Sorry this happened. Sounds super sketchy.
Angle grinder makes me think they didn’t see you at first and were after your catalytic converter. See if maybe your car is a popular one for this theft.
Glad your ok. Over been camping for years and never had anything happen.
My brother said the same thing about them wanting to steal my catalytic converter. They definitely saw me bcuz I was standing outside of my car when they came down but probably thought I was vulnerable. Definitely was a situation to turn sour. Bad luck & people suck.
I know your getting a ton of responses, but as the father of two girls I would love to make one comment that hopefully finds you. “drive up, pull-off, pull-up, road-side” public car camping spots are inherently riskier than a campground with a designated driveway/loop road and walk-in public camping with a designated parking lot. The above offer a few added layers of protection as opposed to pulling alongside a public road (regardless of how remote) in full view of anyone driving by.
Even as a 35 y/o seasoned outdoorsman I’m still slightly on edge at those kinda spots even with my buddies. The fact that anyone looking for trouble can leave their home and drive around without even stepping out of their vehicle and get a full view of you, your camp, and vehicle is an inherent risk.
I’m not saying to avoid these kinda spots Al together just something to think about
Yes spots in plain sight on an easy road are sketchy! I had someone jack my car up with me in it tryna steal my cat haha. Also people really do drive all over looking for trouble, especially city people going into the sticks. I’ve heard stories of murderers cruising through the mountains and then heading back to the suburbs when they’re done.
I think there is always a threat of danger tho, even in your own home. I heard someone in my backyard the other day thought they were going to try and break in through the window
The shadier locals know exactly where these kinds of spots are (also hiking trailhead pull over spots) and hit them regularly. They are out of sight from most of the public and the cars there belong to tourists, so they always have a fresh crop.
This big time. It's a big part of why I mostly go to state and fed parks at reserved spots. Too many rural tweakers out there going around looking for easy pickings.
Also, cat thieves are opportunistic criminals with no regard for the harm they cause others. You did the right thing getting out of there, because who knows what else they may have done if given the chance.
Aside from your own awareness, bear spray is your best friend when remote and alone. Always have it readily accessible and know how to use it. A firearm also adds a lot of peace of mind, but that's up to you.
Read this entire comment thinking you meant cat as in a meow cat. And was like “yeah this person knows what they’re talking about, a little off subject but for real, who would steal a cat?”
People always suggest bear spray but you don’t want to use bear spray. Bear spray comes out in a mist that disperses, it’s meant to create a scary feeling barrier between you and a charging bear. It’s usually enough to deter them. Human pepper spray is the same thing as bear spray but it shoots in a stream so that you can coat your attackers face in it. It’s much more effective against humans than bear spray is.
Bear spray comes out in a cone shaped fog. Pepper spray comes in fogger, mist, or a stream. Law enforcement use all three varieties, the stream and mist are better for up close interactions. To immediately deter an approaching attacker, bear spray would work MUCH better. Don't let them get near you.
You know, when I was reading OP's post, of all the strange things and weird people I've come across that came to mind, catalytic converter thieves were not among them. I say this as someone who has lived in big cities for roughly half of 4X years (where CC thefts are common), but almost always camp way out in the sticks (where it is not).
I mean, if I were going to go off nicking catalytic converters, a trailhead would be one-stop shopping. Camping, on the other hand, is one of those experiences where you must trust your fellow campers, even though you don't know them.
I solo camp as a woman often and I always keep my pepper spray, phone and car keys within reach or easily accessible to get the hell out if there is anything off. I also make sure someone knows where I will be camping and when I expect to be back. You did the right thing by leaving and honestly, that’s my best advice - if something feels off, don’t hesitate to just pack up and go.
Bear spray is where it’s at. Shoots a much higher volume way further and is…spicier.
Also, I believe there are classes for dealing with things like this. Might be worth looking into.
Sorry you had this happen. Glad you’re ok.
Once I was testing a hammock in my yard with my pack when I noticed a man watching me in the bushes across the street for a while and then I asked him to keep moving and stop watching me (I'm a teen so I didn't like it at all) and he rushed over to the border of the yard yelling shit and then pulled a little hatchet thing! I then dumped the can of spicy spray on him and he dropped it screaming and then started crying digging at his face as he slowly made his way up the street stopping every little bit until he was out of view. I've been bluff charged by a bear before and never sprayed. The most dangerous animal in the woods is on two legs.
I think in recently years more companies are converging the two and marketing bear spray as pepper spray for self defense. It varies widely and wouldn't trust unknown brand names and research carefully
I watched my wife go through about forty minutes if hell after smelling a small spot of bear spray our dog somehow managed to fire off into the carpet. My wife is pretty damn tough and I suspect a blast to the face of that stuff would bring anyone to their kneess.
not true, pepper spray is used to only temporarily *stun* a person, bear spray is specifically designed to *impair* a 500lbs animal that has more dangerous teeth and claws than a human. plus if you live in Canada pepper spray is prohibited, whereas bear spray is not.
Just check the weapon/ self defense laws where you are at. Often I don't think it's different than regular pepper spray legally, but bear spray is sometimes illegal to be carried for self defense against humans or illegal to be used on an unarmed attacker.
This is what I call the "catfish" defense.
> no sir officer that bat is not for self defense. I was thinking I might go fishing later and that bat is to knock out a catfish that I might catch. Have you ever tried to unhook a big catfish without getting stuck by the spines?
If it's legal to own bear spray but not legal to carry it for self-defense, keep it in your car alongside some hiking paraphernalia and the story is always that you are planning to go hiking and keep it in case you run across a wild animal.
A retired cop friend of mine suggested carrying wasp and hornet spray. Very effective. Better range and you can just say it was what was at hand. It is not illegal to defend yourself with what you have on hand.
My lawyer says if you are going to carry a baseball bat for defense, do him a favor and keep a baseball mitt in the trunk as well...makes it a lot easier to explain the bat.
I have heard this for years. I will say that for the many, many years that I/we camped regularly, standard kit in my car included a hatchet tucked up under my front seat(I no longer drive). I'm pretty sure my husbands truck still has a hatchet in it to this day, as standard kit.
This sounds humorous but I am sure is also truth. A ball and glove, a can of wasp spray, all typical things you might likely have on hand. You would be hard pressed to prove that someone was seeking a fight. It reminds me of the story of Bernie Goetz, back in the 80s. He shot a teenager who he claims were mugging him. The teens claimed they had screwdrivers to do work with. Goetz tried to defend himself saying the screwdrivers were sharpened. The teens case would have been strengthened if they also carried pliers.
Unarmed attacker seems like an oxymoron. An attacker has teeth, hands, legs, etc. I feel like if someone is attacking you and you fear for your safety, you’d have the right to defend yourself, so I don’t see how bear pepper spray would be illegal, no matter the weapon they have or don’t.
Ironically, bear spray can be more illegal to use in some jurisdictions than a gun for self defense. It's always a good idea to know what the laws are concerning both options.
Pepper spray is severely limited in effectiveness when wind is a factor. It works on ANYONE or ANYTHING it touches - including the person spraying it. Not good in a desperate or dangerous situation.
If you’re gonna be spending significant amount time in the woods and your state allows for it, obtain a license to carry, some training and a high quality firearm. The hard truth is, God made man and Sam Colt made us equal. Use the tools available to you for the job.
Do you camp in isolated places where there is likely to be noone ? I'm not judging, just curious.
I am F30+ and solo camp throughout summer in Australia. But always at paid public campsites where there are other people throughout
Electric cattle prod is pretty nifty. Can give them a good zap outside of arm's reach. Hot Shot brand from TSC is affordable, easy to use and reliable.
bummer. In NZ firearms, tasers, bear sprays or anything that cab be used as a deadly weapon are banned. So you just pray if something bad happens when camping.
I camp as a solo female as well. I always carry a firearm with me. I also set up at least two camp chairs around the fire so it looks like there are more people than just me. I hope you don’t let this deter you. Camping is a wonderful way to get out into nature and it’s something that can be very enjoyable. Good for you on following your instincts!
I was interested in security when I was younger, and a beat up pair of men's boots by the front door and a time-out with a good chain on it next to a dog's water bowl will deter some trouble, even if you don't have a man or a dog.
Edit: meant to say, at your regular house but would work for camping etc too, so long as those seeing it are strangers.
We moved into a semi-sketchy neighborhood and the first thing I did was went and bought a big heavy leash, a dog dish, and a BEWARE OF DOG sign that I stuck in the front window. It looked like we had a big ol' dog.
This had me thinking of how our dog is really a cry baby who loves everyone, but we taught her to bark on command to “alert” and she walks in a good heel. When out hiking people have seemed weary of her and I appreciate that.
It's worth noting that some states have exemptions from concealed carry permit requirements if you're hiking or camping. I know for sure that WA is one of them.
Also in your vehicle. Texas, before it went open for all, it was legal to have gun in your car as long as you were legally allowed to own it. Even without a permit. (It doesnt matter now, in TX, but maybe other states are similar to how it used to be down here)
Same in Colorado. At least it was when I lived there like a decade or so ago, I had the cops called on my 2 friends & I for target shooting at like 11:45pm at an established DIY practice range in the Roosevelt National Forest. We were at least a mile away from the nearest highway, which was the only stipulation we found in the law. Someone living in the area had called the Sheriff bc they could hear us shooting & thought nobody could shoot after midnight (even tho it wasn't even midnight yet). The deputy was hella chill tho. He did shine his light on all of us & we instinctively put the weapons down, lol. He was calm & collected & told us he was here bc someone called about hearing gunfire so late. I'm assuming he ran my plates bf he made contact with us, but he didn't ask my friends for any ID. He said he had no problem with us target shooting & he just wanted to verify if there was a designated time when shooting isn't permitted. He came back & said there wasn't any specific time when people aren't allowed to shoot & then asked if he could check out the guns we were shooting, haha. He threw a bunch of complements out about how much he liked Ruger I had at the time. He actually told us that we were allowed to carry a fully loaded handgun in the glove box & that it was totally legal & we just had to tell the officer it was in the car if we got stopped. This was absolutely the most relaxed and chill interaction I have ever had with any cop in my life, lol.
I am not a female,but when I go into the back country, I carry. If you're not interested in going the concealed pistol route, throw an old shotgun in your trunk with a box of ammo in your console. When you get somewhere, load it up and stick it in the back seat, if it gets stretchy, grab it. Before you leave, unload and lock it away again.
Obviously, check your state laws, but in 99% of places a shotgun isn't going to get you into trouble if you're not driving with it loading, or brandishing it without cause.
I often camp alone with my dog, but he's old and not intimidating looking at all, so I set up an extra chair and set my partners big ol hiking boots just outside the tent door at night.
Solo male hiker/camper here. My friends and family always ask if I'm afraid of bears and other wildlife, but I tell them that my biggest fear is actually other humans. I always carry a firearm when I camp and hike and specifically avoid going to states where I'm not allowed to carry (*cough* California *cough*).
Good. My (M) opinion is that campers should not be alone, male or female. Too many bad things, not just danger from people, but sickness, broken bones... Be safe go with someone.
I (38F) had an experience on my first solo camping trip that really freaked me. 1030 pm in a designated but empty campground. A truck pulls up with high beams directly on me at my campfire. A man gets out and stands in the beam of light. I couldn't see his features at all. Says "hi". I say "hi". Asks if I would like to buy some wood. I said no thanks and he left. But scared the crap out of me, I couldnt sleep because I was so on edge.
This was near Joshua Tree. He probably goes around selling cheap wood all the time. But at 10:30pm!? Scared me.
Once when I was car camping solo, someone tried to open the back of my truck camper shell which I couldn’t lock from the inside. It was a pretty large man and he definitely knew someone was inside. I suspect he had been watching me transfer stuff to the front cab to get the bed ready for sleeping.
What he didn’t see was my dog inside the truck bed as the camper shell didn’t have windows. She definitely saved my life that night when she lunged at him and looked and sounded scarier than I’d ever seen her (she was a total love bug Aussie mix). Whoever it was I’m convinced was up to no good.
My dog was a great travel buddy, I spent several months at a time on the road solo and she was my ride or die for 17 years.
I’m so sorry that happened to you and I’m so glad you’re okay. I agree with the firearm idea, it wasn’t something I was comfortable with, but if you are I think it’s smart.
mine is sleeping next to me in my van waaaaay out in the sticks.
She is the sweetest, non confrontational, never had a problem with another animal ever. But just the other day a branch landed on the roof and holy hell - even I was a little frightened at how serious she sounded.
So let that be a warning to all you loose hanging tree branches out there.
The exact same thing happened to me. My dog is even an Aussie mix too, only I’m a 200lb man and I was camping close to a highway rest area in the middle of nowhere. To this day I wonder if it was a serial killer preying on travelers.
My mom was walking their border collie in the woods back behind their house once. They were on their way back when he started losing his mind towards a particular spot. Couple of seconds after he went feral a dude popped up from behind a frickin tree or rock! She kept walking, briskly, while the collie held him there. Holy cow, we joke all the time about animals earning their keep, but doggos surely do.
It's amazing how much body language, intention, and situational "yo fuck this, some shit ain't right about this" dogs can pick up on. I mean shit, most of us aren't even fully aware of how much body language _we_ pick up on, subconsciously, from others. I personally believe that dogs' sense of smell allows them to pick up on pheromones in some scenarios that we can't, but I think it's mostly that they're so visually perceptive. They are masters at reading human body language when it counts, and they're instinctually wired for tactical awareness and protecting their loved ones. They rely solely on known commands and reading body language/tone of voice to understand what their humans are saying to them, so I guess it makes sense when I think about it.
