When you exercise outdoors, do you wear ear buds or headphones?
I hike in isolated areas and I don't often run into people. When I do run into other women hiking alone, more often than not I'm surprised to see that they are wearing ear buds or headphones, sunglasses, and a hat or a hood pulled over their head. Most of the time, they don't even look up until I'm right on top of them, and then they are scared out of their wits.
Why do I find this surprising? Several reasons...
a. You're a woman hiking alone in an isolated area - it's important to attend to your surroundings. Not only have I encountered mountain lions where I hike, I've seen bear tracks, had a wild pig (and they are nasty) run across my path, and even worse, I've stumbled onto drug deals and the occasional gathering of young men who've specifically sought out these isolated areas to drink and use drugs - knowing there's no way the cops can get back there. Which is why I hike with a big dog.
b. A couple years ago, I was attacked in the most isolated area of one of the wilderness parks while hiking. My older dog defended me and drove the attacker off. The man had been hiding and had I not been paying attention, I wouldn't have noticed him until it was too late...and if I didn't have a big dog? What a scary thought!
I totally get listening to music while working out in a gym or at home or even when running on the street, although in that case you have to be very careful to listen for cars too. But when you're in the wilderness? Not only is is safer to leave the ear buds at home, you won't miss the music of nature - the variety of bird song, the wind blowing through the leaves, the rustle of small animals...
We like to believe we're safe wherever we go. We can help ourselves by paying attention to our surroundings.
Why do I find this surprising? Several reasons...
a. You're a woman hiking alone in an isolated area - it's important to attend to your surroundings. Not only have I encountered mountain lions where I hike, I've seen bear tracks, had a wild pig (and they are nasty) run across my path, and even worse, I've stumbled onto drug deals and the occasional gathering of young men who've specifically sought out these isolated areas to drink and use drugs - knowing there's no way the cops can get back there. Which is why I hike with a big dog.
b. A couple years ago, I was attacked in the most isolated area of one of the wilderness parks while hiking. My older dog defended me and drove the attacker off. The man had been hiding and had I not been paying attention, I wouldn't have noticed him until it was too late...and if I didn't have a big dog? What a scary thought!
I totally get listening to music while working out in a gym or at home or even when running on the street, although in that case you have to be very careful to listen for cars too. But when you're in the wilderness? Not only is is safer to leave the ear buds at home, you won't miss the music of nature - the variety of bird song, the wind blowing through the leaves, the rustle of small animals...
We like to believe we're safe wherever we go. We can help ourselves by paying attention to our surroundings.
3 comments:
Some great advice here, Julia. Awareness can save your life.
It's always good advice to be prepared for the worst. I'm not surprise, nor surprised by the number of people in the city who never look up to see who is around them.
Amazing.
What always shocks me are people who ride their bike right in front of my car or cut across the street - because they can't hear me! They're listening to music! Crazy!
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