out in the woods on the other end of town, they have a resident panther that gives the night guards a fright now and then by suddenly appearing in their golf cart headlights as they drive around the outer buildings. I hear and sometimes see the coyotes in the woods around me, which is one reason I give my dog access to the fenced backyard only. So I walk in town at lunch on weekdays as a rule, but I luckily work in a shady and landscaped office complex set in circular drives, so it's usually a pleasant, if short, walk.
I was given an emergency button to attach to my key chain by a friend concerned about me visiting my husband at dark in the winter and getting home alone at dark. It will immediately send a message to 9-1-1 and five people I have programmed in if I press it twice. I will also be contacted by the monitoring company and asked if I'm okay when I press it.
We all have to evaluate our own risks. I drive over 1oo miles a day, six days a week, and that's a risk I will take. I won't walk alone in a city after dark - that's a risk I won't take. Statistically, a person is much more at risk from someone they know than from a stranger, still, I personally know a woman who was mugged while shopping, two who were raped by home invaders, and one who was murdered as she was getting groceries out of her car in her own garage and none of them knew their attackers. But - I can't stay in my house living in fear. I take precautions but I keep going.
@JD,
Your points about stranger attacks are valid. My mother grew up in a foreign country, (Guatemala), and rapes on the street were very, very common. She was trained to never go anywhere alone, and is still shocked at the way women walk alone in this country. Also, in Guatemala, (I do not know about other foreign countries), there are a lot of male hecklers of women, (regardless of their age or appearance) when they walk by, (it is a game for them to whistle, gawk, and grin).
@st, Guatemala is usually listed as one of the world's most dangerous countries, sadly.
I will say that some fears are illogical and the person who has them knows that they aren't logical. Our brains are just tricky in that way.
I don't have a real fear of cities but I get sensory overload from them, particularly overly noisy and aggressive cities like NYC. I'm much more comfortable in a small town.
With the flying vs driving I think a lot of it has to do with control. Planes due to their endless security theater are too much of a hassle to take any more as by the time you get on them your anxiety is already through the roof. It's why you see so many fights on planes but almost never on Amtrak.
My one fear that I have which I consider 100% rational is heights. I don't handle heights well at all.
@Battra92,
No heights for me, either, thank you. My view is, if God had wanted us to be up high, he would have given us wings.
@Battra92, as a city girl, I'm never scared in NYC, but I panicked the first time I stayed in my ex's family cabin in the deep dark woods, alone. Too many slasher movies? hah. It's all what we're used to.
(The only time I've ever been mugged was in London, actually.)
@Rose, I live in London. My partner was sort of mugged many years ago but he misheard what the guy said, said “no thank you”, and walked on. The guy was surprised and just let him go!
@Victoria, That is almost exactly what happened to my godmother/favorite aunt/lifelong NYC dweller. She was walking along in lower Manhattan where she lived, as an older lady, and realized some kid in a hoodie was trying to talk to her in an undertone. My aunt said, "WHAT? Speak up!" and eventually figured out the kid was trying to mug her. She said, "Oh COME ON, no," loudly and the kid ran away. I miss her--she was great.
Re my own mugging: it was actually a pickpocketing on the Underground and I was paying more attention to my toddler son in my arms than my wallet in my jacket. Then someone yelled FREEZE! This is British Transport Police, here is my warrant etc and it turned out to be a ring of pickpocketers targeting American tourists. I did give evidence etc. I was little miffed I didn't get to go to the Old Bailey (British mystery fan here) but Knightsbridge Crown Court was OK, heh.
I love to walk, and I have had two scary situations over my 45 years. Once was in college, when a man was following me in his car trying to convince me to get in. I changed directions at an intersection (he couldn’t turn around at that point) and I went down another street. There I came across a young girl who was supposed to go to a relatives house nearby, but was afraid to walk alone. It worked out for both of us to have some company! The second unfortunate encounter was on a busy walkway with a flasher. He didn’t come near me, though I was very happy to be with my dog. I actually ended up getting a second, even bigger dog, to help cope with my fear. Not that that’s necessary, but for a dog lover like myself, it turned out to have many benefits. Ironically, he ended up being the sweetest dog ever, who would have licked a stranger to death.
Despite those two experiences, I still generally feel safe walking. Choosing a safe area is important (my school and apartment near the walkway weren’t the best). I try to be aware of my surroundings and I don’t walk with earphones in (also for car safety). I use the speaker on my phone if I want to listen to something. Sometimes I walk with my dog, sometimes by myself. I will also often walk an indoor track or use a treadmill, which is great for wintertime.