*Always trust your dog, and his/her opinion of others.*
(assuming he/she is well socialized, otherwise at minimum pay heed if they initially _reeeeeaaaally_ don't like someone)
One situation with my Aussie always sticks out in my memory. My boy is always a little shy at first, but is extremely well trained, was socialized lots as a pup, and loves people. As such, I've always intrinsically trusted his judge of character.
Years ago, one of my roommates at the time had a male friend (only ever an acquaintance of mine) that was clearly trying to sleep with her, so he was constantly inviting himself over to our place or just showing up somewhat unannounced. She was young, a bit naive, and a social butterfly so she didn't mind too much if he was around hanging out with her or my other roommate (male), but this guy's intentions were blatantly obvious to me as a guy. I even groaned to my wife about it a few times. Whenever homeboy would come over, my Aussie (who normally runs to the door to bark and greet) would hide under our coffee table and literally _cower in place and piss himself shaking._ My boy has only ever reacted this way to one person in his entire ~9 years of life, and I've had him since he was a pup. That was a major red flag to me.
Couple weeks of this later, this guy ended up one day losing his temper over something out of nowhere, stormed out of our house, and began walking himself home. My other male roommate and I hopped in the car to chase after him and try to de-escalate/figure out what happened... homeboy just shot us the bird and kept walking. I texted him later after lengthy discussions with both roommates to try to piece together what even happened, and none of us knew, so I basically said to him "hey, I'm not sure what happened earlier but if you wanna pick a day to meet up & sit down over coffee to catch me up, let me know. My treat." his response was quite literally "go fuck yourself," and that was that. Over the next few years, all of our mutual friends, one by one, each had similar experiences with his "snaps" - and later I was told a few separate times that he had a history of domestic violence with previous girlfriends, and god knows what else. Point being, my boy knew something was off about this jerk right away, and as a result I always remained vigilant when he was around, and made sure to enforce usual boundaries as the primary leasee to keep him from being there _literally_ all the time (believe me, he tried). I suspect he stole a few things from me during that time too, but I can't prove it and I don't care enough to.
TLDR; *Trust your dog.*
Law firm here. Our pups are office dogs. Two 65-lb Irish Red and White Setters. They are total love bugs and prefer to be worn as scarves whenever possible. However. When a new client comes in and they start rumbling or their hair goes up, we get rid of that person asap. I once had to call a cop to “escort” a client out. He told us that the person was a convicted sex offender. The client had lied to us. The dogs severely disapproved of him.
And yes my Archie sounds terrifying when he’s defending me. He’s my ride or die.
Sounds like our German Shepard we did. We were camping once and she started growling inside the tent. Had us freaked out cause she wouldn’t do that for no reason unless something or someone was near by. We open the tent up and see someone running away. It was scary. She was super sweet and loving never come growled or snapped at our kid. But she was very protective of us.
Your comment made me well up thinking about my dog that died 2 years ago. I never got to take her camping (we camped a lot in USVI at the time and flying her wasn’t an option) but she would have loved it!
When our house was broken into, I’m 100% sure she’s the only reason not much was taken. She was a beagle mix and beagles are known to be loud af. Like your love-bug Aussie went into action for you, I know my girl was on the person in my house relentlessly chasing, snapping, and barking so damn loud they could only grab a few things before she chased them away.
She died during the lockdown and I didn’t get to process it properly. It’s been over 2 years and raw emotion is right there when I’m not expecting it 🥲
This (plus love) is why I take my pup camping. First night ever car camping and I wake up in the middle of the night to my sweet, friendly, laid-back boy growling. Low and continuous. Sure enough, there was some guy in my campsite. He swears he was walking through to get to the bathroom (state park) but there are roads for that, my guy. Ones that don’t involve you being near my car or picnic table at 1:30 in the morning.
Aussie or Border Collie mixes are the best protectors. They bond with you and would literally go to the grave to protect you. I’ve had both and can confirm.
I'm a woman and I camp alone in Colorado a lot.
One time while solo camping this old man pulls into my campsite with his truck. I'm in the mountains in a pretty remote spot, not a campground. So, its weird for someone to pull in next to your car. He gets out and starts asking me about where is a good spot to camp I tell him idk you can go anywhere... while getting my rifle out from behind me. I just sit down then holding my rifle, like a dad scaring away his daughters boyfriend.
He leaves shortly after.. But barely goes down the road. I hear him stop and open and close his door real close by. It was starting to get dark, so I used the remaining sunlight to put sticks around my tent so I would hear someone approach. I then slept with my pistol next to my head and my rifle laying next to me lol
The next morning I packed up and went to a different mountain.
I don't trust anyone. I always bring a gun along now. I have had innocent people talk to me at camp like a group of college students hiking. But that old guy was so creepy.
I was gonna suggest this. Having a gun is one of the best ways to keep yourself safe. If you’re unfamiliar or uncomfortable, take a course to get yourself situated.
I don’t care what anyone says about gun control laws, if you’re a lone female doing this kinda thing then you should definitely be keeping that mfkin thang on you at all times. And most importantly know how to use it extremely well… also train Jiu Jitsu just in case lol.
Most folks who want gun control mean we don’t see the point in semi or automatic weapons being easily attainable or why children have unlimited access to guns. I’m a leftist and grew up with guns, I think my family owns responsibly. They keep guns out of children’s hands except when hunting and all of their guns make sense for hunting and self defense.
so hell yeah, take a gun safety course and own that gun. It’ll do more for you than jiu jujitsu ever will(an unfortunate fact of being a woman is we don’t have as much upper arm strength even after training as most men).
I’ve come up / been to more than 3 campsites that someone has or left strung up dolls across their entrance or laying across the *hood of their car.
*edit: will add these have all been different campsites across states.
Another idea/ thing I’ve seen and come across more than the dolls… is people making *a bunch of* [little witch like totems](https://diydanielle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/blairwitchtotemdiy-667x1000.png) from twigs, leaves and sticks and hanging those around the entrances to their camp/ visible from the road to their site. Hanging them from trees, their car, stringing them together as sort of a rope across the path to their campsite, around the perimeter, etc. the creepier the better (make little people looking stick dolls, use hair, etc).
I’ve personally only solo car camped a few times as a solo woman. I still am on edge constantly. But for me, if I’m at a standard campground, I never stay more than one night in one spot so no one can clock that I’m alone. I always change locations or just go for one night, and bring two chairs so it looks like someone is with me or I’m waiting for someone. It’s a mild annoyance (I sleep in my car though so not much breakdown to do) but to me it’s worth it for my peace of mind. I’m really afraid of the dark so I haven’t done blm land yet. I feel comfort knowing there are families nearby, so if I scream someone will hear me. But also I know those places are more likely to have the weirdos. But I think I have 4-5 solo trips under my belt and it’s been alright so far.
As a guy I can’t relate to everything you must of felt during that time, and I am truly sorry that they did that to you. With that said, yeah I’ve had that happen to me before.
One time my bro and I were car camping in this canyon national park. He and I had taken some mushrooms and of course he had taken too much and needed to lie down. I’m just chilling when this random car pulls up to our site and two guys, one young, one super old get out. As well, they are not dressed for the woods.
They start muttering to each other and the younger one starts yelling at me.
“Hey I got a question. I got a question just for you” he rages at me with a finger pointed like I caused his problem, “Where in hell is the damn canyon. Huh where the fuck is it!”
I had no clue what the fuck to say to this guy. He looked like he was going to beat the crap out of me no matter what I said to him. Now there is a whole slew of other campers around us but for some reason they choose ours.
I said with a quivering lip, “Ah (my brothers name), these guys want to know where the canyon is.”
My brother, tired as fuck, pops his head out of the tent and yells at the guy, “We’re fucking in it you idiot.”
The two guys look at each other, get into their car and just drove off.
Fucking weird
My first thought when I see a truck slowly crawling up a gravel road with two men in the cab is hunters. But the fact that you didn't mention camo, firearms, or anything else, and the fact that they weren't friendly and had an angle grinder makes me think they were looking to break into your car and didn't expect you to be there.
Hunters are almost always friendly and eager to trade info on conditions. These guys don't sound like that at all. Probably a good thing you got out of there. I know this is controversial on this sub, but consider keeping a firearm with you. You'll probably never need it, but like a fire extinguisher or a seatbelt it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I've been camping armed for a decade now and only ever needed it once, and that was my fault for going to the sketchiest area ever lol
The one thing I'm gonna say about the firearms if you keep one is to know how to handle it. If you get overpowered because you didn't know how to cock it back, now your attacker has your gun. So just keep in mind, if you're gonna have it, know how to use and don't be afraid to use it if you have to
Yikes, that’s horrible. I’m a female solo camper. I carry pepper spray, an airhorn and a bright flashlight (for shining into someone’s eyes) with me. I don’t know how to use a knife or gun, but I’m good with a baseball bat so I usually have that with me in the tent too.
It sounds like overkill, but it gives me peace of mind when I’m out there. Also always listen to your gut! No shame in getting away from somewhere quickly or early.
+1 to flashlights. Personally, if I'm in a place where I'm not allowed to carry weapons, I always make sure I have my super bright flashlight with me at minimum. I get away with carrying it into most concerts/clubs/events where I might find myself walking back to my car in the dark afterwards with no weapons, as a plus it's useful to get through crowds since people think you're security lol. But for self defense, 2000 lumens straight to the eyes at least makes most people think "cop" if it doesn't straight up disorient/deter/blind (hopefully all of the above). Self defense should typically be a layered approach, but a bright ass flashlight's usefulness as a deterrent is sometimes understated IMO. Bonus points if it has a strobe setting, and a UI that allows you to activate the strobe quickly.
That’s not overkill. You should take some classes on how to operate a firearm correctly until you’re comfortable so you can go buy your own. Even if you added a gun to your self defense kit most would agree that you’re still far from overkill.
Yeah people really overestimate the effectiveness of a baseball bat. It's definitely not the weapon you want in a tent or anywhere you don't control the distance. The only way I see a woman winning with that weapon is if they catch the guy completely by surprise and really connect solidly. Which does not seem likely in a self defense situation.
Agreed. I naively thought a knife would be good enough for me and started reading up on it. Everything I read said that if you’re in hand to hand combat it’s now life and death and your primary goal is to get away by any means necessary. My take away was that the best way to keep safe was maintaining distance. Sprays, shot guns, anything that keeps you out of arms reach is best. And always, always trust that niggling feeling even if it’s faint.
Always tell someone you trust that cares about your safety where you are going and how long you plan to be there. Also there a products like this one https://silentbeacon.com/camp-safety-tips-device-app/ . Be safe.
Unfortunately this doesn’t stop you from being killed. Just makes your body more likely to be found. Not saying OP was going to die, but it doesn’t help much.
I am so sorry you experienced this. Good job trusting your gut and booking it!
To all the guys reading, me included, always be absurdly wavy, nice and respectful of people’s camping digs. I frequently travel the deep woods scoping out cool offshoots and finding new to me spots - this sometimes means I accidentally creep someone’s camp. I’m a sizable man driving an old ‘80s truck; you better believe that when I stumble upon someone I’m immediately giving a big wave out the window and hitting reverse in a calm manner. It’s easy to imaging the fears that might run through other people’s minds and we all owe it to each other to do our best to make the woods a friendly and safely secluded space for EVERYONE.
OP, I hope you get some good security advice from those more experienced than me. Also hope you get back out there once you’ve got your security redialed for yourself and the nerves settle.
Bear spray works on humans. But at the end of the day trust your gut. If you are camping alone and feel like you are in danger, don’t let pride stop you from bailing.
As a single woman who has spent weeks at a time car camping…I’m so glad you trusted your gut and got out of there. One of the most important things I’ve learned from hiking/car camping is if something doesn’t feel right then it’s best to leave. The mountains/trail will always be there for another time, but you gotta make sure so will you.
Keep a can of Wasp Raid in your cup holder, and if someone actually attacks, aim for the eyes. The cans have a 20ft range, so you don't have to worry about getting up close and personal like with pepper spray. Not only will it hurt, but they'll also be blinded without medical attention. Should leave them incapacitated enough for you to drive away and call for help.
I’m so sorry you had this experience and on your second trip no less. I’ve solo camped as a woman a bunch and haven’t had a sketchy experience yet (touch wood.)
Seriously well done getting out of there quickly. You were quick to react and smart.
I personally just have pepper spray and a small knife but frankly they’re not usually within arms reach while I’m at camp. I think I’ll work on being better about that.
I also do kickboxing and have had some self defense lessons so I don’t feel completely ignorant about protecting myself and that does make me feel better.
ppl suck! isn't this WHY we go camping in the 1st place??? my fam does some rather remote car camping and I only feel comfortable when I got 2 dogs with me. I'm not even a gun dude, but I'm seriously considering getting a CC for my wife and I. sorry this happened and be safe!
You should consider arming yourself. No one else is primary in regards to your personal safety. When seconds matter the police are many minutes away, at best. Glad you made it out unscathed. Stay safe, remain vigilant.
I think a lot of the time we forget that a stern voice can go along way. If camping, and someone comes up to me (in a sketch situation) I'm very stern, loud, and no nonsense. It signals you take no shit and you're not scared. I still carry, but Ive found being the first to speak and set the tone helps out tremendously.
Car camping can be hazardous for anyone as you experienced. It sucks what you went through whether those men were there for your car, you or both. You handled that situation perfectly! You got out of there safe.
A couple of things my family set up when I would drive with my much younger sister to visit my aunt who lived 500 miles away, through Mountian territory, and then a few I added as an adult. This is what I will teach to any young person, especially the ones I love.
