How do you handle being outdoors on your own?

This year I've not been working as much and have been doing sunsets in the mountains once a week. In the snow and mud season there has been no-one within miles and I've often had a 2 hour hike back in the dark. Some people think I'm a bit crazy. I love it.

When out in the bush the best thing do do is carry a rented satellite phone or a emergency location transmitter.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18578300
This is an interesting topic.

I find myself outdoors alone on a regular basis ...... probably about three times a week, on average. . And many times I am very far away from civilization - like way up in the mountains or far off-road and off-trail looking for things to shoot.

The greatest danger to me is getting distracted and driving off the road and having a wreck, and then being stranded so far from help - and well out of cell phone range - so that there is no way to let anybody know that I am hurt or stranded. . There are days when I drive on the dirt roads up in the National Forest and don't see another car or human all day long, and that sometimes causes me to wonder if anybody would ever come along if I got into real trouble and needed help.

I guess that if, while hiking, I sprained an ankle or broke a leg, I would be in pretty much the same predicament - being stranded way out in the middle of nowhere and not having any way to let others know.

I mitigate the danger somewhat by having a car that is always crammed full of extra gear; snacks, lots and lots of drinking water, flashlights, sharp knives, a saw, and lots and lots of warm clothes and extra footwear. . I also keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide with me so that if I gash myself and get stagnant water into the wound I will be able to prevent infection. . There's also a roll or three of duct tape floating around somewhere so if I get a huge laceration I will be able to tape myself back together to stop the loss of blood.

I also tend to be very careful when it comes to traversing rockslides, creeks, soft-bottomed wetlands, and blowdowns. I don't have good coordination or balance, so I have to slow down and be etra careful when facing these obstacles, in order to keep myself from falling and breaking something.

I don't worry about people hurting me. . Years ago I got carjacked in West Virginia by a group of 5 twentysomething males. . It wasn't really a problem - I just did what they said to do and within an hour I was free to go an on my way. . They didn't steal anything . . . . they would have if I'd had cigarettes or pot or alcohol, but I didn't. . They never thought to demand money (they weren't very bright).

All they made me do was to give them a ride to a remote abandoned residence that they wanted to squat on for a while. . I had a pickup truck, so their 'leader' sat in the cab next to me and the other 4 hopped in the bed. . I lost an hour of fishing time, and about a gallon's worth of gasoline, but that's all. . I did learn about a demographic that I hand't had much experience with previous to that - degenerate hillbilly youths. . The knowledge and experience I gained through that event is useful because now I know more about a people group that I knew before. . The leader guy who rode in the cab with me, he said something I'll never forget; ."alcoholism is real popular in West Virginia".

I am actually quite vulnerable to people who would mean to do me harm, but it doesn't really concern me because I don't live my life in fear of the bad things that may happen. . Nor do I waste much time trying to minimize the odds of something horrible happening. . Besides, I have met thousands of people while out and about over the last 30 years of my life, and none have ever intended to hurt me. . Even those car jacking guys, they didn't want to hurt me, they just wanted cigarettes, weed, alcohol, and a ride.

I think that the kind of people who put protective filters on their lenses and worry over what padded bags to keep their cameras in and carry bear spray with them are the same ones who worry over the possibilities of getting robbed or murdered or raped while in the middle of nowhere. . I will never be that type of person.


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Tom, you don't need to get into the wild to run into these type of people. I got jacked in Atlanta right outside a convenience store about 2 blocks away from the Westin in downtown. A case of beer and some packs of cigarettes got me back on my way.

samueli wrote in post #18648350
This is a great topic. I do 5% of the nature photography I'd like to do mainly because I have no one to go out with. Part of my security is the buddy system. If I forced myself to venture solo, I'd carry a firearm - specifically for the two-legged threats. I can't see any other means of self defense to be effective when loaded up with gear. So instead of trying to know and deal with each states firearm policy, I just wait until I can find a travel partner. It's a shame to have the means, but not have any like minded friends.

@Naturalist: I looked at your portfolio, and I see you have the Tregurtha. I snapped the Tregurtha a few years back in Port Huron. I like yours much better than mine.

Thank you Samueli. Yes, those lakers get around a lot!

samueli wrote in post #18648350
This is a great topic. I do 5% of the nature photography I'd like to do mainly because I have no one to go out with. Part of my security is the buddy system. If I forced myself to venture solo, I'd carry a firearm - specifically for the two-legged threats. I can't see any other means of self defense to be effective when loaded up with gear. So instead of trying to know and deal with each states firearm policy, I just wait until I can find a travel partner. It's a shame to have the means, but not have any like minded friends.

@Naturalist: I looked at your portfolio, and I see you have the Tregurtha. I snapped the Tregurtha a few years back in Port Huron. I like yours much better than mine.