This is a tricky one for me. Our trails have unfortunately had attacks...even in daylight hours (like 1:30 and 4:30 in the afternoon) even though the trails are in the middle of the city and in a better area.
I made the decision to always walk with someone. A few years ago I had a walking partner and we went every Mon, Wed and Fri at 6am. Knowing that we both needed to go to stay safe was the best accountability for me. Our trails (in Hamilton, Ontario) are on an escarpment edge. So there are sets of stairs....200-400 steps per set. So it was a wonderful workout!
I don't have an exercise partner right now, and small children tie me down more and really miss it. So I've resorted to pilates on YouTube instead but it's not ideal. Outside is so much better....I totally agree with Kristen! And I'm praying for an outdoor solution soon.
Enjoy your beautiful blessing Kristen - especially as you process this difficult valley in your life. ❤️
I walk about 3 miles every morning. It's in our neighborhood with sidewalks and some street lights, but I would walk even if it that weren't the case. In the winter, I even walk in the dark and cold because I need to do it early in the morning. I'm with you--the benefits far outweigh the risks for me!
Me again! On a related note, I'd love a post on your walking "gear". I am serious about my shoes (always Hokas!) and my earbuds and my waist pouch. I'd love to hear what you use and enjoy. Also, do you listen to podcasts, music, nothing at all? I'm always curious about other walkers' habits and preferences.
@Jen, I love my Hokas! Like walking n a cloud.
@Jen, see my comment above (and those of several others) re: NOT wearing earbuds or carrying a phone for anything but emergency purposes while walking. We need to be aware of what's going on around us while we walk.
@Jen, I just discovered Hokas (a pedorthist recommended them to me to deal with my foot pain) and I am in love with them!
I have hiked both alone as well as with others for years and I enjoy both, but there have been times when I have needed my alone time in the woods. That being said, If I go on a solitary hike, I stick with more popular trails, I don't wear earbuds but choose to stay alert to cues from my environment, I go during daylight hours, and if I notice something that seems off about a situation, I skedaddle. I didn't get married till I was in my mid-30s and personal safety as a single woman who lived alone was always a big focus of mine. To this day, when I am heading to my car in a parking lot or ramp, especially if it's dark out, I hold my keys in my hand to use as a potential weapon, I am aware of who is around me, I check under cars and my back seat before sitting in my car. Walking with purpose is also important--no dawdling, checking my phone, or being generally distracted. I think it's important to know your area and respond accordingly. I think of it as taking calculated risks.
@A. Marie, I wear one ear bud- best of both worlds: motivating music & situational awareness!
@A. Marie, thanks but I feel safe wearing my earbuds in my neighborhood. I appreciate your concern.
@Mary Kerns, yes they are! I just got a pair of the Mach 4, and they are the "cushiest" I've ever worn. I am always on the hunt for a sale-I'm not real picky about the color, etc. I just want a deal on my favorites! 🙂
@Kris, glad you like them! They are the BEST! I used to be a Brooks devotee, but I switched to Hokas, and I've never looked back.
Walking the woods is less dangerous then shopping in the mall.
I walk, hike and camp on my own, I seldom see a other person and when I do, we greet each other.
We have had 17 deaths by car accident this year on my island and one person just died on a hike, first in 5 years.
Walking alone, seeing the sun come up, parrots getting about theirs business, the air still fresh. Glorious.
I do have 2 malinois with me and I carry a machete, but the machete is just to open the path when needed.
@Bella Lewin, I imagine a pair of Malinois would scare more people than the machete 😉
I take walks by myself 3-5 days a week. I'm less concerned about attacks from people and more concerned about coyotes. I see at least one a week and while they're pretty small, I know they like to hunt in packs and that makes me a little uncomfortable. To feel safer, I typically only walk during the day, I take my phone, I have my location shared with my husband and I occasionally take a trekking pole with me for defense.
I think if I were to walk in the woods, I'd be more concerned that I might fall than I am that I'd be attacked. But realistically, I've never been injured on a hike with others...why would the chances be greater if I were by myself?
@CrunchyCake, I know this is about walking alone but I'm going to take a bit of a tangent and throw a friendly reminder out there about being safe when crossing the street...we had a friend who was struck by a car while crossing the road and it ended her life. She left behind three young kids. It's heartbreaking. SO please take off your headphones when crossing, cross quickly, wear reflective clothing, stay aware and keep checking in both directions while you cross, even while in a crosswalk.