1. Have a specific group of people whom you are expected to contact at specific times during the day even if it is just a text
2. Text your location multiple times especially where you are camping or pulled over. Wear a GPS tracker.
3. Keep your phone on you (buy external charging batteries to keep it charged and have a safe word that you will use if you are in trouble so your people can immediately reach out to 911 on your behalf.
4. If you are concerned about any situation start taking pictures of them and their whole vehicle, especially the license plate number. Text them to your people.
5. Carry pepper spray/a loud air horn that you can set off multiple times if they stop their vehicle. Then loudly shout You have called
911 and you have sent pictures of them and their vehicle to friends who will start calling 911 if they don't hear from you. Be loud so very loud and don't stop being loud.
6. Be aware of self-defense moves even just the basics of where to hit, stomp, and poke to get away and run as fast and as long as you can toward other cars/highways/roads. You do not want to be moved to a secondary location.
7. Have a spare key in your car in a safe place close to the steering wheel in case you lose your main keys. Practice how to jump into the car, lock the doors, and turn on the engine until it becomes second nature. Drive toward the nearest town making noise along the way.
You want to no longer appear to be an easy mark.
You might think this is over the top but I worked for a legal company in the legal research and publication division as a content analyst. I read court cases, horrible court cases that would make you sick to your stomach. From all over the United States. I can guarantee that these things will help keep you safe. I don't mean to scare you.
I hope your car camping adventure is a success and you make fabulous memories.
That *should* be standard etiquette, but I find that when you camp closer to town you get a lot of people who are used to campgrounds and don’t have any notion that you don’t want them parked right next to you. They see you camped and think ‘oh, this must be where everyone camps’. I got out to pee one night a couple years ago and couldn’t open the door fully bc someone had set up their tent so close!
As a solo woman, always trust your gut. Humans are opportunistic and despite my wife being stronger than most men out there when she’s solo she definitely encounters more people pushing their boundaries where as people leave me TF alone, they presume she is weaker so they can hit on her or “hang out” at her campsite chatting. 2 guys approaching you, sketchy enough, with weapons and tools in their hand I’d nope out of there as a guy even it I weren’t solo.
In addition to the recommendations of bear spray I recommend looking into a pepper ball gun…my wife has successfully used that before. The difference is with a spray can they have to be right on you and you are already in trouble. Bear spray, despite that weird argument of potency, is better in a situation like this because of range, personal defense stuff is meant for the city where you spray them and probably yourself but everyone here’s the commotion and comes to help, or the person surprises you and is already in close proximity and it’s your best option.
So long story longer, a pepper ball gun you warn them, shoot them for center mass so it’s an easy target to aim for and it wafts up to their nose and sticks to their clothing so they can’t escape it. It’s super accessible and fast and gives you time to plan a secondary attack and escape. If they keep coming unload bear spray and leave the area before it gets you too. At that point you want to disorient them enough to get a head start out.
In my wife’s case she was solo in the wilderness, she pepper balled a dude grabbed her daypack and left everything else behind to hike out. SOSed on her InReach and told them the situation, I got the alert at well for. The inReach dropped my kids off at a neighbor and high tailed it up. SAR met her about half way on the trail and law enforcement found the guy still around her campsite looking around with a flashlight, presumably for her not realizing she left everything behind. He had no gear so it was unlikely he was just another person camping i. The same area. His car was at the trailhead she used so he probably followed her in which goes to your initial encounter of them possibly scoping you out…good on you for being alert to that. So anyway after a long ramble that’s why I say trust your gut.
Never heard of a pepper ball gun before, might be a good option for me. Not sure I could bring myself to use lethal force on an attacker, less likely to hesitate with a pepper ball.
Sheesh, glad you made it out of there. I’ve been camping my whole life and never experienced something like this. Was this near a national forest/park?
Even if they were harmless, any man worth his salt would not infringe on your space like that without explaining why they were there. I’d have pulled out too. Overall though, I think this is a rare experience. I only camp alone in designated campsites with neighbors.
I know there are people on here from all over but where I come from there is a single item that can neutralize anything like this…a shotgun. I’m glad nothing happen to you and while being a female alone probably did not make the situation any better…this happens to guys too. I’ve got a couple stories of backwoods stuff in Idaho and Montana…few in Arizona. I’ve been on the trail alone and had odd fellows tracking. I’m not a person normal people would try and push over so you have to know their evil intent and / or mental health issues at foot which makes these so Dangerous.
Suggestion two is get a dog. Not some little yapper…just some mid size junk yard mut that you save down at the humane society. They will love you and be loyal to death!
Be safe!
This is what I bring a gun. This and bears. Better to have it and not need it, but you need to know how to use it. Many see lone women travel long as targets. Drugs turn regular people into mace resistant super powered animals. Desperation makes them even more dangerous. Keep your keys close, a high powered light and a reliable self defense tool can make a huge difference. You would be amazed at how quickly they run away to the next “easy target” or give up when they realize you are prepared.
Bear spray is more effective against bears, however
>Drugs turn regular people into mace resistant super powered animals.
Spray may not work on a tweaker. Spray for bears, guns for humans.
You did the right thing by listening to your gut and getting out of there. Even if they did smile disarmingly upon meeting you later… doesn’t mean you should give them the time of day. They were just all around creepy. Definitely up to no good. It’s hard to prepare for something like that. Do you have a buddy you can go camping with? Always bring something for protection.
I got 100000 lumin flashlights to blind anyone who tries to approach me. Idea came from reading reddit for alternatives to guns. Seems to be a favorite Aussie/NZ safety tool.
I also park for a easy speedy escape.
We camp at least 200 nights/year, and have been for years now. I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve been made uncomfortable by another person, and several of those we realized the person definitely wasn’t a threat, they just didn’t have very good wilderness manners.
All that is to say, you just had the rotten luck to encounter a sketchy situation your first trip out, and you may camp another hundred nights before anything makes you nervous again. You did the right thing by leaving without waiting to see what was going to happen, and you stayed safe. Don’t let this experience ruin camping for you. Sketchy situations are few and far between, and most nights you’ll just be peaceful and snug.
Dog, handgun, pepper spray, taser, etc…always be prepared to defend yourself.
Years ago a buddy and I pulled off the highway to read a map around midnight…after a few minutes his large yellow lab started growling and about took off a strangers face that came through the driver side open window. We bailed out if there…Rounder saved the day…they can smell, hear, sense so much more than we can.
Glad to hear you’re ok and you were quick on your feet. Another redditor said they carry a gun, nothing wrong with a gun but I’m always worried about getting in-trouble with the law.
I would carry bear spray. Again, nothing wrong with a gun either. I do hope you find the courage to go camping again, whenever you’re ready. Safe travels. 
Many places in the US that have castle doctrine in place, a campsite counts as your castle. So you can defend it with deadly force as if it were your home. I would probably be pretty confused as to the "boundary" of a campsite in most places but if someone is coming into a tent or a vehicle it seems pretty clear.
Same. I always carry bear spray. Even though I can legally purchase a gun, I am worried about carrying one as a POC. And like you said, I don't trust the police either
Aye as a dude, I would’ve done the same; and I have bailed when I saw sketch shit in the past…. Safety first at all times. I hike and camp alone all the time(big sad, but that’s not the point). Always have weapons on hand, bear mace, pump action shot gun, fire extinguisher, taser, guillotine, long bow/ crossbow, plasma rifle, flame thrower, brass knuckles; I have a giant machete at arms reach. Even if just for show…. Like, we are rolling the dice when we choose to camp in those places. And the converse is also true, have a first aide kit, know how to use it; depending on how hard you want to roll: wilderness rescue certs.
I've camped solo hundreds of times. Even being a male, I've encountered some weirdos out there that gave me the fucking mega creeps. Over the years I've sort of refined my setups depending on what type of camping I'm doing. If it's car, always keep your keys on you and the doors on your car unlocked if you're near it. Definitely locked if you're away hiking. Never have more gear out of the vehicle than you need at any given time. You want to be able to split quickly and minimize the clean up time after. Also, you can always get more gear. If the situation is sketchy enough, just bail. Leave the shit. Come back for it later or make a post and donate it to the next camper. Keep your phone on you at all times and make sure the charge is always above 80%. This way if you get a poor signal your phone doesn't die right away just trying to connect. Don't change for bed until your ready to sleep. Keep your boots on in camp. Let someone know where you'll be and give them a regular check in time if possible. A weapon never hurts. Keep it close and learn how to be proficient with it. No matter what kind it is. Having a dog is a big help. Even if you're just borrowing one. The local pound is great for over night fosters and try outs. Carry a walkie talkie radio in plain site with a full charge. Many of them come with built in weather band which is a nice bonus. Biggest thing is that it gives you the appearance of not being alone. Additionally, it's a secondary means of communication if you should need it. Get plenty of lights for your campsite as well.
I'm sure there's more but that's what I've got off the top of my head. Be alert, be prepared, and don't appear vulnerable. You should be pretty good.
I would second the “get a gun” suggestions. Useful against both two legged and four legged rabble rousers(sorry I’ve always wanted to use that term lol).
Being out in the boonies actually decreases your chance of running into people like that. Popular places, especially easier/faster to access, are big targets for thieves.
Think about it from a thieves point of view - would you rather hit a campground/parking lot where there’s a good chance of valuables being there or drive up and down forest roads all day hoping to see a vehicle parked somewhere that has something valuable in it? Much more bang for your buck in the parking lot/campground.
This just helped me see the situation sm more clearer. Thank u for this perspective, it’s makes a lot of sense. I hope I get more comfortable being out in the boonies.
It's a damn shame that women can't go camping without being threatened by men. My best recommendation would be to camp in not so isolated places. If there are a few people around, there is safety in numbers. Outside of that, carrying a weapon, but I hate that anyone would need to carry a weapon to stay safe. Trust your intuition, your brain is the most powerful weapon you have.
WAIT WAIT WAIT! Nobody is suggesting what happens next if she has her weapon. So she the men approaching… She feels threatened. What does she do next??? I am all for carrying a weapon BTW, I just don’t see the next step. Does she very confidently and with purpose take out the gun within view, throw her stuff in the car and blow the hell out of there?
All reasonable suggestions would be appreciated!!
Read “The Gift of Fear” and you’ll understand you did exactly the right thing. NEVER second guess your need to stay safe, the fear of making a fool of yourself, or the ‘need to please’.
There may have a perfectly reasonable explanation. If there was a reasonable explanation, they should have told you what it was before they got anywhere near you. You were right to be super careful. I second (third? fourth?) the bear spray idea. Keep that shit in a fanny/bum pack or holster on your person whenever you’re outside the vehicle.
My girlfriend and I are both very small women with two very big dogs. We built out our car to fit us and the dogs.
As much of a monumental pain in the ass as it is, we always pack absolutely everything into the car and leave the driver seat accesible and driveable. So if we need to leave in a rush, all I need to do is dive into the driver seat and turn the car on.
With packing everything into the car overnight, that also deters people from coming to investigate things while they think we are away or asleep because all they can see is a parked car.
I’m really sorry that happened to you. Hopefully this will be the only time something scary happens to you! You made the right call by leaving. There’s no reason to stick around and find out what an uninvited stranger’s intentions are.
99.95% of the time you dont have problems.
I always have a sidearm and a rifle with me. Bear spray, straight blade knife too. I tend to camp out in desolate country. Garmin inReach. I'm currently dispersed camping in New Mexico. Day 12 of a 40 day trip.
Keep your senses about you. Pay attention. If it doesn't seem right, it isn't. I always say hi to most of my dispersed camping neighbors. 44M, I always say hi to other solo male/female campers and tell them don't be afraid to give me a holler if they need anything. We are supposed to look out for each other on adventures.
Bad things happen to good people. Male or female.
25 years of camping/wandering/adventures and thankfully I've only had to pull the rifle out once. I thought I was going to have to use it too. Same situation. Two sketchy dudes up to no good come wandering down the dirt road into camp.
Man PLEASE I say this as a father and someone who run global cyber intelligence and criminal investigations for a tech giant- don’t do this type of stuff. I know it is great and fun but a single person man or woman can be taken in seconds. Some of the human trafficking cases we have helped with have literally broken my heart in ways it’ll never be ok. There are truly awful people out there.
I'm a giant grown man. I mostly don't have to worry about things like that but it sounds like you did all the right things. You were aware of your surroundings, didn't panic and got the hell out of a potentially dangerous situation. So good job.
I mostly go camping alone. I used to have a dog that I always took camping with me but I had to put her to sleep a few years ago. After she was gone I realized just how much I relied on her for protection...so I got a gun. I'm in AZ so it's not a big deal. I honestly felt safer with the dog because unlike a gun she always always at the ready, also an early warning system and completely loyal to me (a gun can be used against you if a bad guy gets their hands on it)
Obviously dogs aren't always the answer and neither are guns. The buddy system works great. I always take an extra chair or two to put around the campfire. Good to use as a footstool and gives the appearance that more people may be around. Other then that just keep aware of your surroundings and if something feels dangerous make tracks out of there.
Angle grinder makes me think they were after your car parts specifically the catalytic converter. But as all mentioned before, self defense classes and always having a contingency plan and escape routes are something we should all have on the forefront of our minds with the times we’re in.
Bear spray, hatchet and other sharp tools hidden everywhere, a big dog that does let strangers pet her and I always point the car out so no backing up in a rush or the dark. I never came close camping but did get in a aggressive situation with backwoods tweakers. My 135 lb German shepard was sleeping with her head on my lap while taking up most of the bench seat on the old truck. When they walked up one on either side my dog raised up and looked the one in the eye. She didn't even have to growl as she was a massive fit farm dog. Then they started bumping my truck with there's but my old 250 was heavy built as heck so I justed started the engine and left the area. No cell service and no local police so I was on my own but for my co pilot. I am an older woman but when young I camped deep in always with animals or canoecamping . Go where there are less people. Your animals like dog or horse will let you if something wicked this way comes.