Actually I'm very happy to meet up with other Trekkers, allows exchange of bear conditions up ahead. Never once did I feel threatened meeting up with people on the trails..and I've treked for a week at a time in remote locations by myself. I'd much rather meet a 2 legged friend than a 4 legged friend standing on its 2 hind legs.

I'm sorry.... I know this was posted quite some time ago, but I have to reply to your post. I've never laughed soooo hard. Although, I'm sorry for your experience the the "degenerate hillbilly youths", I totally know what you're talking about. I was born and raised in WV and believe it to be one of the most beautiful states. Most of the residents, at least in my neck of woods, will go out of their way to give you the shirt off their back but there are those that make you go "hmmmm". I hope the rest of your experience in my beautiful state was a pleasant one. I hope you were able to capture some wonderful images.

Thank you again for your description... it was a "gut buster".

I like photographing old buildings, houses, barns and such. Most of the time alone and after running in to a few undesirables I carry where ever I go.
David

UK Specific Reply

I earn my living as a Landscape and Architectural photographer and so here is my take on the situation in the UK.

Please Note: The following is advice and does not ensure your safety. Just because you are in an affluent low crime area does not mean you are automatically safe. Please stay aware of your surroundings and if you feel worried or unsure of your safety then leave. You can always come back with company or security another day. Your safety must come first.

Part of my job requires me to visit places that I have never been before. Some of these locations are low risk areas with very low crime rates. However when working in redevelopment areas the crime rates are usually higher than those found when photographing in fields in the middle of nowhere.

The problem is that you don't easily know how "bad" an area is before visiting it. Creating a metric for measuring how dangerous the area is has been difficult. What I now do is use the police website www.police.uk to get a feel for the crime rates and the relative danger of working in that area. In the past I have had a few close calls and know several people working in related disciplines who haven't been as lucky.

To use the Police Crime Map website click on the following link which will open in a new window Crimes around Guildford. Select "Find your neighbourhood" from the top of the page and type in the postcode for the site, when the map appears select the One Mile Radius option on the map. This then calculates the number of Reported Crimes (RC) within one mile of the site. This gives us a standard area and allows us to make comparisons between different locations, in most cases it will also cover the majority of photographic viewpoints required for a site.

It is up to you to decide at what point you feel that the crime rate is above a safe level for what you are doing. My personal level for the job I do is 650, if there were more than 650 reported crimes per month, recently (last 6 months), within a mile of the site then I include the price of a security guard in the quote. If I was just passing through and grabbing the occasional shot with a camera phone then I would blend into the background and may choose a higher number. For a Verified View image I need to set up a tripod, start taking equipment out of my high-vis rucksack and then have to wait for the shot and the light to be right, all of which makes me stand out from the crowd. The longer you are on site and the more visible you are the higher the chance of trouble finding you which is why I picked that number. However this isn't the entire story. Reported crime isn't the only thing that may make you want to have security or company with you when you visit a site.

One of the lower scoring locations was Scunthorpe or more accurately the post code DN17 1PS. However it is also the place that I had one of my closest calls. When you are out and about carrying a rucksack and a tripod you expect to draw some attention from curious locals, for want of a better description, the curtain twitchers. This is an expected part of the job and the worst that they usually do is call the police because "there's a strange guy taking photos of the mosque, motorway bridge or outside the school", all of which have happened. Then there are those who are actively watching, that make the hairs rise on the back of your neck, that just stand out because they aren't acting "normally". Scunthorpe was one of those.

I wasn't sure why things went the way they did as it seemed to be a fairly "safe" area with a low reported crime rate until I looked a little deeper. If you plug the postcode into the following website 2015 English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Map, it supplies various information in map format. The data is generated from information gathered in 2015 from the 32,844 neighbourhoods in England. Most of the area around DN17 1PS have a fairly average Deprivation Ranking (DR) but there is a band that falls into the bottom 10%. DN17 1PS in fact ranked 400/32,844 which means only 1.2% of other English neighbourhoods are more deprived. Once again you need to work out at what point you feel that the area may not be safe, personally if the area falls within the bottom 10% then my quote will include a charge for security. Using the colour coded map allows you to easily check areas you may be passing through as you move between viewpoints.

So that's how I try and stay safe when out and about.

All the best,

BearSummer

It's funny seeing this thread pop up on my feed this morning, because this weekend I was wandering around DTLA shooting with my new camera. I was definitely concerned about drawing attention to myself with my setup, so I brought an old sling bag that looks like would be used for a thermos lol. The strap is strong enough that I wouldn't fear a snatch and grab. Soon into my adventure I noticed multiple people walking all around the city with big lens setups walking around freely, not even a strap around their neck!