I live in the desert and it has been drilled into me to never hike alone. There are many things that can go wrong here, including snake or wildlife encounters, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, trip and fall injuries, etc. This is especially true in the summer, when rattlesnakes are very active. Even hiking in a group, we've had some crazy things happen, like when my friend had to helicoptered down a mountain when she broke her ankle. So definitely, if you visit Arizona, it's not recommended to hike alone. I will walk alone around my neighborhood, however, but I'm still watchful for "critters" (coyotes, javalinas, bobcats, etc.), especially in the early morning and around dusk.
I had an incident in a parking lot when I was 17: a guy grabbed me and tried to drag me behind a strip mall. Fortunately, my dad was a little obsessive about my sister and me learning self-defense and bought us both spikes to carry on our key rings when we started driving. Thanks to that, all that happened to me was a lot of anxiety and a few bruises. Because of that incident, I don’t love walking alone. I will do it occasionally but usually try to avoid it. My husband is usually available and willing to walk with me. I walk a lot faster than he does, so we do split up sometimes, but knowing he’s coming up behind me makes me feel better, and if something/someone makes me nervous, I can just turn around and catch up with him quickly.
And I don’t go out without my spike. All of the paint has flaked off, and I get a lot of comments about how it’s not good for the car to have something that big on my keys. I don’t care. I’m 40 now, and I’m pretty sure that spike is what got me the past 23 years of my life.
@Danielle Zecher, Yikes! That's so scary. Glad you had your spike. What does it look like? I would be interested in getting one for my key ring.
@Beth B., it looks like these:
https://smile.amazon.com/KSKPP-keychain-Protection-suitable-teenagers/dp/B09Q2PCV8Q/ref=sr_1_17_sspa?crid=3W08VKE0OV8ZR&keywords=self+defense+spike&qid=1661187944&sprefix=self+defense+spike%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-17-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWkhQUllYU1I3WUE4JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDc4ODE1Q0RUWkhZRFowTVNaJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1NDk5NjNBM01MRUczT0dXMEcmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
I'm not positive what mine is made of, but aluminum seems totally possible.
@Danielle Zecher, Thank you. I've never seen these before.
I think if I could walk to a trail, I'd be happy to walk trails. I can only reach residential and commercial places on foot. I do walk those, but it's not as pretty.
Well said ! I agree!
I do walk alone and when I do I am well armed. That goes for going about my daily life not just when going for walks. I am also one who practices alertness (when going to ATM is there anyone loitering? Use car lights to check the bushes and any shrubbery at night for potential threat) and studies all forms of self-defense. To some this is considered paranoia, to me and many others its being smart as criminals pick easy targets. They will choose the person with their eyes buried in their phone or with earbuds in over someone scanning their surroundings and walking tall-straight up and shoulders back. We are each responsible for our own health, wellness and safety, don’t rely on the police or anyone else to save you and fully expect to be on your own. As Axl Rose sang “It’s a jungle out there” but hopefully as in the second verse you’re not gonna die.
I feel the same way, and for years walked alone in the parks within and just outside my city (not in the US) and enjoyed the quiet time and feel good and strong. Sadly, early 2021, I was attacked by a stranger in one of the parks where I walked. It sounded like a runner was going to pass me by, but instead he grabbed me from behind and was violently hurting me , and I am grateful my self-defense training kicked in but it was all very intense and traumatic.
I reported it to the police and the police did find a suspect a month or so later who had attacked other women in the same manner in the previous weeks. I was 90% sure it was him by the walk and bodyshape but never saw his face. It was a relief to know the police took seriously.
While walking in the city alone right away was a bit scary I felt I needed to keep my power and do this. It took me a few weeks to walk again in a park, and I went to that same park many times with my husband, I felt it was important for healing and also reclaim my power.
I since moved to another place, and I walk alone in the city, and with others in the parks. I know that eventually I will feel settled enough to go back to walking by myself in the nature reserves and parks.
I share this not to garner pity, for you to feel sorry nor to scare you, but to simply share a real story of something I never thought would happen to me, and that even when something terrible like this happens, it can be possible to regain power slowly. I travel and move a lot so the scenario of someone attacking me is one that I had thought about a lot and I feel that going through that visualisation in my brain and other self-defence training I've had made the difference in being able to react quickly and swiftly in a bad situation. I hope everyday that no one else goes through this but I know that it can continue to happen, so hoping that sharing this story helps somehow.