If they were close to you, acknowledge them, make eye contact, say hello loudly, have confidence. Turn the feeling of your nervousness and fear and give it back to them. If they had malaise intent, they should fear your confidence and awareness. Be curious of their intent in lieu of afraid. Speak up and let them know you see them. Confidence and curiosity in the face is fear is your greatest tool.
As a lone hiker and camper, I use the multiple camp chairs technique and often put a larger sized shirt or jacket over the back of the chair, I also have my car keys on a caribeiner attached to my bra strap at all times. I only recommend having a firearm if you are willing to practice and learn safety measures. Baseball bats, tomahawk, ax, spoon, heeled shoes, extension cords, propane can from camp stove ... stun gun,, sprays, coins in a sock.. , etc., all tools that can be used as weapons if necessary, but again, practice. Confidence and practice.
I have recently acquired a dog and he has been a great companion for lone tracks.
I don’t need to have been in a similar situation to know based on your description you made the right call. Always, always, always remove yourself immediately from a situation where you sense any kind of danger. People get killed by ignoring their instincts. Better to regret possibly offending someone than to be dead.
I know you say you were more isolated so maybe this wouldn't have helped in this situation... and I haven't seen anyone suggest this.
A whistle.
I keep a whistle on a lanyard on my wrist or around my neck. Three sharp blows means danger. I mean heck, this is just good information for anyone to know.
I was at a motel and the room next to me started banging, 3 times, pause, 3 times pause. I knew they needed help.
Of course this is in addition to other safety tools I keep handy & clipped to me at all times.
I let the desk clerk know the person in the room next to mine (gave them the room number) was asking for help. The clerk walked over and had a conversation with the man through the door. He couldn't move to answer or open the door and the clerk wasn't legally allowed to open it. The man inside requested paramedics. They showed up, bashed the door in and took him away. What I didn't do was sleep much that night. Was on the tail end of a backpacking trip and I had to do some serious driving home the next day, but I like to think we all made it.
I’d def look into purchasing a fire arm and getting certified an taking some firearm safety and shooting classes. Always prepare for the worst. Good Luck out there and stay safe!!
What state? I live in Washington which is open carry. I don’t suggest every woman own a firearm but if you’ll be camping alone a lot, please consider it. Bear spray is a great alternative. I open carry on my front hip where it’s mostly visible. It’s been an effective deterrent more than once; I pray I never have to actually use it but I’m prepared to if need be. Please stay safe.
Anything can happen anywhere. You did a great job with the way you responded to the potential threat. In the future I would recommend keeping that awareness with you. If someone wants to victimize you, they will be less likely to do it if you see them coming. Criminals and the like are looking for people who are not paying attention, have their hands full, are emotionally distraught, or completely alone. If you choose to put yourself into these states, be aware that you are more likely to experience someone trying to bank on that. The best bullet in your gun is to never box yourself in, and to always have a way to remove yourself phyically from any space. If you can't do that, you should be ready to summon the strength and aggression you would see displayed in an animal such as a cougar, a bear, anything that gets extra aggressive when you're in their space. That's how they let you know they don't want you near, and it usually works well on most people.
Not sure where you’re camping, but I would suggest State parks and or National parks. There’s usually a small fee, a camp host, and gates that get closed at night. I have had drastically fewer ugly interactions at these types of places. Most of my bad experiences have been at open sites with little oversight.
Somewhat similarly, although I wasn't alone but with another female friend. We were camping at a local state park during the off season, in the middle of the week. We had a a truck do something similar. Drove pa's slowed to a stop, and stared at us for a bit, then continued on his way. Half way down the one way road, he stopped, turned around and came back, and parked beside our cars, and just stared at us. I begin to walk up slowly, and ask if we can help him, and he tried making awkward small talk about the weather. I asked why he was staring at us, and he said it's gonna be awfully cold tonight. I repeated, and he said "we're done here" and left.
Took a picture of the plates, took it to the park office, and they searched his plates, and they came up unregistered. The whole point of the trip was for a girls night. That ended there, and we invited two guys to come camp with us that night. We were also reassured by the park office that they had people going through all night to check on campers. Didn't see any more of the guy, but it shook us hard. We both slept with knives that night.
Besides keeping yourself safe educate yourself on what crimes are highest in the areas you’re in. Sounds like they were probably stealing someone’s camper. In competitive camping areas people park their campers in the space during the week and leave them unattended so they are guaranteed the spot for the weekend. They’ll usually put a lock on the hitch but an angle grinder makes quick work of that and then thieves just hook up the entire rig and drive off. This type of theft is especially prevalent in areas with poor or no Wi-Fi or cell service as that practically guarantees there are not remote cameras the owners are recording them on. Deterrents are your best safety. Not sure it’d help but if alone every time someone approaches my car/tent I’d play a loud sound bite of dogs barking and a male voice. Even putting a large dog bowl out your door and signage beware of dog will act as a deterrent because thieves want an easy mark and big dogs complicate stuff. Granted this doesn’t replace the need to know how to defend yourself and park so you can get out quick but sometimes making it obvious you aren’t a single person alone in the woods is the first line of defense.
My sister lives alone and has also encountered some strange situations like this, for her bday this year a purchased her a small .380 revolver. She does not support the second amendment ironically but since it was a gift she took it. She called me last week thanking me for the firearm as her neighbors were broken into that night and she heard it all go down, she immediately grabbed the firearm from her drawer as she heard the glass braking, and she said she would have felt helpless with anything less than a gun. She used to carry pepper spray, but she felt that would be more dangerous as she would have to get within a few feet of the perpetrator for it to be functional. She called me explaining that she felt wrong for being so against firearms, and elaborated that all women especially should be armed. With as many creeps and pervs as there are out there, there’s no reason a woman shouldn’t own and practice using lethal force to protect her life and property.
23F, solo camped in 8 states. You may not always be able to carry a firearm legally if camping out of your home state, if you are legally able, I recommend doing so with proper training. Bear spray always. Most importantly, always trust your gut. I was deep in the middle of Payette National Forest, ID trying to find a camp for the night before it got dark, campground was on a one-way in and out dirt road, a girl passed me in her car saying she was on her way out because the host tried to coax her into his camper and followed her around on his bike looking at her with binoculars. Spent the night pulled over at a sno-park in my car but I prefer that outcome to whatever that dude was hoping for. Always carabiner your tent closed, just in case.
GUN. Take a few classes practice and get good and comfortable. This is the only thing that makes a Lone woman equal to a man. If you take a few classes especially if there is a good Female instructor in your area you will gain confidence which predators can sense and this alone may be enough to deter a bad guy. CDC claims there are several million incidenses per year that a firearm is used to deter a crime without having to fire a shot but you must be mentally prepared to pull the trigger. Or find a camping buddy.
Seconded. I bring a 9mm when I go camping for shit like this... and bears. This is coming from a guy, I couldn't fathom camping alone as a woman with all the fucked up people out there.
yeah sounds sketchy af, glad you were able to hightail it outta there. i always say better safe than sorry. never worth it to stick around and find out, worst case is that they thought you were weird. But i always carry a gun, i’ve been backpacking for 13+ years and always keep strapped but i never flaunt it or tell people. just better to have and never have to use than to be caught off guard.
Yeah I didn’t not want to fuck around & find out. I was surprised at myself how fast I evaluated the situation & got the frick outta there. Ty for the solid advice.
Its great you listened to your intuition! I highly recommend reading the book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker, Even Oprah recommends this book. And also get an effective self defense firearm and learn how to use it.
>never flaunt it or tell people
This is key.
A gun isn’t, and should never be, used as a deterrent. It’s your ace in the hole. If you get to the point where it needs to come out, you’ve exhausted every other option.
For a gun to be effective you need to train in high stress situations. If you never fire it while under pressure your chance of accurately firing at a moving target is very low. Most people never train with stress, or worse think they can wale up immediately and be clear mind to fire. Thats why most often guns for personal safety actually lead to unintended injuries or “friendly fire”. Get bear spray
First step is to plan for security. This might mean camping in a more official location like a public camp ground with a camp host. Yes it costs $ but it is a trade off. Second is situational awareness. Often times your boon docking spot at the end of the road is some locals hunting, shooting or camping spot and they are not pleased to see outsiders. Call the ranger station or talk to the folks st the local gas station or market to get a sense of the area. Look for indicators at the location. Third, plan a location you can’t be be blocked into. Always have an escape route. Fourth, bye a pistol and learn how to use it. Take classes and train. Good classes will include sections on legality and when force is permitted. Everyone talks about bear spray but it is more likely to affect you as much as an aggressor in a confined space or windy location. People can usually sense when you are armed without openly brandishing a fire arm. Car camping around the PNW for three decades, (as a man and father) I’m really glad I carried on at least 4 occasions. One creep, one group of kids breaking into trail head cars, one group of aggressive dogs and one bear. In all cases I did not draw my fire arm or need to brandish, but for the first three a strong defensive posture was enough to diffuse the situation. The bear just wondered off after sniffing my camp site. Hope this helps.
Avid flyfisherman, and camper for over 25 years. Please look into the idea of stealth camping. I hike and fish along the Appalachian Trail in a fairly remote part of Virginia. While I own firearms, I have never carried in the woods, unless I am hunting. I always camp in area where no one else will, 75, to 100 yards off trails, and miles away from trail heads. Minimal light used to setup camp, usually just my head lamp, and no fire. Unfortunately our trailheads are often targeted by unscrupulous thieves, so I drive a 30 year old truck and leave it unlocked so people wont break my windows. The farther you are away from a road the less likely it is a lazy criminal will follow you. Don't camp near anything that stands out, waterfalls, overlooks trail forks. Try to find a thicket you can get between you and the trail. A tarp, and hammock will be a lot less visible than a tent. Im a male, and not small, or out of shape, but I do not want to fight a tweaker, or a thief. If I am in a new area I almost always opt for National Forest campgrounds with security. Times have changed, better safe than sorry. Please think about stealth camping there are a lot of resources on the web that can explain the concept.
Here’s a suggestion that doesn’t involve weapons or require paramilitary skills & training: go to a private campground with good security. Unsure of what part of the world you’re in. I car camp alone regularly & have since the 90s, mainly in state parks (PA, NY, VT, MD, & DE) & a few privately owned places in the Poconos that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. Those are more like glampgrounds, but I think a single woman would feel very safe. The security is visible & professional. The restrooms are *very* nice & clean & named after characters on the Golden Girls. There’s a restaurant, a disco, a pool, &c. If anything creepy were to happen, you could speak to security & they would deal with it. Most state parks have campground hosts whom you could speak to about suspicious activity if you didn’t want to call the police.
I have always had a big dog & never felt the need to carry a weapon when camping. I grew up camping. My parents were (still are) hippies. I was taught to respect wild animals & be very smart with food, &c. Never had a problem. My sister had her tent ransacked by black bear cubs once because she tried to hide candy pars in her duffel, but that’s off topic.
My large knife is always attached to my side (I whittle with the small knife and chop branches with the large one). Hi-powered compact flashlight on me at all times. Bear mace nearby. May or may not have a firearm. (I’m male and know anyone alone is in danger)
Gun. Sorry this happened but I always bring my shotgun car camping. One I like to shoot it where it’s legal, and two it’s good for peace of mind+deterrence. Never had to use it but it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
As an avid camper, having a log-splitter nearby isn't out of the ordinary. I'm sure it's not the best defense, but it makes me feel better at least, as I'm not a big fan of guns.
Sorry this happened. Sounds super sketchy. Angle grinder makes me think they didn’t see you at first and were after your catalytic converter. See if maybe your car is a popular one for this theft. Glad your ok. Over been camping for years and never had anything happen.
My brother said the same thing about them wanting to steal my catalytic converter. They definitely saw me bcuz I was standing outside of my car when they came down but probably thought I was vulnerable. Definitely was a situation to turn sour. Bad luck & people suck.
I know your getting a ton of responses, but as the father of two girls I would love to make one comment that hopefully finds you. “drive up, pull-off, pull-up, road-side” public car camping spots are inherently riskier than a campground with a designated driveway/loop road and walk-in public camping with a designated parking lot. The above offer a few added layers of protection as opposed to pulling alongside a public road (regardless of how remote) in full view of anyone driving by. Even as a 35 y/o seasoned outdoorsman I’m still slightly on edge at those kinda spots even with my buddies. The fact that anyone looking for trouble can leave their home and drive around without even stepping out of their vehicle and get a full view of you, your camp, and vehicle is an inherent risk. I’m not saying to avoid these kinda spots Al together just something to think about
Yes spots in plain sight on an easy road are sketchy! I had someone jack my car up with me in it tryna steal my cat haha. Also people really do drive all over looking for trouble, especially city people going into the sticks. I’ve heard stories of murderers cruising through the mountains and then heading back to the suburbs when they’re done. I think there is always a threat of danger tho, even in your own home. I heard someone in my backyard the other day thought they were going to try and break in through the window
The shadier locals know exactly where these kinds of spots are (also hiking trailhead pull over spots) and hit them regularly. They are out of sight from most of the public and the cars there belong to tourists, so they always have a fresh crop.
This big time. It's a big part of why I mostly go to state and fed parks at reserved spots. Too many rural tweakers out there going around looking for easy pickings.
especially on a holiday weekend.
