Hiking and personal safety… part 1

Summer and autumn hiking is most likely the best there is! However, with the overall economy, the actual way it is, far more people will probably be hiking as it is affordable to perform. With this produces much more of an element of opportunists (the bad guys), whom share the paths along with you. And there are more factors to hiking that may be really dangerous. Having said that, we still all desire to benefit from the out-of-doors so here are a few thoughts for making your hiking more safe.

First recognize you're out side the aid of law enforcement, sheriffs or park rangers. Indeed, they are able to reach you but realize it might not be for hours and hours. Hours, you say? Indeed, several hours and in that time awful things may happen to an individual or their loved ones.

Second, often times your mobile phones do not have coverage within the rural area’s exactly where trails are prevalent. So, you will possibly not even be able to call for help.

Third, recognize you need to depend on you and only you, as your 1st line of defense and your survival. This is dependent on considering some kind of self-defense weapon but what one?

Now where to start?

Understand that assaults come in stages or distances. Someone or some thing will have to close in on you to harm you. So, best to intercept assaults from a longer distance if at all possible. Handguns are ideal for this however, not all park systems permit this sort of item so you are left with several options. Bear pepper spray is one, however in rain or wind, limited if any help you'll have. Strangely enough “wasp” spray is very effective in both conditions where pepper spray doesn’t. However, it has a chance to really damage what ever is attacking you and some say hey, that’s fine with me… it’s an individual decision.

You might like to have a walking stick and learn to utilize it as part of your defense. Walking sticks, or staffs, have already been utilized successfully for years and years both in Asia and europe. Why don't you dust off that ole favorite and learn how to protect your self by using it. At the end of this article will be a link to where one can read more instruction. Now, if a staff is simply too large for you personally consider using a 36” walking stick…. Also it can provide you with superb stand off capability for most of the factors, that might come to harm you. From people to creatures, a 36” stick can be quite handy to have about.

I'll produce other articles or blog posts, which still include options for hiking. But this really is great brain food that you should think about and do some investigation on the 36” walking stick (Hanbo) or perhaps a 5-6 foot staff. Later I will also bring in the self defense weapon "the defenders" for you hiking needs.

Master Peter Brusso