@Carla, I'm so sorry that happened to you. Thank goodness for self-defense training.
Thank you @Beth B., it sucks, and I'm grateful for the support around me and my relentless positive outlook that has helped me avoid despair
I walk alone. I stick mostly to neighborhoods and skip more scenic (and more secluded) areas. I try to be aware of my surroundings and I walk about an hour every day and almost always alone. There are paths I will walk when I am not alone and paths I will skip if I am. I listen to the hairs on the back of my neck. I often feel that I am invisible when I am walking, but a number of neighbors have let me know they see me. It is nice knowing there are friendly faces in the houses I pass. I always take my phone and wear an ID bracelet.
@Allison, "listen to the hairs on the back of my neck" is excellent advice.
You see the world as a safe place or a dangerous place ... either way, you are right.
This might be a purely Canadian perspective but I've never worried about safety while walking where I live. We're in a rural village and have wonderful trails through woods and farmlands and you can easily go for kilometers and never see anyone. Or go and see a bunch of your neighbours. However, when my girls were old enough to go for runs alone, I did worry about them. But I came to similar conclusions as you - the risk was very low for the obvious benefits they gained by running alone in nature.
As for weapons, that never occurred to me but again may be a Canadian perspective. It's illegal to carry even pepper spray here.
@Leann, Fellow Canadian here! I would not feel safe hicking alone. Or walking alone at night. So I guess it really depends on your personal level of comfort and anxiety.
Though my husband and I average 6-8 hours weekly of dancing, we also love walking. My husband averages 3 miles daily walking our dog. I don’t walk everyday but when I do( 3-4 days a week), I walk through our neighborhood and I feel totally safe. My walks feel more strenuous than our dancing but I guess that’s because I’m not walking on flat ground and I’m using muscles and breathing a bit differently than with dancing.
Years ago someone told me that anxieties are based more on possibilities than on probabilities. I worry about a lot of things but I’m learning to discern probability over possibility and that’s giving me courage to move forward in many areas of life including walking by myself.
Beautiful photos. I walk in my suburban neighborhood. Unfortunately I will not walk in
a wooded area alone. My friend took her dog for a walk in the state park beside her Massachusetts home. Like she did so many times before. I think she was near the parking lot. A man with a knife threatened to stab her dog if she didn't perform a specific act. Unfortunately we good people always have to think twice about going out alone in nature.
@Kathleen Barry,
Oh! How terrifying! What did she do?
Definitely time to get a different dog!
@Ingrid, ???
I only walk by myself in heavily populated areas. If I’m hiking by myself I don’t wear earphones. If I’m running by myself I only wear them in one ear so I can hear what’s going on around me.
@Kelley,
Oh and I should say I have a sticker on the back window of my car that says “I run so I don’t kill people”. Running, walking, or hiking helps to clear my head and make me a better person for everyone around me.
Great advice from Kristen and the other commenters. The only thing I would add is letting someone know where you are headed and what time you expect to be back if you are going out on a hike or a long walk with limited cell service. If you end up needing search and rescue, it’s way easier if they can narrow down where to start looking for you.
We have no extensive wild terrains where I live so apart from people no wild animals. I sometime come across the locals with a fringe as we call them - the angry man or the mantra chanter or the lady who lives outdoor and picks up trash. They have never bothered me and neither have the groups of boisterous youngsters that I personally find more intimidating.
However I have noticed that I have become more cautious as I grew older. I simply cannot run as fast anymore in case something should happen, and it makes me feel vulnerable. And exuding vurnerabiliy is not a good thing when you get mugged.
So I walk and cycle only when it is light and where I am relatively near people.
When I still walked in evenings I sometimes condered buying a battered leash for a big hound, and whistling for Wodan once in a while.
It’s a hard subject isn’t it? In London we had an off duty police officer use his ID and handcuffs to ‘arrest’ a woman, and then attacked and murdered her. The police commissioner said women should refuse to be arrested if they felt unsure!! Yep, it’s definitely the woman’s problem that police officers are attacking us.