Anyways, hyper-vigilance is a must (which I am, almost to a fault). I am constantly scanning my surroundings, even in between shots. Also research your area so you know where to draw the line (I knew exactly where areas transitioned into skid row and wouldn't even get near those blocks).

Aside from the obvious "being aware of my surroundings", it all comes down to being prepared and having the right gear with me.

1. Let someone know where you're going and when you plan to be back.
2. Do your research - if you're headed somewhere new, familiarize yourself with maps/gps before heading out.
3. Pay attention to the weather report.
3. Dress for the weather in layers - I like to be slightly cold when I get out of the truck so that when I get hiking and warm up, I won't overheat or sweat. Wind/water proof layers as needed.
4. A NICE pair of boots - dry feet and ankle support can't be understated.

In your truck:
1. Full first aid kit.
2. Tow strap, jumper cables, shovel, large tarp, and a chainsaw. I had a huge dead fall come down behind me on the only road out. Really wished I had the chainsaw then - took me forever to drag it out of the way with the tow strap, now I always bring the saw.
3. Extra water and snacks.
4. Duct tape.
5. 5 gallons of fuel.

In your pack:
1. Water and snacks.
2. A good, sharp knife.
3. Headlamp, batteries, gps, two lighters, battery charger.
4. Small first aid kit.
5. Extra clothing layers - wind/water/insulating as needed.
6. If you're really getting out there, a folding saw (I like the Sven saw), smaller tarp, rope, sleeping bag and water purifier. See ultralight backpacking gear for these.

Most of this can just be in a plastic container stored in your garage that you can just toss in the truck on your way out.

MNUplander wrote in post #18807113
It all comes down to being prepared and having the right gear with me.

In your truck:
1. Full first aid kit.
2. Tow strap, jumper cables, shovel, large tarp, and a chainsaw. I had a huge dead fall come down behind me on the only road out. Really wished I had the chainsaw then - took me forever to drag it out of the way with the tow strap, now I always bring the saw.
3. Extra water and snacks.
4. Duct tape.
5. 5 gallons of fuel.

In your pack:
1. Water and snacks.
2. A good, sharp knife.
3. Headlamp, batteries, gps, two lighters, battery charger.
4. Small first aid kit.
5. Extra clothing layers - wind/water/insulating as needed.
6. If you're really getting out there, a folding saw (I like the Sven saw), smaller tarp, rope, sleeping bag and water purifier. See ultralight backpacking gear for these.

Most of this can just be in a plastic container stored in your garage that you can just toss in the truck on your way out.
.

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I completely agree about having a bunch of gear with you.

I keep a bunch of that kind of stuff in my car (a little Toyota Corolla) at all times. . I go out into nature over 100 times a year. . I find it much easier to just have all of that stuff in the car at all times - then I don't have to remember to take it along, because it is already there. . I can't imagine the inconvenience of having to pack every time I go out into nature for a day or three.


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Going out by myself to hike, hunt, or photograph is something I’ve done my whole long life. I never give it a second thought. The last few years though, my wife has. Her last words, as I walk out of the house, usually are, you better turn on that cell phone. At the least it would be nice to find your body. Sometimes I do turn it on to see what time it is.ߘ

KT29 wrote in post #18807234
Going out by myself to hike, hunt, or photograph is something I’ve done my whole long life. I never give it a second thought.

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Yeah, me too. . I was really surprised when I first saw this thread several months ago. . Never realized that anyone would actually fear for their safety when they're just doing the things we've done our whole lives; hiking and exploring and whatnot.


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This is an interesting topic.

There are at least two aspects to safety when you are out in the wild.

The first is to properly prepare from a food/water/clothing/et​c perspective. I am not much worried about that because this is mostly a matter of thorough planning and corresponding execution.

The second is the consideration of carrying and using equipment of considerable value which could raise the attention of people who think that they are more entitled to usage of such equipment, and even if that usage is just to sell if off quickly. It is difficult to use camera equipment discreetly if you are into landscapes - even if somebody is not into photography, he usually associates a camera with lens on a tripod with monetary value. Since I am usually out alone when shooting, I sometimes wonder how to handle undesired encounters convincingly requesting a drastic change in equipment ownership. So far, encounters haven't been worse than distracting from good light (*knock* *knock* *knock*) and I refuse to let this impact the fun of being out but still.

I always go out by myself. Shooting wildlife is not a team sport for me. I don't want to talk or any of that stuff when out hunting for wildlife. I'll run into other photographers at some of the local spots though and some short conversations, but not when out in the woods, woods. I let the Wifey know where I'm going and text her the location, even the sign if there's one. You can setup an emergency alert thingy on Samsung cell phones with someone and it will show your location if you were to press the alert. Basically, I do what I do and don't worry too much. I know there's a lot of people who do not want to be in the woods - the city slickers. Hell, they fear the woods. I keep a knife in the truck and may carry it if I don't forget.