Safety for Women Solo Camping

I remember the first time I went hiking alone. I’m almost embarrassed to admit, it wasn’t until I was in my 30s. My partner at the time and I just had a fight. Probably about her not wanting to go on a hike. I took the dog and drove the Subaru about an hour away to one of our favorite hikes on the Salmon River near Mount Hood.

On the drive up, I was feeling resentful. I was mad at my partner because I thought I needed her along to be safe. Why wouldn’t she come along with me so that I could enjoy nature?

I was apprehensive as I pulled into the parking area. There were a few other cars at the trailhead. The day was cloudy, but not rainy as I descended into the old growth forest. At first I had my guard up, looking around for dangerous characters. I wasn’t worried about bears or snakes or cougars. I was worried about my fellow humans, or more specifically: men.

That’s the reality and the sad truth for most women. It sucks that women have to be afraid to travel alone, to travel in the wilderness. And while most of the time, nothing bad happens; we do have to keep our guards up, to be constantly vigilant.

It didn’t take long on this particular day until the rich smell of the forest duff, the sound of the river flowing over rocks and the beautiful towering massive doug fir trees calmed my nervous system and I was able to slip into the present moment and realize I was okay.  I was strong. I could run fast and I had a big dog with me. I began to relax and really enjoy myself.

I don’t remember if I did actually run into anyone on the trail that day. I do remember that I stopped and called my partner once I was in cell range to apologize and resolve the argument we had. I thought I needed her to come with me hiking, so that I would be safe. I learned that day, that I was perfectly capable of keeping myself safe while in the wilderness. These days, I actually prefer to hike alone.

Which isn’t to say I haven’t aborted an adventure.  Just last summer, I turned around from a hike because there was a sketchy man with a sketchy dog following along just a little too close behind me. I listened to my gut and left.  Which is my #1 tip for women to keep yourselves safe. Here are the rest:

Safety tips for Solo Women Camping

1. Listen to your gut. A few summers ago, I was traveling through Colorado. There was a town I recalled from a previous trip and planned to spend the night there. I had fond memories of waking up in that town on Christmas morning to a magical fresh blanket of snow, horses in pastures and families dressed in their finest Western gear.  But this time, as I pulled in on a dusty late summer evening, I got a totally different vibe. Shops were boarded up, transients huddled in the park drinking from paper bags and there wasn’t a shade tree in sight. I listened to my gut, pulled out my map and moved on to the next town.
2. Sleep with your steering wheel. There are a lot of different vehicle options and there are pros and cons to each. Trailers are awesome, because you can leave them in a campsite and go explore with your tow vehicle. Tents are great because they’re inexpensive and you can pack them up and store them away easily when not in use. One of the reasons I choose to travel in a van is because I don’t have to exit by vehicle to get to the steering wheel if I need to take off in a hurry. Even if I’m connected to electric and water at a campsite, the cost to replace the damage to my van will be worth it if I get out alive.
3. Let someone know where you are. Whenever I travel, whether for a night away or months on end, I let my sister know where I’m going to be. I’ve also activated the Share my Location app on my phone with my sister and a close friend, so people can find me in case of an emergency.
4. Carry something to protect you. While I do not have a gun, some women feel safe with one. I won’t get into the pros and cons of traveling with a gun because frankly, it’s not something I know much about. Others have a bat or a knife or mace. Personally, I have bear spray . It serves a double purpose and can cause some damage at close range to a human face. Wasp spray can also be effective. Whatever weapon you carry make sure you feel confident using it and also know it can be used against you.
5. Take a self-defense class. I had a free class offered by my employer not long ago and I still play the scenarios in my head of what I would do in the event of a physical attack.
6. Secure the vehicle. Before I climb into bed at night, I check to make sure all the doors and windows are locked.  I leave my keys and a headlamp near the ignition. I bring Olive inside, as I know she will protect me if anyone tries to harm me or break into Squeaky.
7. Park with your front facing out. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best at backing my big van up. I always make sure to park in a spot where I’m not boxed in and I can easily pull out forward if I need to exit fast.
8. Get to know your neighbors. One of the best things about camping alone is the people you meet. I distinctly remember the first time I went out with Squeaky by myself. I camped at a cool place on the coast with vintage trailers. I was new to my van and needed a little help backing in. The sites were tight and my neighbors helped me back in and then to figure out how to dump my sewage. They shared their own mishaps and favorite places to camp. I quickly realized that I’m now part of a cool subculture. But I also felt safer, having chatted with my neighbors and getting to know them a bit. I’ve often been invited to join a campfire of strangers or just chat with folks who are camped nearby. By talking to the others, I am building community and lasting memories, but also getting a sense of who is around me and if I need help in the middle of the night, I know who I can call on.
9. Arrive before dark. Another RV blog that I follow talks about the 330 rule. They never drive more than 330 miles in a day and plan to arrive at their destination by 3:30pm. While I might not be that strict, I always plan to arrive before dark, especially to a destination I haven’t been to before. I like to get a sense of my surroundings, who my neighbors are and any hazards I need to keep an eye on.
10. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Squeaky is cute. It gets a lot of attention and I do like talking about the unique layout. Sometimes people are just curious and want to know about it. Other times they ask intrusive questions, like how much did I pay for it or can they see inside. I’ve learned to say, “That’s information I don’t share.” And simply, “No.” I don’t owe strangers anything. However, if I’m camping and getting to know some fellow campers and they ask to see the inside, often I will say yes. I’ve been inside their vans and trailers, as well. It’s fun to see how others set things up and stay organized.

Those are my top 10 safety trips for women traveling solo. What are yours? Do you have anything to add to my list?

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