I wanted to say though, that regardless of whether you walk at night, or alone, or in dark alleys, it is not your fault if something bad happens to you. It’s the fault of the person who attacks you. I know guilt is very common, and I’m completely on board with this post and any actions you take to protect yourself, but I really wish society would spend resource telling men not to rape women, rather than telling women not to leave the house. If there’s a male attacker on campus for example, how about we give the men the curfew, and not the women?
‘Not all men’ eh? Then men have to be responsible for ensuring it is ‘no men’. Ok, off my soapbox now 🙂
@Victoria, Sarah Everard. Horrific.
I’ve always walked alone and felt safe. I’ve also traveled alone and still almost always felt pretty safe. At least in the US, most people are in poor shape and I run fairly regularly and work out 5 days per week so I’ve always figured that while I don’t know how to fight at all I can probably outrun 99% of the population. I’m much more likely to die of heart disease from not running, walking, or hiking than I am from a stranger attacking me. You are right on about the statistics too, most people who are hurt are hurt by those close to them not by a stranger.
I love your pictures when you take your walks. I was inspired to go walking on a nature trail I haven't been on in over twenty years on Friday. I used to walk it all by myself when I needed the exercise and just the time to think. Now I carry my firearm with me, but that is more from my line of work. I carry everyday anyways, so why not while I'm doing something like walking in a secluded area by myself. I was more afraid of a mountain lion slinking across the river and seeing me as a threat than running into a bad guy/gal. And even that isn't a real threat:) It probably would have been a beautiful sight to see!
An excellent and thought-provoking topic! I walk regularly using a loop of a few paved trails in a wooded county park near my home in a suburb on the border of a major city. I generally walk alone, too, since my best walking friend lives about 50 miles away. Of course, I always have my phone with me and I never wear earphones so I can be alert to sounds. If I hear someone behind me, I always turn to look and make eye contact. Luckily, there are almost always other walkers/runners on my trails - if I go for a few minutes without seeing someone else, I perk my eyes and ears up and start scanning the area. Ninety-nine percent of the time, someone walks or bikes by within a minute or so. Kristen, your photos of your walking paths are lovely - I'm curious, do you see other walkers while on your walks?
I walk the hills alone every single day since covid started (since I could no longer go to my gym.) Even though I live in Los Angeles, I do live in an isolated canyon area with a lot of wild animals (per our security camera, we get mountain lions walking through our yard around once a week between 2-3AM). Anyway, I will get up early in the dark to walk. I take my flash light as well as a pocket sized airhorn. The airhorn is very useful when confronted with the many coyotes that live in my neighborhood. It doesn't exactly scare them but it does get them to move off of the road. The air horn would also come in useful if some weird person was confronting me but have had nothing like that happen.
If you are interested in pocket sized airhorn, they sell them for around $14 on Amazon and mine has lasted over 2 years so far.
I've walked, ridden a bike, and kayaked for ever in all kinds of terrain and situations. Only threatened in New Orleans, but attracted stalkers in many places. The biggest dangers in my experience are ticks( I've had tick born disease twice)and cars at intersections(I've been hit 3 times)
I found carrying your bike on your shoulder across a crosswalk makes you more visible day or night but I've seen idiots make an illegal left turn into a bus so there are no guarantees.
I walk alone (with the corgis). I was nervous walking in our woods at first - mostly of coyotes! I only went a little ways at first, but gradually increased my range as I got more comfortable. One thing to note is, when you are a woman living alone, you do things alone you might otherwise not do alone if you have a partner. If I want something or want to do something I have to figure out a safe way. I have traveled to Europe, around the US, moved to another city and back, ride public transportation, etc. Sometimes it was scary (I have been in both Boston and London during terrorist attacks), but like Kristen it’s a cost benefit analysis where I weigh what I want to do vs. risk. Getting on the Tube after the London bombing in 2005 was definitely scary for me, but eventually it got easier and it’s the best, quickest way around the city. Anyway- I am fortunate to live in areas where the risk is minimal.
I'm so glad you brought this up. I live in hyper-suburbia outside a large city, and I run and walk during daylight hours mostly, and never with headphones or earbuds. The greater danger is cars. It's not a great place to exercise in the dark, so I walk at work at lunch during the winter and am contemplating a gym membership this year when it cools down and the days grow shorter. I have diabetes and kidney disease which are both well-controlled with a careful diet and exercise and medication--I'm more likely to die of those things than bad men. Walking/running allowed me to lose 60 pounds and keep it off.