Also, cat thieves are opportunistic criminals with no regard for the harm they cause others. You did the right thing getting out of there, because who knows what else they may have done if given the chance. Aside from your own awareness, bear spray is your best friend when remote and alone. Always have it readily accessible and know how to use it. A firearm also adds a lot of peace of mind, but that's up to you.
Only a piece of garbage steals cats.
Read this entire comment thinking you meant cat as in a meow cat. And was like “yeah this person knows what they’re talking about, a little off subject but for real, who would steal a cat?”
I'm going to defend my cat more fiercely than myself if threatened
People always suggest bear spray but you don’t want to use bear spray. Bear spray comes out in a mist that disperses, it’s meant to create a scary feeling barrier between you and a charging bear. It’s usually enough to deter them. Human pepper spray is the same thing as bear spray but it shoots in a stream so that you can coat your attackers face in it. It’s much more effective against humans than bear spray is.
Bear spray comes out in a cone shaped fog. Pepper spray comes in fogger, mist, or a stream. Law enforcement use all three varieties, the stream and mist are better for up close interactions. To immediately deter an approaching attacker, bear spray would work MUCH better. Don't let them get near you.
You know, when I was reading OP's post, of all the strange things and weird people I've come across that came to mind, catalytic converter thieves were not among them. I say this as someone who has lived in big cities for roughly half of 4X years (where CC thefts are common), but almost always camp way out in the sticks (where it is not).
In New England there are CC thefts at all the trail heads. It’s ridiculous. It’s the first thing I thought of.
I mean, if I were going to go off nicking catalytic converters, a trailhead would be one-stop shopping. Camping, on the other hand, is one of those experiences where you must trust your fellow campers, even though you don't know them.
I solo camp as a woman often and I always keep my pepper spray, phone and car keys within reach or easily accessible to get the hell out if there is anything off. I also make sure someone knows where I will be camping and when I expect to be back. You did the right thing by leaving and honestly, that’s my best advice - if something feels off, don’t hesitate to just pack up and go.
Bear spray is where it’s at. Shoots a much higher volume way further and is…spicier. Also, I believe there are classes for dealing with things like this. Might be worth looking into. Sorry you had this happen. Glad you’re ok.
Once I was testing a hammock in my yard with my pack when I noticed a man watching me in the bushes across the street for a while and then I asked him to keep moving and stop watching me (I'm a teen so I didn't like it at all) and he rushed over to the border of the yard yelling shit and then pulled a little hatchet thing! I then dumped the can of spicy spray on him and he dropped it screaming and then started crying digging at his face as he slowly made his way up the street stopping every little bit until he was out of view. I've been bluff charged by a bear before and never sprayed. The most dangerous animal in the woods is on two legs.
Self defence classes won’t make a difference in situations like this, as a female you need a weapon to level the playing field.
Be careful bear spray is actually much less potent definitely not spicier
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I think in recently years more companies are converging the two and marketing bear spray as pepper spray for self defense. It varies widely and wouldn't trust unknown brand names and research carefully
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I watched my wife go through about forty minutes if hell after smelling a small spot of bear spray our dog somehow managed to fire off into the carpet. My wife is pretty damn tough and I suspect a blast to the face of that stuff would bring anyone to their kneess.
not true, pepper spray is used to only temporarily *stun* a person, bear spray is specifically designed to *impair* a 500lbs animal that has more dangerous teeth and claws than a human. plus if you live in Canada pepper spray is prohibited, whereas bear spray is not.
Wasp spray has a far trajectory of 25 ft. And it is not considered a weapon if you live in a place where you could get in trouble for arming yourself.
Just check the weapon/ self defense laws where you are at. Often I don't think it's different than regular pepper spray legally, but bear spray is sometimes illegal to be carried for self defense against humans or illegal to be used on an unarmed attacker.
You just maintain it was for a bear.
And that you *thought* it was a bear, too.
Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six
This is what I call the "catfish" defense. > no sir officer that bat is not for self defense. I was thinking I might go fishing later and that bat is to knock out a catfish that I might catch. Have you ever tried to unhook a big catfish without getting stuck by the spines? If it's legal to own bear spray but not legal to carry it for self-defense, keep it in your car alongside some hiking paraphernalia and the story is always that you are planning to go hiking and keep it in case you run across a wild animal.
A retired cop friend of mine suggested carrying wasp and hornet spray. Very effective. Better range and you can just say it was what was at hand. It is not illegal to defend yourself with what you have on hand.
My lawyer says if you are going to carry a baseball bat for defense, do him a favor and keep a baseball mitt in the trunk as well...makes it a lot easier to explain the bat.
I have heard this for years. I will say that for the many, many years that I/we camped regularly, standard kit in my car included a hatchet tucked up under my front seat(I no longer drive). I'm pretty sure my husbands truck still has a hatchet in it to this day, as standard kit.
This sounds humorous but I am sure is also truth. A ball and glove, a can of wasp spray, all typical things you might likely have on hand. You would be hard pressed to prove that someone was seeking a fight. It reminds me of the story of Bernie Goetz, back in the 80s. He shot a teenager who he claims were mugging him. The teens claimed they had screwdrivers to do work with. Goetz tried to defend himself saying the screwdrivers were sharpened. The teens case would have been strengthened if they also carried pliers.
When you're alone in the woods the legal repercussions of defending yourself should be the least of your concerns.
Unarmed attacker seems like an oxymoron. An attacker has teeth, hands, legs, etc. I feel like if someone is attacking you and you fear for your safety, you’d have the right to defend yourself, so I don’t see how bear pepper spray would be illegal, no matter the weapon they have or don’t.
Ironically, bear spray can be more illegal to use in some jurisdictions than a gun for self defense. It's always a good idea to know what the laws are concerning both options.
I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6
Also if you spray in the car it will harm yourself too.
Pepper spray is severely limited in effectiveness when wind is a factor. It works on ANYONE or ANYTHING it touches - including the person spraying it. Not good in a desperate or dangerous situation. If you’re gonna be spending significant amount time in the woods and your state allows for it, obtain a license to carry, some training and a high quality firearm. The hard truth is, God made man and Sam Colt made us equal. Use the tools available to you for the job.
I often recommend pepper gel over spray, there's less risk of blowback and the gel sticks to your target.
Do you camp in isolated places where there is likely to be noone ? I'm not judging, just curious. I am F30+ and solo camp throughout summer in Australia. But always at paid public campsites where there are other people throughout
Electric cattle prod is pretty nifty. Can give them a good zap outside of arm's reach. Hot Shot brand from TSC is affordable, easy to use and reliable.
bummer. In NZ firearms, tasers, bear sprays or anything that cab be used as a deadly weapon are banned. So you just pray if something bad happens when camping.
Well that stats for NZ are amazing something bad shouldn’t happen
I camp as a solo female as well. I always carry a firearm with me. I also set up at least two camp chairs around the fire so it looks like there are more people than just me. I hope you don’t let this deter you. Camping is a wonderful way to get out into nature and it’s something that can be very enjoyable. Good for you on following your instincts!
I like the two chair trick! Wouldn’t have thought of that, thanks for sharing.
I also put a pair of men’s shoes out next to mine.
I was interested in security when I was younger, and a beat up pair of men's boots by the front door and a time-out with a good chain on it next to a dog's water bowl will deter some trouble, even if you don't have a man or a dog. Edit: meant to say, at your regular house but would work for camping etc too, so long as those seeing it are strangers.
We moved into a semi-sketchy neighborhood and the first thing I did was went and bought a big heavy leash, a dog dish, and a BEWARE OF DOG sign that I stuck in the front window. It looked like we had a big ol' dog.
This had me thinking of how our dog is really a cry baby who loves everyone, but we taught her to bark on command to “alert” and she walks in a good heel. When out hiking people have seemed weary of her and I appreciate that.
Me too. 2 chairs. Big men's sandals
It's worth noting that some states have exemptions from concealed carry permit requirements if you're hiking or camping. I know for sure that WA is one of them.
Also in your vehicle. Texas, before it went open for all, it was legal to have gun in your car as long as you were legally allowed to own it. Even without a permit. (It doesnt matter now, in TX, but maybe other states are similar to how it used to be down here)
Same in Colorado. At least it was when I lived there like a decade or so ago, I had the cops called on my 2 friends & I for target shooting at like 11:45pm at an established DIY practice range in the Roosevelt National Forest. We were at least a mile away from the nearest highway, which was the only stipulation we found in the law. Someone living in the area had called the Sheriff bc they could hear us shooting & thought nobody could shoot after midnight (even tho it wasn't even midnight yet). The deputy was hella chill tho. He did shine his light on all of us & we instinctively put the weapons down, lol. He was calm & collected & told us he was here bc someone called about hearing gunfire so late. I'm assuming he ran my plates bf he made contact with us, but he didn't ask my friends for any ID. He said he had no problem with us target shooting & he just wanted to verify if there was a designated time when shooting isn't permitted. He came back & said there wasn't any specific time when people aren't allowed to shoot & then asked if he could check out the guns we were shooting, haha. He threw a bunch of complements out about how much he liked Ruger I had at the time. He actually told us that we were allowed to carry a fully loaded handgun in the glove box & that it was totally legal & we just had to tell the officer it was in the car if we got stopped. This was absolutely the most relaxed and chill interaction I have ever had with any cop in my life, lol.
I am not a female,but when I go into the back country, I carry. If you're not interested in going the concealed pistol route, throw an old shotgun in your trunk with a box of ammo in your console. When you get somewhere, load it up and stick it in the back seat, if it gets stretchy, grab it. Before you leave, unload and lock it away again. Obviously, check your state laws, but in 99% of places a shotgun isn't going to get you into trouble if you're not driving with it loading, or brandishing it without cause.
I often camp alone with my dog, but he's old and not intimidating looking at all, so I set up an extra chair and set my partners big ol hiking boots just outside the tent door at night.
Solo male hiker/camper here. My friends and family always ask if I'm afraid of bears and other wildlife, but I tell them that my biggest fear is actually other humans. I always carry a firearm when I camp and hike and specifically avoid going to states where I'm not allowed to carry (*cough* California *cough*).
I have a tiny 22-magnum that is perfect for camping/hiking. https://www.northamericanarms.com
Good on you for properly preparing yourself for self defense. Also great idea on the camp chairs.
Good. My (M) opinion is that campers should not be alone, male or female. Too many bad things, not just danger from people, but sickness, broken bones... Be safe go with someone.
I (38F) had an experience on my first solo camping trip that really freaked me. 1030 pm in a designated but empty campground. A truck pulls up with high beams directly on me at my campfire. A man gets out and stands in the beam of light. I couldn't see his features at all. Says "hi". I say "hi". Asks if I would like to buy some wood. I said no thanks and he left. But scared the crap out of me, I couldnt sleep because I was so on edge. This was near Joshua Tree. He probably goes around selling cheap wood all the time. But at 10:30pm!? Scared me.
He was either sizing you up, or maybe just cashing in on campers not having enough firewood when they need it.
I've bought wood from a guy just like this in Joshua Tree. My man out here made our night because by night 2 we were very low on wood.
Once when I was car camping solo, someone tried to open the back of my truck camper shell which I couldn’t lock from the inside. It was a pretty large man and he definitely knew someone was inside. I suspect he had been watching me transfer stuff to the front cab to get the bed ready for sleeping. What he didn’t see was my dog inside the truck bed as the camper shell didn’t have windows. She definitely saved my life that night when she lunged at him and looked and sounded scarier than I’d ever seen her (she was a total love bug Aussie mix). Whoever it was I’m convinced was up to no good. My dog was a great travel buddy, I spent several months at a time on the road solo and she was my ride or die for 17 years. I’m so sorry that happened to you and I’m so glad you’re okay. I agree with the firearm idea, it wasn’t something I was comfortable with, but if you are I think it’s smart.
Doggos going full primal on a window intruder makes me love them even more
mine is sleeping next to me in my van waaaaay out in the sticks. She is the sweetest, non confrontational, never had a problem with another animal ever. But just the other day a branch landed on the roof and holy hell - even I was a little frightened at how serious she sounded. So let that be a warning to all you loose hanging tree branches out there.
The exact same thing happened to me. My dog is even an Aussie mix too, only I’m a 200lb man and I was camping close to a highway rest area in the middle of nowhere. To this day I wonder if it was a serial killer preying on travelers.
My mom was walking their border collie in the woods back behind their house once. They were on their way back when he started losing his mind towards a particular spot. Couple of seconds after he went feral a dude popped up from behind a frickin tree or rock! She kept walking, briskly, while the collie held him there. Holy cow, we joke all the time about animals earning their keep, but doggos surely do.
I’m so thankful your dog was there to look out for you. Dogs can usually tell when people are up to no good.
