No!
I’d like to be clear here–the Appalachian Trail is a pretty safe place for women. Incidents are the extreme exception rather than the rule. Still, basic self-defense skills are useful. If nothing else, they will help you feel grounded and secure in your ability to protect yourself.
I recently attended a great self-defense class with instructor Molly Strand Deis. She present some guidelines for dealing with a potentially dangerous situation, and I will pass them along here.
1. Awareness: Be conscious of of what’s going on around you. This doesn’t mean that you constantly worry about your safety, instead, stand up straight, be proud of yourself and aware of what’s going on in your surroundings.
2. Assessment: Once you perceive a threat, listen to your intuition. Don’t try to talk yourself out of your gut feeling.
3. Action: Now that you have assessed the situation, it’s time to take action. Here are six options.
- Escape- This is ideal. Even if you are unsure of a situation, don’t feel bad about crossing the street or turning around and walking the other way. Again, trust your gut.
- Non-verbal- During the workshop, Molly had us practice turning our bodies to a defensive posture, with a face that says, leave me alone. It’s not aggressive or mean to do this, you are just showing your boundaries.
- Verbal- If someone is approaching you and you don’t want them to come any closer, tell them, in a clear and even voice, to stay away. As Molly put it, “It may work because people are used to following commands.” Try to leave soon after you have told them to stop, as they may try to push your boundaries.
- Physical- If someone is threatening you, the use of physical force is completely acceptable. Molly recommends hitting the perpetrator in the nose, face, and throat in rapid succession. In class, she held up a big foam pad and had us practice quick hits into it while shouting, “No!” Then we simulated kneeing someone in the stomach or groin. I have to admit, it is pretty fun to hit a piece foam as hard as you can. It’s reason enough to take a self defense class.
- Comply- Sometimes you will have to go along with things until you can get to safety. Don’t give up hope and look for your chance of escape.
- Tell- Find someone and tell them what happened immediately. If possible, call the authorities. If you used physical force, make it clear that you were acting in self-defense. In some states, it is still considered self-defense to make the first strike, if you perceive that your life is in danger. Telling is also important because it gives your friends and family a chance to support you.
The biggest thing that I learned was: I don’t have to be nice. That may seem obvious to some people, but I was raised as a good southern girl, who always felt that she needed to smile and say hello to people. Now, if my safety is at risk, this Tennessee girl can learn to be assertive (or even down right rude) if the situation demands it.
We do not need to live in fear. Backpackers are good people, and, in general, the trails are safe. Be aware of your surroundings, stand up straight, and have fun hiking.
Molly Strand Deis trains and teaches the martial arts, teaching kids and women about safety and strength. She is a self-defense instructor with Artemis Adventures and is a Trackers International safari representative to Botswana and beyond.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
If I may, I would add a small caveat to the “comply” above. If someone is trying to make you go into a vehicle or away from a trail, it can be better to risk physical damage on the spot.
This is of course ALWAYS a gut-insticit decision but it is worth considering with some what-if-thoughts beforehand.
Good point. For me, I would tend to want to fight early as I think it might be safest in the long run, but I’m sure it depends on the situation.
I tend to agree with your position on this. Complying with an abduction increases the assailants power over you, but if you raise an alarm and fight back you might scare him off.
Of course, being male, 6 ft 230 lbs with a beard like a rhododendron also works well as a safety measure but I realize it’s not for everyone