Yes! I walk and hike with people and with my dog when it’s just the two of us. There have been times I’ve gone alone and felt fine, and times when I have felt spooked. I know the statistics and sometimes just feel too spooked no matter what. On those days I find a more populated trail. It’s worth it to push yourself but also to honor how you’re feeling, because a scared anxious hike is no kind of hike. Definitely having a dog helps take away spooky feelings.
I am 69. Pretty healthy and mostly fit. I have always walked alone! Sometimes my husband and I walk together at local parks or in the neighborhood, but for years I walked an hour a day every day and I usually went through a large park near our home. I walked all hours,day and night. There were always other people walking too. I often saw a very small woman, about 5 foot tall, very muscular, power walking, in the evenings, and she carried a baseball bat! I carried a pepper spray and never ever had even one close encounter with any danger (and I have been walking since 1999.) Now, I have moved, and I walk different places but I never feel unsafe walking. I would say you need to check out your area and decide if it feels safe enough to go alone..I felt the park I went to before I moved was safe enough.. and other people always around . There are 3 gorgeous parks/riparian preserves near me now and I walk them alone,often, but not at night anymore. We can’t let fear govern our lives..it is hard when the media scares us to pieces all the time..so, stop reading the news!! AND GET OUT AND WALK!!!!
@Madeline,
Lol, I never encourage people to get out and walk, bike or anything. Since covid there are so many people outside doing everything that the only way to be alone is to stay inside.
I'm guessing most people are thinking of human threats, but I'm more wary of wildlife where I live. I've only ever carried a gun a few times after sightings of wild boar, coyotes and bobcats.
I might be able to bluff a coyote or bobcat, but boars are dangerous. The dogs will stand their ground and I'm not about to let them get hurt. Thankfully, wild boar don't linger in our neighborhood as they do in bigger fields. They do a lot of damage.
Our 10 year old rottie was attacked by coyotes and died four surgeries later from a heart attack. I never took any chances after that. We have cameras everywhere. We've got video of a coyote trotting down our driveway with a leg of deer.
I walk alone. I find it not only good for me physically, but mentally. I allow my thoughts to wander. I think as a society, we have very little time to let our minds wander. It allows me to let off steam in a healthy way. I wouldn’t want a walking partner because I need the time in my own head to decompress. I have never been afraid, but that being said, I don’t walk at night and I don’t walk in an area I don’t know well or feel is unsafe.
And for the last benefit of walking alone, to, It also doesn’t get much more frugal.
I have never felt uncomfortable walking alone in parks or neighborhoods around my city, or in the desert, or on the trails around Tahoe. I have never been afraid of human assault, bears, snakes or other wildlife. Hiking alone, my only concern was of getting injured from a fall or something but luckily that has never happened. The one time I ever felt frightened was walking to the early bus downtown at 4:30 in the morning (I had to be at work at 6:00). A man approached and my gut told me "get away, get away from him," and I did and it I was fine.
Yes, something could happen to me in the woods or in the desert. But something could also happen to me in my own home, or at the grocery store or at work or at the movies. Life is not without risk. And it the benefits of walking in the woods far outweighs the risk.
I get a LOT of "concern" from friends about my traveling alone. Knott on a plane - road trips. I tend to take a LOT of stuff along, so that would make flying difficult.
I actually LIKE to fly, but I find it very restrictive. Getting to the airport, parking, checking luggage, waiting for the flight, being stuck in a seat without enough legroom for my 34" inseam legs, gathering the luggage, resting s car. It's just did much HASSLE!
Like I said, I take a lot off stuff with me - in my car I can take everything I might possible want or need. I can start my trip when I want - short notice, early or late in the day. I can go home when I choose - leave early, stay an extra day. I like seeing things shopping the way. When I see something interesting, I often call my sister and tell her about it. I listen to autonomous inn the car.
The biggest pushback I get, though, is going ALONE. "Aren't you afraid?" "What if the car breaks down?" and other such questions, but mostly, "Is that safe?"
I say it's no less safe than driving around your own city. I know how to talk to a mechanic - I had to do this on a trip to Florida from Indiana this past December (a broken brake pad and a broken motor mount) and a few years ago with a flat tire (a sidewalk failure - had to get a new tire). I'm used to pumping my own gas and eating out alone. I really don't seer what the big hoo-haw is about. I share my location with my daughter and my husband, so they know where I am all the time.
