Being a female overlander who often goes out solo I agree with many of the comments about being situationally aware and having enough personal protection and self defense skills to buy you time, deter, or signal for help. Basics I have with me is a grouchy cattle dog who will snarl and bark at strangers, large camp knife which I keep on me pretty much all the time.
Since most off the overlanding I do is WAY off the beaten path I usually feel pretty secure - though I am still paranoid about bears!
Absolutely! As another female overlander (over 20K miles this year!), here are a few suggestions:
1) Tell someone your travel plans and check in regularly to advise of changes and current status.
2) Purchase a PLB (personal locator beacon). I have the basic “oh, sh*t!” version which transmits a distress signal.
3) Park and commercial campgrounds are fairly safe; remote areas are fairly safe in terms of human threats (animal/natural disasters may still apply); more populated off-grid sites are the worst. I’ve seen some sketchy folks at these locations. Personal safety and theft are my concerns.
4) As you stated, have some type of weapon(s) with which you’re comfortable and fairly proficient.
5) Trust your instincts! If it feels wrong, move along.
6) Dogs are great, but can create problems in bear country. Just be aware how a canine can change the dynamic in a bear encounter and adjust accordingly.
7) Use technology to your advantage. The Fires app was a great help to me this year, as it aggregates information from both Inciweb and CalFire. Being aware of fires, flood warnings, winter storms, etc. can help you better plan your route.
8) If you’re taking a backcountry trail, know who in the area can do an off-road recovery. Program that info into your phone - i.e., Matt’s Offroad Recovery in Hurricane, UT!
Again, just my take on being a solo traveler.
Happy Trails to Everyone in 2022!