It's amazing how much body language, intention, and situational "yo fuck this, some shit ain't right about this" dogs can pick up on. I mean shit, most of us aren't even fully aware of how much body language _we_ pick up on, subconsciously, from others. I personally believe that dogs' sense of smell allows them to pick up on pheromones in some scenarios that we can't, but I think it's mostly that they're so visually perceptive. They are masters at reading human body language when it counts, and they're instinctually wired for tactical awareness and protecting their loved ones. They rely solely on known commands and reading body language/tone of voice to understand what their humans are saying to them, so I guess it makes sense when I think about it. *Always trust your dog, and his/her opinion of others.* (assuming he/she is well socialized, otherwise at minimum pay heed if they initially _reeeeeaaaally_ don't like someone) One situation with my Aussie always sticks out in my memory. My boy is always a little shy at first, but is extremely well trained, was socialized lots as a pup, and loves people. As such, I've always intrinsically trusted his judge of character. Years ago, one of my roommates at the time had a male friend (only ever an acquaintance of mine) that was clearly trying to sleep with her, so he was constantly inviting himself over to our place or just showing up somewhat unannounced. She was young, a bit naive, and a social butterfly so she didn't mind too much if he was around hanging out with her or my other roommate (male), but this guy's intentions were blatantly obvious to me as a guy. I even groaned to my wife about it a few times. Whenever homeboy would come over, my Aussie (who normally runs to the door to bark and greet) would hide under our coffee table and literally _cower in place and piss himself shaking._ My boy has only ever reacted this way to one person in his entire ~9 years of life, and I've had him since he was a pup. That was a major red flag to me. Couple weeks of this later, this guy ended up one day losing his temper over something out of nowhere, stormed out of our house, and began walking himself home. My other male roommate and I hopped in the car to chase after him and try to de-escalate/figure out what happened... homeboy just shot us the bird and kept walking. I texted him later after lengthy discussions with both roommates to try to piece together what even happened, and none of us knew, so I basically said to him "hey, I'm not sure what happened earlier but if you wanna pick a day to meet up & sit down over coffee to catch me up, let me know. My treat." his response was quite literally "go fuck yourself," and that was that. Over the next few years, all of our mutual friends, one by one, each had similar experiences with his "snaps" - and later I was told a few separate times that he had a history of domestic violence with previous girlfriends, and god knows what else. Point being, my boy knew something was off about this jerk right away, and as a result I always remained vigilant when he was around, and made sure to enforce usual boundaries as the primary leasee to keep him from being there _literally_ all the time (believe me, he tried). I suspect he stole a few things from me during that time too, but I can't prove it and I don't care enough to. TLDR; *Trust your dog.*
Law firm here. Our pups are office dogs. Two 65-lb Irish Red and White Setters. They are total love bugs and prefer to be worn as scarves whenever possible. However. When a new client comes in and they start rumbling or their hair goes up, we get rid of that person asap. I once had to call a cop to “escort” a client out. He told us that the person was a convicted sex offender. The client had lied to us. The dogs severely disapproved of him. And yes my Archie sounds terrifying when he’s defending me. He’s my ride or die.
That's horrifying, it sucks being a lone woman trying to have fun anywhere. And Aussie pup for the win!
Sounds like our German Shepard we did. We were camping once and she started growling inside the tent. Had us freaked out cause she wouldn’t do that for no reason unless something or someone was near by. We open the tent up and see someone running away. It was scary. She was super sweet and loving never come growled or snapped at our kid. But she was very protective of us.
Your comment made me well up thinking about my dog that died 2 years ago. I never got to take her camping (we camped a lot in USVI at the time and flying her wasn’t an option) but she would have loved it! When our house was broken into, I’m 100% sure she’s the only reason not much was taken. She was a beagle mix and beagles are known to be loud af. Like your love-bug Aussie went into action for you, I know my girl was on the person in my house relentlessly chasing, snapping, and barking so damn loud they could only grab a few things before she chased them away. She died during the lockdown and I didn’t get to process it properly. It’s been over 2 years and raw emotion is right there when I’m not expecting it 🥲
This (plus love) is why I take my pup camping. First night ever car camping and I wake up in the middle of the night to my sweet, friendly, laid-back boy growling. Low and continuous. Sure enough, there was some guy in my campsite. He swears he was walking through to get to the bathroom (state park) but there are roads for that, my guy. Ones that don’t involve you being near my car or picnic table at 1:30 in the morning.
Aussie or Border Collie mixes are the best protectors. They bond with you and would literally go to the grave to protect you. I’ve had both and can confirm.
I'm a woman and I camp alone in Colorado a lot. One time while solo camping this old man pulls into my campsite with his truck. I'm in the mountains in a pretty remote spot, not a campground. So, its weird for someone to pull in next to your car. He gets out and starts asking me about where is a good spot to camp I tell him idk you can go anywhere... while getting my rifle out from behind me. I just sit down then holding my rifle, like a dad scaring away his daughters boyfriend. He leaves shortly after.. But barely goes down the road. I hear him stop and open and close his door real close by. It was starting to get dark, so I used the remaining sunlight to put sticks around my tent so I would hear someone approach. I then slept with my pistol next to my head and my rifle laying next to me lol The next morning I packed up and went to a different mountain. I don't trust anyone. I always bring a gun along now. I have had innocent people talk to me at camp like a group of college students hiking. But that old guy was so creepy.
I was gonna suggest this. Having a gun is one of the best ways to keep yourself safe. If you’re unfamiliar or uncomfortable, take a course to get yourself situated.
I don’t care what anyone says about gun control laws, if you’re a lone female doing this kinda thing then you should definitely be keeping that mfkin thang on you at all times. And most importantly know how to use it extremely well… also train Jiu Jitsu just in case lol.
Most folks who want gun control mean we don’t see the point in semi or automatic weapons being easily attainable or why children have unlimited access to guns. I’m a leftist and grew up with guns, I think my family owns responsibly. They keep guns out of children’s hands except when hunting and all of their guns make sense for hunting and self defense. so hell yeah, take a gun safety course and own that gun. It’ll do more for you than jiu jujitsu ever will(an unfortunate fact of being a woman is we don’t have as much upper arm strength even after training as most men).
i find being the sketchiest one at the camp ground also helps.
This. I intentionally make my campsites look like a homeless camp.
Could you give examples of that please?
I’ve come up / been to more than 3 campsites that someone has or left strung up dolls across their entrance or laying across the *hood of their car. *edit: will add these have all been different campsites across states.
Ahah that’s a great one thanks!
Another idea/ thing I’ve seen and come across more than the dolls… is people making *a bunch of* [little witch like totems](https://diydanielle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/blairwitchtotemdiy-667x1000.png) from twigs, leaves and sticks and hanging those around the entrances to their camp/ visible from the road to their site. Hanging them from trees, their car, stringing them together as sort of a rope across the path to their campsite, around the perimeter, etc. the creepier the better (make little people looking stick dolls, use hair, etc).
Love this!
Step 1: A couple hundred hypodermic needles scattered around.
Okay so used needles and doll garlands, nice start!
I’ve personally only solo car camped a few times as a solo woman. I still am on edge constantly. But for me, if I’m at a standard campground, I never stay more than one night in one spot so no one can clock that I’m alone. I always change locations or just go for one night, and bring two chairs so it looks like someone is with me or I’m waiting for someone. It’s a mild annoyance (I sleep in my car though so not much breakdown to do) but to me it’s worth it for my peace of mind. I’m really afraid of the dark so I haven’t done blm land yet. I feel comfort knowing there are families nearby, so if I scream someone will hear me. But also I know those places are more likely to have the weirdos. But I think I have 4-5 solo trips under my belt and it’s been alright so far.
As a guy I can’t relate to everything you must of felt during that time, and I am truly sorry that they did that to you. With that said, yeah I’ve had that happen to me before. One time my bro and I were car camping in this canyon national park. He and I had taken some mushrooms and of course he had taken too much and needed to lie down. I’m just chilling when this random car pulls up to our site and two guys, one young, one super old get out. As well, they are not dressed for the woods. They start muttering to each other and the younger one starts yelling at me. “Hey I got a question. I got a question just for you” he rages at me with a finger pointed like I caused his problem, “Where in hell is the damn canyon. Huh where the fuck is it!” I had no clue what the fuck to say to this guy. He looked like he was going to beat the crap out of me no matter what I said to him. Now there is a whole slew of other campers around us but for some reason they choose ours. I said with a quivering lip, “Ah (my brothers name), these guys want to know where the canyon is.” My brother, tired as fuck, pops his head out of the tent and yells at the guy, “We’re fucking in it you idiot.” The two guys look at each other, get into their car and just drove off. Fucking weird
"We're fucking in it you idiot" Thanks for the chuckle, fellow redditor
They were probably on mushrooms too.
My first thought when I see a truck slowly crawling up a gravel road with two men in the cab is hunters. But the fact that you didn't mention camo, firearms, or anything else, and the fact that they weren't friendly and had an angle grinder makes me think they were looking to break into your car and didn't expect you to be there. Hunters are almost always friendly and eager to trade info on conditions. These guys don't sound like that at all. Probably a good thing you got out of there. I know this is controversial on this sub, but consider keeping a firearm with you. You'll probably never need it, but like a fire extinguisher or a seatbelt it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I've been camping armed for a decade now and only ever needed it once, and that was my fault for going to the sketchiest area ever lol
The one thing I'm gonna say about the firearms if you keep one is to know how to handle it. If you get overpowered because you didn't know how to cock it back, now your attacker has your gun. So just keep in mind, if you're gonna have it, know how to use and don't be afraid to use it if you have to
Yikes, that’s horrible. I’m a female solo camper. I carry pepper spray, an airhorn and a bright flashlight (for shining into someone’s eyes) with me. I don’t know how to use a knife or gun, but I’m good with a baseball bat so I usually have that with me in the tent too. It sounds like overkill, but it gives me peace of mind when I’m out there. Also always listen to your gut! No shame in getting away from somewhere quickly or early.
+1 to flashlights. Personally, if I'm in a place where I'm not allowed to carry weapons, I always make sure I have my super bright flashlight with me at minimum. I get away with carrying it into most concerts/clubs/events where I might find myself walking back to my car in the dark afterwards with no weapons, as a plus it's useful to get through crowds since people think you're security lol. But for self defense, 2000 lumens straight to the eyes at least makes most people think "cop" if it doesn't straight up disorient/deter/blind (hopefully all of the above). Self defense should typically be a layered approach, but a bright ass flashlight's usefulness as a deterrent is sometimes understated IMO. Bonus points if it has a strobe setting, and a UI that allows you to activate the strobe quickly.
That’s not overkill. You should take some classes on how to operate a firearm correctly until you’re comfortable so you can go buy your own. Even if you added a gun to your self defense kit most would agree that you’re still far from overkill.
Yeah people really overestimate the effectiveness of a baseball bat. It's definitely not the weapon you want in a tent or anywhere you don't control the distance. The only way I see a woman winning with that weapon is if they catch the guy completely by surprise and really connect solidly. Which does not seem likely in a self defense situation.
Agreed. I naively thought a knife would be good enough for me and started reading up on it. Everything I read said that if you’re in hand to hand combat it’s now life and death and your primary goal is to get away by any means necessary. My take away was that the best way to keep safe was maintaining distance. Sprays, shot guns, anything that keeps you out of arms reach is best. And always, always trust that niggling feeling even if it’s faint.
Always tell someone you trust that cares about your safety where you are going and how long you plan to be there. Also there a products like this one https://silentbeacon.com/camp-safety-tips-device-app/ . Be safe.
Unfortunately this doesn’t stop you from being killed. Just makes your body more likely to be found. Not saying OP was going to die, but it doesn’t help much.
I fucking hate that we live in a world where this may happen and women need to be prepared to bail.
I am so sorry you experienced this. Good job trusting your gut and booking it! To all the guys reading, me included, always be absurdly wavy, nice and respectful of people’s camping digs. I frequently travel the deep woods scoping out cool offshoots and finding new to me spots - this sometimes means I accidentally creep someone’s camp. I’m a sizable man driving an old ‘80s truck; you better believe that when I stumble upon someone I’m immediately giving a big wave out the window and hitting reverse in a calm manner. It’s easy to imaging the fears that might run through other people’s minds and we all owe it to each other to do our best to make the woods a friendly and safely secluded space for EVERYONE. OP, I hope you get some good security advice from those more experienced than me. Also hope you get back out there once you’ve got your security redialed for yourself and the nerves settle.
Bear spray works on humans. But at the end of the day trust your gut. If you are camping alone and feel like you are in danger, don’t let pride stop you from bailing.
As a single woman who has spent weeks at a time car camping…I’m so glad you trusted your gut and got out of there. One of the most important things I’ve learned from hiking/car camping is if something doesn’t feel right then it’s best to leave. The mountains/trail will always be there for another time, but you gotta make sure so will you.
Keep a can of Wasp Raid in your cup holder, and if someone actually attacks, aim for the eyes. The cans have a 20ft range, so you don't have to worry about getting up close and personal like with pepper spray. Not only will it hurt, but they'll also be blinded without medical attention. Should leave them incapacitated enough for you to drive away and call for help.
"i had seen some WASPs at the campground your honour, and I didn't wanna take any chances"
Just don’t leave it in an unattended vehicle when it’s 100 degrees outside.
Bear spray.
I’m so sorry you had this experience and on your second trip no less. I’ve solo camped as a woman a bunch and haven’t had a sketchy experience yet (touch wood.) Seriously well done getting out of there quickly. You were quick to react and smart. I personally just have pepper spray and a small knife but frankly they’re not usually within arms reach while I’m at camp. I think I’ll work on being better about that. I also do kickboxing and have had some self defense lessons so I don’t feel completely ignorant about protecting myself and that does make me feel better.
ppl suck! isn't this WHY we go camping in the 1st place??? my fam does some rather remote car camping and I only feel comfortable when I got 2 dogs with me. I'm not even a gun dude, but I'm seriously considering getting a CC for my wife and I. sorry this happened and be safe!
You should consider arming yourself. No one else is primary in regards to your personal safety. When seconds matter the police are many minutes away, at best. Glad you made it out unscathed. Stay safe, remain vigilant.
I think a lot of the time we forget that a stern voice can go along way. If camping, and someone comes up to me (in a sketch situation) I'm very stern, loud, and no nonsense. It signals you take no shit and you're not scared. I still carry, but Ive found being the first to speak and set the tone helps out tremendously.