And trees, I DO have a husband and u generally don't travel with him much. He drag races, and he's constantly doing something related to that - working on the car because something broke, working on the car to improve something performance, getting ready to go to a race, coming home and debriefing from the race, racing, going offer his videos and statistics, or watching racing on TV or the computer, so he's not terribly available for vacations!
So I go alone. Somethings I do take my sister along, but if she can't go, that doesn't affect my plans.
My dad encouraged us (all girls) to DO things. He had to leave mom alone with us kids for long periods (he was in the military in WWII). Was she supposed to sit around and wait for him to come home and pay the bills and get the car fixed or the house repaired? She traveled with little kids and dealt with movers when it was time for a transfer - dad wasn't there to do it.
When I go to the store and the bagger offers to put my groceries.on the car, I say no. Who's going to take them out of the car? Me! And since I'm getting older, it's good for me to do those things - functional strength training for free, basically!
Sorry this was so long and turned into a rant, but it just gets me how timid so many healthy, fully functional women are. I think mostly it's learned behavior.
Oh boy! So many typos! I got carried away and didn't proofread. UGH.
I would have no qualms about walking alone if only I had woods as beautiful as yours close to home. I would have to drive quite a distance to reach the woods. I do not feel safe walking alone in mine or any other neighborhood now days, so my husband and I walk together. We love doing that as we can have discussions on whatever.
Even though the facts and figures support it, I can’t walk alone. I survived an assault when I was 15, and the fear hasn’t gone away. I always find an exit when I enter a large space, I don’t like to be alone with unfamiliar men, and I won’t go shopping or driving alone at night because of the dark parking lot. I know the statistics are on my side, but I’m much too uncomfortable.
I think that's understandable. And I'm so sorry that that happened to you!
@Kristen, thank you.
I walk alone but on my own property. I walk through wooded trails & I even walk some at night. My favorite time to walk is sunrise. I can't imagine ever having a problem with a stranger even knowing the trails in our woods exist, let alone anyone being able to find them & come after me. I'm much more likely to be bit by a snake (still a very low risk even though they are there) or startle a fox....
We have been attacked by more dogs than humans so far. We stick to certain trails either together or alone mostly to stay away from off leash pets. I feel safe in our local parks which is where I walk the most but I tend to go while crews are working or mowing. I also walk in my back yard or down our dead end street. We have several acres that is wooded and other than coyotes and deer it’s peaceful.
Ugh, there is this dog in my neighborhood that has managed to surprise me twice now, and even made me drop my phone on the pavement. Somehow he manages to run up behind me without me hearing him, and I hate it.
@Kristen, Use your sternest mom voice and yell GET LOST! or GO HOME at the dog.
99.9% of the time, an animal is more scared of you than vice versa, especially if you sound loud and domineering. I've yelled down bears a bunch of times up in the woods. (granted, these are wussy New York bears, not like a grizzly or something.) They always just shamble away apologetically.
Right now, my teen daughter and I walk together in a nearby woods, but next year she will be gone during the day at college. I have pondered this very question, and know that I don’t want to lose the mental health benefit of walking. So I signed my daughter and myself up for a free women’s self defense class that is offered by the campus safety department at our local college. It meets just four times, for three hours each class period. It may not be the happiest topic of a class, but I want both of us to have some decent skills—and those skills may simply be things like assessing a situation, not automatically how to fight someone. It makes me feel better to know that we will each at least have SOME knowledge if necessary!
I have not been able to walk as much as I used to, but when I was less disabled we lived mostly in northern villages you could walk in the summer, but the winter was when polar bears came onto the land. They don't hibernate and they eat people so the husband and I did not walk as often. And if we did, someone would always stop and offer a ride because of the possible danger. Now I walk with a cane (sometimes two) and so I walk on sidewalks in town, not the trails that can trip you. Almost every time someone stops to offer me a ride because "you look sort of tired. Are you okay?" A few weeks ago I walked by a very visibly intoxicated man and shortly after I passed him, he stumbled up to me and offered me his arm, saying I looked worse off than he did! I took his arm because sometimes letting someone do you a kindness is as good for them as you, but I am sure we made an odd pair, listing back and forth arm in arm. And, actually, I was pretty tired and it helped me when I thought I was helping him. I am reminded every day what a great place I live in.
One thing that just occurred to me: when my children were learning to swim, their teacher had them practice yelling HELP! HELP! at every session. It was a little unnerving but I believe it's probably saved lives over the years. Might not be a bad idea for the people reading this to practice yelling HELP! somewhere safe where people won't be worried. In a bathroom, with loud music playing outside? Just a thought.
