Will crime strike on my hike?
Here are a few considerations about safety, risk and the great outdoors.
By Roy Harryman
Publisher, Kansas City Hiker
I get the privilege of enjoying the outdoors in Kansas City and sharing my experiences with people like you.
And because of that, I get this question with increasing frequency: “Is that area safe?” or “Did you feel safe?”
First off, I appreciate the question. At the same time, it’s something impossible for me to answer with any degree of authority. It would take a criminologist analyzing statistics to determine if an area is safe. While there are apps and websites that track crime statistics, I can’t vouch for their accuracy.
What to do, then? A few ideas.
I don’t hike in areas where I feel unsafe and neither should you
I could be missing some great hikes, but if an area feels wrong to me, I don’t go. And I certainly don’t advise others to go there.
I look at the environment:
Is there trash everywhere?
Are there bars on windows?
Is visibility low?
Is light scarce?
Is there anyone around?
Am I going alone?
Am I going at night?
“These are, of course, somewhat subjective factors. But if our ‘gut’ is warning us, we should probably listen. ”
The worst that can happen is we end up hiking somewhere else.
Here’s an example. I have walked on an area trail that has several beautiful natural features. Yet in the space of a mile, I stepped over three homeless men asleep on the trail. I have no reason to believe the men were dangerous. In fact, I think they were there because a local restaurant generously fed them on a regular basis.
And yet I hesitate to send people that direction. As a result, I have not published anything about this trail and don’t plan to do so. I imagine a mom pushing a stroller past sleeping homeless men. If she knows what she’s going to get, fine. But if she’s not aware of this, she could be terrified by the experience. This concern could be factually unwarranted. But we might also have reason to be alarmed. Each of us must decide for ourselves.
Here’s another example. I read a glowing report about one of the remaining pristine glades in Kansas City. Why hadn’t I heard of this before? Excitement built. … Until I found the trail head. There was a head-tall stack of mattresses and other debris strewn around and no clear place to park. The intense overgrowth made the place dark. I bailed.
Did I miss out? Maybe. But I listened to my gut. And I’m alive to write this column.
We can’t control the environment, but we can make wise choices
I hate to say it, but anything can happen to anyone, anywhere. I don’t say this to make you paranoid, but to acknowledge that we must take full ownership of our own safety. At the end of the day, it’s up to us.
Here are a few simple practices to help us stay safe:
1. Walk with a friend.
2. Walk with a dog.
3. Walk during daylight.
4. Practice situational awareness. That means don’t be lost in your phone or oblivious to sights and sounds around you. Take off the headphones. Not only will you be safer, you’ll enjoy your walk more.
5. Get situational awareness/personal safety training. It’s quite remarkable what we can do if we have some awareness of how to respond to a threat. I recently read an article about a woman who defended herself by smashing her dog’s poop into an attacker’s face. Now that’s improvising! It could have been a walking stick, rock or a tree branch. Let’s hope it never comes to this. But if it does, training gives confidence and skill.
6. You can also set up SOS apps on your mobile phone that allow you to send out distress notices to predetermined people. In addition, you can enable GPS tracking of yourself or loved ones. And, to be old school, you can simply tell someone where you’re going.
Yet I give this caution: Don’t rely on fast-phone fingers to save you. By the time your notice gets to anyone, even the police, it’s probably too late. That’s why the other ideas shared here should be considered first.
The bottom line
We’re not likely to be attacked, regardless of our destination. But it could happen. Therefore we should take precautions that align with the perceived level of risk. Can’t find a friend to go that day? Reschedule and take another route. Trust your instincts while enjoying the big bright world around you. And keep that dog poop handy!
Roy Harryman is the publisher of Kansas City Hiker. So far, his biggest threat on a trail is himself. Keep your shoes tied ladies and gentlemen!