women boondocking alone

[LivGolden]

I've boondocked and pitched my tent on BLM land and just about anywhere. Very little to fear. In the few years I traveled alone, I've had a couple of iffy situations but nothing serious. My most disturbing experience was at a nice motel. Go figure.

I'm sixty. I have stayed up to 14 days, each year, outside of Buena Vista CO. People are generally friendly- not bothersome.

 

[travelaround]

My most disturbing experience was at a nice motel.

... I guess that's where strange people might congregate! They're not so likely to want to be in the middle of nowhere.

I'm glad someone resurrected this old thread - it is a good one.

I've done some boondocking alone or with small children, and never had troubles. Not sure what the future holds but I'm not trembling in fear. I think caution and good sense go a long way in promoting safety.

 

[WanderingRose]

I have about 60,000 travel miles under my belt in my widowed life, and boondock in the true sense only occasionally.

I practice basic safety and use common sense, and have never been accosted nor felt in danger.

I have no qualms about a parking lot somewhere or small public, no services campground tucked into a forest or by a lake or river somewhere, but can’t bring myself to set out down a dirt road and stay out in the boonies by myself. I have done this some with others, but then it’s with others.

I like having signal, but can do without that for a few days without severe withdrawal, but mostly fear an emergency with me that would leave my dog without care in a remote area where no one was likely to wander in for an indeterminate period of time.

After a couple of near death experiences, I’m good with that possibility, but her being left alone to starve and dehydrate is just not a scenario I can handle.

 

[QinReno]

Good to see the comments on this old thread. Common sense usually wins the day, as always. I like the idea of the air horn to chase animals away - wonder if it'll work with a grizzly?

I also like the idea B-2 mentioned about starting to talk "seriously" about religion to a man who approaches and is "too friendly". After the initial approach, if feeling unsettled, immediately start **asking** questions, "Are you ... ?". If he's not religious, then it might chase him off, if he is religious, then you could have a good conversation.

Strangely, I've met a lot of people on airplanes who want to talk only about religion, but not so many when camping out. However, I might use that ploy myself (being a guy) with talkative neighbors who won't leave, .....

When I was down in the Sierra recently, this woman came over from the next campsite and proceeded to talk and talk and talk. Said the guy she was with was a co-worker and not her SO, etc, etc. After about 25-minutes, the guy came over and clearly was miffed, and said "Do you want your beer now?" to her. LOL. I think she was having fun with the both of us.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 . . . I like the idea of the air horn to chase animals away - wonder if it'll work with a grizzly? . . .

That is my first line of defense with larger critters, both two and four legged.  A cousin's son (second cousin?), a fishing guide on the Kenai peninsula in Alaska, turned me on to this.  Used mine once on a black bear, it skedaddled .  Scared the crap out of my beagle too.

I think it would scare the bejeebers out of anyone trying to break into your van.

 

[Almost There]

Scares the crap out of me when mine goes off unintentionally, like when it fell out of the drink tray and landed on the button...

 

[travelaround]

Hmmm... I have an alarm button on the keyfob for my car. So if I get a mouse in the car when I'm at RTR should I just hit the panic button?

 

[highdesertranger]

LOL, "So if I get a mouse in the car when I'm at RTR should I just hit the panic button?" not if you want to make friends hahahahaha

highdesertranger

 

[travelaround]

Okay, I'll try to be quiet. If I get a mouse I'll entice it outside with good food, or go somewhere alone out in the lonely desert and hit the panic button!

 

[QinReno]

If you get a Packrat, use the air horn! Nasty little buggers.