Well said. Good for you: logical, rational thinking needs to be practiced out loud sometimes. Many people watch too much TV, which offers a lot of crime and violence, when, as you point out, in real world places it is much less likely. The only hesitation I would practice is hiking alone in dangerous areas, with steep trails and dense areas where I could fall and not be found. So, a hiking buddy for those trails is a really good idea. But for neighborhood walks? Solo is beautiful, and gives my mind a lovely place to rest. Yours too, evidently. I also commend you for making the decision to walk and going ahead; waiting for someone else can mean too much delay. Or to sitting home waiting for the ceiling to fall in. Pick your risks!
Here in Colorado, I am more concerned about wildlife encounters than human predators. While hiking, I’ve come upon deer, elk, rattlesnakes, skunks and bobcats. If wildlife officials see a bear or mountain lion near a trail, they will close the trail.
Always give wildlife the right of way. We are the guests in their home.
(On a side note, we did have a young bear come into our local Safeway store a month ago. He caused no harm and was tranquilizers and relocated.)
A few years ago, while hiking, I broke my ankle. Two super nice guys who were complete strangers teamed up and carried me off the trail to the parking lot where my husband met me and took me to the emergency room. So just because someone is a stranger does not mean they are a threat.
I still love to hike and do it often. I just don’t go off trail or do terrain similar to the type where I was injured. Having 5 kids, hiking is my “me” time and really, the only time to be alone. I agree that the benefits outweigh the risks.
I am SO surprised that you got this repeated question - it's something I don't think anyone's asked me, as a regular solitary walker (in cities no less). I'm so in line with your responses... gosh I also travel the world solo!
I think I scared a new neighbor today when I very cheerfully told her our local park is really wonderful, and while sometimes there are drunk men passed out on the merry-go-round, they are nice and get up if your kids ask them.
I have been living in a major city for 17 years and she just moved here from a very rural part of Canada and I forgot how different people’s experiences and perceptions are. My assurance that the park drunks are overall a very friendly group did not bring her the comfort it brings me.
I'm one to worry about walking alone, unless it's in a well lit and surrounded place like streets roads during the day. And I would feel the same about my daughters if they were, let's say, hicking by themselves on a trail. I'm anxious by nature and my mind easily goes to the ""what if"". On a side note, my sense of orientation is trully horrible, so I would get lost anyways, aha!
I, and my wife, walk all the time alone. She more often than me out on remote hills and mountains, but either of us locally in woods and fields etc. Usually we have a dog or two but we figure it’s too much effort for the Bad Guys to climb a mountain to first find you and then assault you when they can hang out in the city much more easily.
I need to walk alone for my sanity. I use this time for thinking, praying, praising the Lord, meditation. I often find myself in the woods or other areas, but it’s not far from our home. I feel safe.
I read this post when it came out a few days ago. It motivated me to walk on trails today instead of on my neighborhood streets. It was so nice and cool and a welcome change. Thanks for the motivation.
Yay! I'm so glad. And you are right; the woods are often cooler than the streets in the summer.
I used to walk alone. Now my family won’t let me (unless I sneak out). I fell in 2020 when I stepped on a cherry. I broke my shoulder when I fell and ended up with a reverse shoulder. Recently I had a hip replacement so I am able to walk better than I have in a couple of years. It is suspected that I damaged my hip in the same fall but the shoulder was more demanding. I never leave home without my phone. Heck I never walk around the house without my phone. I have walked thousands of miles and am hoping that now I can walk a few thousand more. But alone probably not. But that is what happens when you hit your 7th decade.
I used to walk around my city with no fear but in the last couple of years the environment has changed and now a walk takes me by many homeless groups. They generally accost whoever walks by looking for handouts so walking up to the closest walking nature paths has become iffy. Now to get there I am driving to a different safer location. I have always loved walking and have missed it.
I'm Dutch, and I walk in the woods three times a week. I walk alone because I want to calm down, organize my thoughts, etc. Very often people ask: aren't you afraid. Not really. But I always choose a time that feels safe to me. For example, early in the morning.
I also carry pepper spray with me (which is actually forbidden in The Netherlands) and a pocket knife. That's enough for me. It's so nice to walk. And I can always send my location to my hubby or sons, if things go wrong. The Netherlands is a small country. No bears. Some wolves here and there.
I enjoyed your post, Kristen. Thanks for it.