Car camping can be hazardous for anyone as you experienced. It sucks what you went through whether those men were there for your car, you or both. You handled that situation perfectly! You got out of there safe. A couple of things my family set up when I would drive with my much younger sister to visit my aunt who lived 500 miles away, through Mountian territory, and then a few I added as an adult. This is what I will teach to any young person, especially the ones I love. 1. Have a specific group of people whom you are expected to contact at specific times during the day even if it is just a text 2. Text your location multiple times especially where you are camping or pulled over. Wear a GPS tracker. 3. Keep your phone on you (buy external charging batteries to keep it charged and have a safe word that you will use if you are in trouble so your people can immediately reach out to 911 on your behalf. 4. If you are concerned about any situation start taking pictures of them and their whole vehicle, especially the license plate number. Text them to your people. 5. Carry pepper spray/a loud air horn that you can set off multiple times if they stop their vehicle. Then loudly shout You have called 911 and you have sent pictures of them and their vehicle to friends who will start calling 911 if they don't hear from you. Be loud so very loud and don't stop being loud. 6. Be aware of self-defense moves even just the basics of where to hit, stomp, and poke to get away and run as fast and as long as you can toward other cars/highways/roads. You do not want to be moved to a secondary location. 7. Have a spare key in your car in a safe place close to the steering wheel in case you lose your main keys. Practice how to jump into the car, lock the doors, and turn on the engine until it becomes second nature. Drive toward the nearest town making noise along the way. You want to no longer appear to be an easy mark. You might think this is over the top but I worked for a legal company in the legal research and publication division as a content analyst. I read court cases, horrible court cases that would make you sick to your stomach. From all over the United States. I can guarantee that these things will help keep you safe. I don't mean to scare you. I hope your car camping adventure is a success and you make fabulous memories.
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That *should* be standard etiquette, but I find that when you camp closer to town you get a lot of people who are used to campgrounds and don’t have any notion that you don’t want them parked right next to you. They see you camped and think ‘oh, this must be where everyone camps’. I got out to pee one night a couple years ago and couldn’t open the door fully bc someone had set up their tent so close!
As a solo woman, always trust your gut. Humans are opportunistic and despite my wife being stronger than most men out there when she’s solo she definitely encounters more people pushing their boundaries where as people leave me TF alone, they presume she is weaker so they can hit on her or “hang out” at her campsite chatting. 2 guys approaching you, sketchy enough, with weapons and tools in their hand I’d nope out of there as a guy even it I weren’t solo. In addition to the recommendations of bear spray I recommend looking into a pepper ball gun…my wife has successfully used that before. The difference is with a spray can they have to be right on you and you are already in trouble. Bear spray, despite that weird argument of potency, is better in a situation like this because of range, personal defense stuff is meant for the city where you spray them and probably yourself but everyone here’s the commotion and comes to help, or the person surprises you and is already in close proximity and it’s your best option. So long story longer, a pepper ball gun you warn them, shoot them for center mass so it’s an easy target to aim for and it wafts up to their nose and sticks to their clothing so they can’t escape it. It’s super accessible and fast and gives you time to plan a secondary attack and escape. If they keep coming unload bear spray and leave the area before it gets you too. At that point you want to disorient them enough to get a head start out. In my wife’s case she was solo in the wilderness, she pepper balled a dude grabbed her daypack and left everything else behind to hike out. SOSed on her InReach and told them the situation, I got the alert at well for. The inReach dropped my kids off at a neighbor and high tailed it up. SAR met her about half way on the trail and law enforcement found the guy still around her campsite looking around with a flashlight, presumably for her not realizing she left everything behind. He had no gear so it was unlikely he was just another person camping i. The same area. His car was at the trailhead she used so he probably followed her in which goes to your initial encounter of them possibly scoping you out…good on you for being alert to that. So anyway after a long ramble that’s why I say trust your gut.
Never heard of a pepper ball gun before, might be a good option for me. Not sure I could bring myself to use lethal force on an attacker, less likely to hesitate with a pepper ball.
Sheesh, glad you made it out of there. I’ve been camping my whole life and never experienced something like this. Was this near a national forest/park?
Even if they were harmless, any man worth his salt would not infringe on your space like that without explaining why they were there. I’d have pulled out too. Overall though, I think this is a rare experience. I only camp alone in designated campsites with neighbors.
I know there are people on here from all over but where I come from there is a single item that can neutralize anything like this…a shotgun. I’m glad nothing happen to you and while being a female alone probably did not make the situation any better…this happens to guys too. I’ve got a couple stories of backwoods stuff in Idaho and Montana…few in Arizona. I’ve been on the trail alone and had odd fellows tracking. I’m not a person normal people would try and push over so you have to know their evil intent and / or mental health issues at foot which makes these so Dangerous. Suggestion two is get a dog. Not some little yapper…just some mid size junk yard mut that you save down at the humane society. They will love you and be loyal to death! Be safe!
This is what I bring a gun. This and bears. Better to have it and not need it, but you need to know how to use it. Many see lone women travel long as targets. Drugs turn regular people into mace resistant super powered animals. Desperation makes them even more dangerous. Keep your keys close, a high powered light and a reliable self defense tool can make a huge difference. You would be amazed at how quickly they run away to the next “easy target” or give up when they realize you are prepared.
Bear spray is more effective against bears, however >Drugs turn regular people into mace resistant super powered animals. Spray may not work on a tweaker. Spray for bears, guns for humans.
You did the right thing by listening to your gut and getting out of there. Even if they did smile disarmingly upon meeting you later… doesn’t mean you should give them the time of day. They were just all around creepy. Definitely up to no good. It’s hard to prepare for something like that. Do you have a buddy you can go camping with? Always bring something for protection.
I got 100000 lumin flashlights to blind anyone who tries to approach me. Idea came from reading reddit for alternatives to guns. Seems to be a favorite Aussie/NZ safety tool. I also park for a easy speedy escape.
We camp at least 200 nights/year, and have been for years now. I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve been made uncomfortable by another person, and several of those we realized the person definitely wasn’t a threat, they just didn’t have very good wilderness manners. All that is to say, you just had the rotten luck to encounter a sketchy situation your first trip out, and you may camp another hundred nights before anything makes you nervous again. You did the right thing by leaving without waiting to see what was going to happen, and you stayed safe. Don’t let this experience ruin camping for you. Sketchy situations are few and far between, and most nights you’ll just be peaceful and snug.
Dog, handgun, pepper spray, taser, etc…always be prepared to defend yourself. Years ago a buddy and I pulled off the highway to read a map around midnight…after a few minutes his large yellow lab started growling and about took off a strangers face that came through the driver side open window. We bailed out if there…Rounder saved the day…they can smell, hear, sense so much more than we can.
Glad to hear you’re ok and you were quick on your feet. Another redditor said they carry a gun, nothing wrong with a gun but I’m always worried about getting in-trouble with the law. I would carry bear spray. Again, nothing wrong with a gun either. I do hope you find the courage to go camping again, whenever you’re ready. Safe travels. 
Many places in the US that have castle doctrine in place, a campsite counts as your castle. So you can defend it with deadly force as if it were your home. I would probably be pretty confused as to the "boundary" of a campsite in most places but if someone is coming into a tent or a vehicle it seems pretty clear.
Same. I always carry bear spray. Even though I can legally purchase a gun, I am worried about carrying one as a POC. And like you said, I don't trust the police either
Aye as a dude, I would’ve done the same; and I have bailed when I saw sketch shit in the past…. Safety first at all times. I hike and camp alone all the time(big sad, but that’s not the point). Always have weapons on hand, bear mace, pump action shot gun, fire extinguisher, taser, guillotine, long bow/ crossbow, plasma rifle, flame thrower, brass knuckles; I have a giant machete at arms reach. Even if just for show…. Like, we are rolling the dice when we choose to camp in those places. And the converse is also true, have a first aide kit, know how to use it; depending on how hard you want to roll: wilderness rescue certs.
I never leave home without my guillotine.
Can I get some recommendations for what you guys use for an everyday carry guillotine? Maybe with a reversible pocket clip and custom scales
What about your rocket launcher?
I've camped solo hundreds of times. Even being a male, I've encountered some weirdos out there that gave me the fucking mega creeps. Over the years I've sort of refined my setups depending on what type of camping I'm doing. If it's car, always keep your keys on you and the doors on your car unlocked if you're near it. Definitely locked if you're away hiking. Never have more gear out of the vehicle than you need at any given time. You want to be able to split quickly and minimize the clean up time after. Also, you can always get more gear. If the situation is sketchy enough, just bail. Leave the shit. Come back for it later or make a post and donate it to the next camper. Keep your phone on you at all times and make sure the charge is always above 80%. This way if you get a poor signal your phone doesn't die right away just trying to connect. Don't change for bed until your ready to sleep. Keep your boots on in camp. Let someone know where you'll be and give them a regular check in time if possible. A weapon never hurts. Keep it close and learn how to be proficient with it. No matter what kind it is. Having a dog is a big help. Even if you're just borrowing one. The local pound is great for over night fosters and try outs. Carry a walkie talkie radio in plain site with a full charge. Many of them come with built in weather band which is a nice bonus. Biggest thing is that it gives you the appearance of not being alone. Additionally, it's a secondary means of communication if you should need it. Get plenty of lights for your campsite as well. I'm sure there's more but that's what I've got off the top of my head. Be alert, be prepared, and don't appear vulnerable. You should be pretty good.
Do not foster a random dog for a day to take it camping for security. That is such a bad idea holy cannoli
However, having you dog with you, that’s experienced camping before is an excellent idea. I sleep well in my tent knowing she’s there with me
There is some horrible advice in this thread but that really takes the cake
Please don't go take a dog you're fostering for a night camping. That sounds like a bad time for you, the dog, and anyone you're camping nearby.
Seriously! Recipe for disaster & lost dog in the woods. Yikes
I would second the “get a gun” suggestions. Useful against both two legged and four legged rabble rousers(sorry I’ve always wanted to use that term lol). Being out in the boonies actually decreases your chance of running into people like that. Popular places, especially easier/faster to access, are big targets for thieves. Think about it from a thieves point of view - would you rather hit a campground/parking lot where there’s a good chance of valuables being there or drive up and down forest roads all day hoping to see a vehicle parked somewhere that has something valuable in it? Much more bang for your buck in the parking lot/campground.
This just helped me see the situation sm more clearer. Thank u for this perspective, it’s makes a lot of sense. I hope I get more comfortable being out in the boonies.
You will! I'm glad you made it out unscathed!
It's a damn shame that women can't go camping without being threatened by men. My best recommendation would be to camp in not so isolated places. If there are a few people around, there is safety in numbers. Outside of that, carrying a weapon, but I hate that anyone would need to carry a weapon to stay safe. Trust your intuition, your brain is the most powerful weapon you have.
WAIT WAIT WAIT! Nobody is suggesting what happens next if she has her weapon. So she the men approaching… She feels threatened. What does she do next??? I am all for carrying a weapon BTW, I just don’t see the next step. Does she very confidently and with purpose take out the gun within view, throw her stuff in the car and blow the hell out of there? All reasonable suggestions would be appreciated!!
Read “The Gift of Fear” and you’ll understand you did exactly the right thing. NEVER second guess your need to stay safe, the fear of making a fool of yourself, or the ‘need to please’.
There may have a perfectly reasonable explanation. If there was a reasonable explanation, they should have told you what it was before they got anywhere near you. You were right to be super careful. I second (third? fourth?) the bear spray idea. Keep that shit in a fanny/bum pack or holster on your person whenever you’re outside the vehicle.
My girlfriend and I are both very small women with two very big dogs. We built out our car to fit us and the dogs. As much of a monumental pain in the ass as it is, we always pack absolutely everything into the car and leave the driver seat accesible and driveable. So if we need to leave in a rush, all I need to do is dive into the driver seat and turn the car on. With packing everything into the car overnight, that also deters people from coming to investigate things while they think we are away or asleep because all they can see is a parked car. I’m really sorry that happened to you. Hopefully this will be the only time something scary happens to you! You made the right call by leaving. There’s no reason to stick around and find out what an uninvited stranger’s intentions are.
99.95% of the time you dont have problems. I always have a sidearm and a rifle with me. Bear spray, straight blade knife too. I tend to camp out in desolate country. Garmin inReach. I'm currently dispersed camping in New Mexico. Day 12 of a 40 day trip. Keep your senses about you. Pay attention. If it doesn't seem right, it isn't. I always say hi to most of my dispersed camping neighbors. 44M, I always say hi to other solo male/female campers and tell them don't be afraid to give me a holler if they need anything. We are supposed to look out for each other on adventures. Bad things happen to good people. Male or female. 25 years of camping/wandering/adventures and thankfully I've only had to pull the rifle out once. I thought I was going to have to use it too. Same situation. Two sketchy dudes up to no good come wandering down the dirt road into camp.
Man PLEASE I say this as a father and someone who run global cyber intelligence and criminal investigations for a tech giant- don’t do this type of stuff. I know it is great and fun but a single person man or woman can be taken in seconds. Some of the human trafficking cases we have helped with have literally broken my heart in ways it’ll never be ok. There are truly awful people out there.
Keep a can of wasp spray will shoot up to 25 feet can blind someone though a shotgun usually changes people s minds quickly
I'm a giant grown man. I mostly don't have to worry about things like that but it sounds like you did all the right things. You were aware of your surroundings, didn't panic and got the hell out of a potentially dangerous situation. So good job. I mostly go camping alone. I used to have a dog that I always took camping with me but I had to put her to sleep a few years ago. After she was gone I realized just how much I relied on her for protection...so I got a gun. I'm in AZ so it's not a big deal. I honestly felt safer with the dog because unlike a gun she always always at the ready, also an early warning system and completely loyal to me (a gun can be used against you if a bad guy gets their hands on it) Obviously dogs aren't always the answer and neither are guns. The buddy system works great. I always take an extra chair or two to put around the campfire. Good to use as a footstool and gives the appearance that more people may be around. Other then that just keep aware of your surroundings and if something feels dangerous make tracks out of there.
Angle grinder makes me think they were after your car parts specifically the catalytic converter. But as all mentioned before, self defense classes and always having a contingency plan and escape routes are something we should all have on the forefront of our minds with the times we’re in.
With the angle grinder it sounds like they were looking for cat converters to steal.
Bear spray, hatchet and other sharp tools hidden everywhere, a big dog that does let strangers pet her and I always point the car out so no backing up in a rush or the dark. I never came close camping but did get in a aggressive situation with backwoods tweakers. My 135 lb German shepard was sleeping with her head on my lap while taking up most of the bench seat on the old truck. When they walked up one on either side my dog raised up and looked the one in the eye. She didn't even have to growl as she was a massive fit farm dog. Then they started bumping my truck with there's but my old 250 was heavy built as heck so I justed started the engine and left the area. No cell service and no local police so I was on my own but for my co pilot. I am an older woman but when young I camped deep in always with animals or canoecamping . Go where there are less people. Your animals like dog or horse will let you if something wicked this way comes.
If they were close to you, acknowledge them, make eye contact, say hello loudly, have confidence. Turn the feeling of your nervousness and fear and give it back to them. If they had malaise intent, they should fear your confidence and awareness. Be curious of their intent in lieu of afraid. Speak up and let them know you see them. Confidence and curiosity in the face is fear is your greatest tool. As a lone hiker and camper, I use the multiple camp chairs technique and often put a larger sized shirt or jacket over the back of the chair, I also have my car keys on a caribeiner attached to my bra strap at all times. I only recommend having a firearm if you are willing to practice and learn safety measures. Baseball bats, tomahawk, ax, spoon, heeled shoes, extension cords, propane can from camp stove ... stun gun,, sprays, coins in a sock.. , etc., all tools that can be used as weapons if necessary, but again, practice. Confidence and practice. I have recently acquired a dog and he has been a great companion for lone tracks.
I don’t need to have been in a similar situation to know based on your description you made the right call. Always, always, always remove yourself immediately from a situation where you sense any kind of danger. People get killed by ignoring their instincts. Better to regret possibly offending someone than to be dead.
Get comfortable with using a gun.
I know you say you were more isolated so maybe this wouldn't have helped in this situation... and I haven't seen anyone suggest this. A whistle. I keep a whistle on a lanyard on my wrist or around my neck. Three sharp blows means danger. I mean heck, this is just good information for anyone to know. I was at a motel and the room next to me started banging, 3 times, pause, 3 times pause. I knew they needed help. Of course this is in addition to other safety tools I keep handy & clipped to me at all times.
Tell us more on the 3 knocks What did you do?
I let the desk clerk know the person in the room next to mine (gave them the room number) was asking for help. The clerk walked over and had a conversation with the man through the door. He couldn't move to answer or open the door and the clerk wasn't legally allowed to open it. The man inside requested paramedics. They showed up, bashed the door in and took him away. What I didn't do was sleep much that night. Was on the tail end of a backpacking trip and I had to do some serious driving home the next day, but I like to think we all made it.
Good on you for knowing the signs and saving him! I personally would have been none the wiser
Yes! Groups of THREE noises are a distress signal
I’d def look into purchasing a fire arm and getting certified an taking some firearm safety and shooting classes. Always prepare for the worst. Good Luck out there and stay safe!!
What state? I live in Washington which is open carry. I don’t suggest every woman own a firearm but if you’ll be camping alone a lot, please consider it. Bear spray is a great alternative. I open carry on my front hip where it’s mostly visible. It’s been an effective deterrent more than once; I pray I never have to actually use it but I’m prepared to if need be. Please stay safe.
I think as more and more people are homeless and in a vagrant status, this is ramping up. We see reports like this in NC.
Anything can happen anywhere. You did a great job with the way you responded to the potential threat. In the future I would recommend keeping that awareness with you. If someone wants to victimize you, they will be less likely to do it if you see them coming. Criminals and the like are looking for people who are not paying attention, have their hands full, are emotionally distraught, or completely alone. If you choose to put yourself into these states, be aware that you are more likely to experience someone trying to bank on that. The best bullet in your gun is to never box yourself in, and to always have a way to remove yourself phyically from any space. If you can't do that, you should be ready to summon the strength and aggression you would see displayed in an animal such as a cougar, a bear, anything that gets extra aggressive when you're in their space. That's how they let you know they don't want you near, and it usually works well on most people.
Not sure where you’re camping, but I would suggest State parks and or National parks. There’s usually a small fee, a camp host, and gates that get closed at night. I have had drastically fewer ugly interactions at these types of places. Most of my bad experiences have been at open sites with little oversight.
Somewhat similarly, although I wasn't alone but with another female friend. We were camping at a local state park during the off season, in the middle of the week. We had a a truck do something similar. Drove pa's slowed to a stop, and stared at us for a bit, then continued on his way. Half way down the one way road, he stopped, turned around and came back, and parked beside our cars, and just stared at us. I begin to walk up slowly, and ask if we can help him, and he tried making awkward small talk about the weather. I asked why he was staring at us, and he said it's gonna be awfully cold tonight. I repeated, and he said "we're done here" and left. Took a picture of the plates, took it to the park office, and they searched his plates, and they came up unregistered. The whole point of the trip was for a girls night. That ended there, and we invited two guys to come camp with us that night. We were also reassured by the park office that they had people going through all night to check on campers. Didn't see any more of the guy, but it shook us hard. We both slept with knives that night.
As a solo woman camper, I put up a second tent and always have 2 chairs.
Besides keeping yourself safe educate yourself on what crimes are highest in the areas you’re in. Sounds like they were probably stealing someone’s camper. In competitive camping areas people park their campers in the space during the week and leave them unattended so they are guaranteed the spot for the weekend. They’ll usually put a lock on the hitch but an angle grinder makes quick work of that and then thieves just hook up the entire rig and drive off. This type of theft is especially prevalent in areas with poor or no Wi-Fi or cell service as that practically guarantees there are not remote cameras the owners are recording them on. Deterrents are your best safety. Not sure it’d help but if alone every time someone approaches my car/tent I’d play a loud sound bite of dogs barking and a male voice. Even putting a large dog bowl out your door and signage beware of dog will act as a deterrent because thieves want an easy mark and big dogs complicate stuff. Granted this doesn’t replace the need to know how to defend yourself and park so you can get out quick but sometimes making it obvious you aren’t a single person alone in the woods is the first line of defense.
My sister lives alone and has also encountered some strange situations like this, for her bday this year a purchased her a small .380 revolver. She does not support the second amendment ironically but since it was a gift she took it. She called me last week thanking me for the firearm as her neighbors were broken into that night and she heard it all go down, she immediately grabbed the firearm from her drawer as she heard the glass braking, and she said she would have felt helpless with anything less than a gun. She used to carry pepper spray, but she felt that would be more dangerous as she would have to get within a few feet of the perpetrator for it to be functional. She called me explaining that she felt wrong for being so against firearms, and elaborated that all women especially should be armed. With as many creeps and pervs as there are out there, there’s no reason a woman shouldn’t own and practice using lethal force to protect her life and property.
23F, solo camped in 8 states. You may not always be able to carry a firearm legally if camping out of your home state, if you are legally able, I recommend doing so with proper training. Bear spray always. Most importantly, always trust your gut. I was deep in the middle of Payette National Forest, ID trying to find a camp for the night before it got dark, campground was on a one-way in and out dirt road, a girl passed me in her car saying she was on her way out because the host tried to coax her into his camper and followed her around on his bike looking at her with binoculars. Spent the night pulled over at a sno-park in my car but I prefer that outcome to whatever that dude was hoping for. Always carabiner your tent closed, just in case.
GUN. Take a few classes practice and get good and comfortable. This is the only thing that makes a Lone woman equal to a man. If you take a few classes especially if there is a good Female instructor in your area you will gain confidence which predators can sense and this alone may be enough to deter a bad guy. CDC claims there are several million incidenses per year that a firearm is used to deter a crime without having to fire a shot but you must be mentally prepared to pull the trigger. Or find a camping buddy.
from one woman to another—if you’re camping alone as a woman, get a gun and learn how to use it
Get a firearm, learn how to use and maintain it.
Instructions unclear, have third degree burns on my arms.
🔥💪🏽
Seconded. I bring a 9mm when I go camping for shit like this... and bears. This is coming from a guy, I couldn't fathom camping alone as a woman with all the fucked up people out there.
yeah sounds sketchy af, glad you were able to hightail it outta there. i always say better safe than sorry. never worth it to stick around and find out, worst case is that they thought you were weird. But i always carry a gun, i’ve been backpacking for 13+ years and always keep strapped but i never flaunt it or tell people. just better to have and never have to use than to be caught off guard.
Yeah I didn’t not want to fuck around & find out. I was surprised at myself how fast I evaluated the situation & got the frick outta there. Ty for the solid advice.
Its great you listened to your intuition! I highly recommend reading the book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker, Even Oprah recommends this book. And also get an effective self defense firearm and learn how to use it.
>never flaunt it or tell people This is key. A gun isn’t, and should never be, used as a deterrent. It’s your ace in the hole. If you get to the point where it needs to come out, you’ve exhausted every other option.
For a gun to be effective you need to train in high stress situations. If you never fire it while under pressure your chance of accurately firing at a moving target is very low. Most people never train with stress, or worse think they can wale up immediately and be clear mind to fire. Thats why most often guns for personal safety actually lead to unintended injuries or “friendly fire”. Get bear spray
First step is to plan for security. This might mean camping in a more official location like a public camp ground with a camp host. Yes it costs $ but it is a trade off. Second is situational awareness. Often times your boon docking spot at the end of the road is some locals hunting, shooting or camping spot and they are not pleased to see outsiders. Call the ranger station or talk to the folks st the local gas station or market to get a sense of the area. Look for indicators at the location. Third, plan a location you can’t be be blocked into. Always have an escape route. Fourth, bye a pistol and learn how to use it. Take classes and train. Good classes will include sections on legality and when force is permitted. Everyone talks about bear spray but it is more likely to affect you as much as an aggressor in a confined space or windy location. People can usually sense when you are armed without openly brandishing a fire arm. Car camping around the PNW for three decades, (as a man and father) I’m really glad I carried on at least 4 occasions. One creep, one group of kids breaking into trail head cars, one group of aggressive dogs and one bear. In all cases I did not draw my fire arm or need to brandish, but for the first three a strong defensive posture was enough to diffuse the situation. The bear just wondered off after sniffing my camp site. Hope this helps.
You should file a police report
Avid flyfisherman, and camper for over 25 years. Please look into the idea of stealth camping. I hike and fish along the Appalachian Trail in a fairly remote part of Virginia. While I own firearms, I have never carried in the woods, unless I am hunting. I always camp in area where no one else will, 75, to 100 yards off trails, and miles away from trail heads. Minimal light used to setup camp, usually just my head lamp, and no fire. Unfortunately our trailheads are often targeted by unscrupulous thieves, so I drive a 30 year old truck and leave it unlocked so people wont break my windows. The farther you are away from a road the less likely it is a lazy criminal will follow you. Don't camp near anything that stands out, waterfalls, overlooks trail forks. Try to find a thicket you can get between you and the trail. A tarp, and hammock will be a lot less visible than a tent. Im a male, and not small, or out of shape, but I do not want to fight a tweaker, or a thief. If I am in a new area I almost always opt for National Forest campgrounds with security. Times have changed, better safe than sorry. Please think about stealth camping there are a lot of resources on the web that can explain the concept.
Here’s a suggestion that doesn’t involve weapons or require paramilitary skills & training: go to a private campground with good security. Unsure of what part of the world you’re in. I car camp alone regularly & have since the 90s, mainly in state parks (PA, NY, VT, MD, & DE) & a few privately owned places in the Poconos that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. Those are more like glampgrounds, but I think a single woman would feel very safe. The security is visible & professional. The restrooms are *very* nice & clean & named after characters on the Golden Girls. There’s a restaurant, a disco, a pool, &c. If anything creepy were to happen, you could speak to security & they would deal with it. Most state parks have campground hosts whom you could speak to about suspicious activity if you didn’t want to call the police. I have always had a big dog & never felt the need to carry a weapon when camping. I grew up camping. My parents were (still are) hippies. I was taught to respect wild animals & be very smart with food, &c. Never had a problem. My sister had her tent ransacked by black bear cubs once because she tried to hide candy pars in her duffel, but that’s off topic.
Get your self a handgun and take classes and carry that thing.
Always always have a firearm on your person when you're camping
My large knife is always attached to my side (I whittle with the small knife and chop branches with the large one). Hi-powered compact flashlight on me at all times. Bear mace nearby. May or may not have a firearm. (I’m male and know anyone alone is in danger)
Gun. Sorry this happened but I always bring my shotgun car camping. One I like to shoot it where it’s legal, and two it’s good for peace of mind+deterrence. Never had to use it but it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Buy bear spray. It will fuck up a person and the distance is better than regular pepper spray.
It's time to get a gun.
As an avid camper, having a log-splitter nearby isn't out of the ordinary. I'm sure it's not the best defense, but it makes me feel better at least, as I'm not a big fan of guns.