Touring - Women touring and camping alone.

I am going on a short tour for my vacation. I was going to do a credit card tour and stay in motels but I really want to camp. There are a number of state parks along my intended tour route that I can camp at.

My only concern is convincing my husband that I will be safe camping alone. I think if I stay at designated camping areas at state parks I will be perfectly safe. I would let them know when I check in that I am alone and try to get a site near the camp office. My ride will be much more enjoyable as I won't have the need to hurry to the next motel. I can stay a day or so in one area if I want.

I suppose my question is: Is it safe for a woman to camp/tour alone? I need some solid arguments for and against.
Thanks!

Hey Crank!

I've travelled and camped alone. What I did was make sure that I got into camp later in the day and parked myself among a group of campers. I tended to gravitate towards older camping folks, and that seemed to work for me.

I also slept with a knife near my head and carried mace with me anyway, so if something goes bad, I'm somewhat protected. How's that for paranoid? I never once had a problem, not even with theft!

I think it's safe for women to camp, just practice caution and stay alert!

Koffee

Crankaddict.
Honestly, I think it can be pretty stressful and risky, but then again, excercize comon sense. Are you the kind of person that gets ALOT of attention in everyday life? If so, some of those men can not resist the remotenes and relaxed atmosphere of the vacation and campground and maybe very annoying towards you.
Course again, you don't have to announce loadly " I am a lady touring alone" when coming in each campground, if a tent is already up, they could think a big husband is resting in it... :) If anyone will ever ask at all...
So, it just depends on circumstances, but it CAN be dangerous if some psycho will decide to follow you when you are really alone...

If you are a reasonably confident person who doesn't get flustered by new experiences or strangers then you shouldn't have any problems at all.

If you normally ride in city traffic and can tolerate the cat calls and leud sayings without losing your cool then you should have no trouble traveling alone.

If you really want to do it then go ahead.

Camping and sleeping out are more than half the fun. Save the motel visits for those times you just want to wash your hair and relax in a tub of warm water.

The truth is that camp grounds are safe and the roads are no less safe than where you usually ride.

Smith and Wessons new .50 Magnum would make a great camping pal for security ;). If you can fire it without it dislocating your arm that is.

Koffee's advice sounds solid to me. Camp next to some older folks and speak with them to let them know if they hear a scuffle to come out with the baseball bat or that frying pan.

It's sad the question even needs to be asked isn't it?

Koffee's advice seems sound.

You should have no problem. Camping areas in state & national parks are generally well patrolled. But given the summer season, there will be plenty of other campers around.

If you camp in non campground; i.e., commando camping, free camping or whatever you call it, always respect no tresspassing signs and fences. Always camp completely out of sight of the road and any houses. Also avoid dirt side roads and field access trails as they are popular with teenagers for nightime drinking and such.

Dave

Originally posted by chewa
It's sad the question even needs to be asked isn't it?

Koffee's advice seems sound.

It really is. If we bring back public hangings perhaps the crime rate would get curbed a bit and people could relax.

The biggest problem will be getting a camp site, many state parks fill very quickly, especially on Friday & Saturday. Here in New England many campgrounds are full for the week-end by 1:00pm on Friday. You may not have much choice about sites, but some parks do separate tent campers from RV campers. Don't forget the cell phone. Nothing is reassuring to family like a phone call.

But the lone cyclist, with only a bike and tent can usually be accomodated even if the campgroud is "full." Sexist though it is, I imagine a lone female cyclist will "be found" a spot in a full campground even more readily. (Most rangers are men after all).

Do worry too much about it, things seem to have a way of working out on a tour.

Dave

If you are camping at non designated camp sites, spend some time addressing non-living hazards. Don't camp in riverbeds, even if they are dry, and don't camp in falling rock/mudslide/avalanche prone areas. Stay out of roads which might be used by off road vehicles. make sure you have good drainage. If thunderstorms are possible, pay attention to lightning risk. Finally, act like a responsible hunter and leave the area in better shape than you found it. This is not only good for the environment, but will make it less likely someone will be trying to disturb your camping, or that of the next camper.

Thank you all for your replys and suggestions. Unfortunatly, my camping or doing any type of real distance is out of the question due to Doctors orders. I feel fine but due to uncontrolled symptoms and sudden onset of the more severe symptoms of asthma it has been determined that I only ride about 200 miles from home at any time. My husband and Dr. feel that is far enough. They will agree to my staying in motels and riding alone so I'd best not push my luck. Sorry it took me so long to answer all of you and again thanks for your suggestions.

Hey there.

I am on a long solo tour, and personally prefer to camp alone, away from campgrounds and national parks. My premise for this is that if you are in some random place, people aren't going to be there, and therefore won't bug ya.

The other bit is that at the end of a long day of riding, I generally don't want to do the entertaining required if you are in a place with lots of people.

The other other bit is that I want to save money, and therefore don't want to pay for the right to entertain while being in a place that theives and other unsavory types might want to prowl.

That being said, I am about to go into the midwest, away from public land and will be faced with either going to campgrounds or camping illegally.

Since I have mostly camped illegally anyway, I have chosen to get a smaller tent (Sierra Designs Light Year CD) so that I can continue doing, and hide better. I think I will camp next to churches, in cemeteries and the like. I keep my pepper spray, lungs and cell phone handy.

I hope this gives you one more perspective.

-Erica

Originally posted by hayneda
But the lone cyclist, with only a bike and tent can usually be accomodated even if the campgroud is "full." Sexist though it is, I imagine a lone female cyclist will "be found" a spot in a full campground even more readily. (Most rangers are men after all).

Do worry too much about it, things seem to have a way of working out on a tour.

Dave

I think in Michigan, the state parks have a policy of always finding somewhere for a cyclist to camp even if the campground is full. I think most rangers would take pity on a cyclist especially if you looked appropriately exhausted and pathetic and this should be a gender neutral strategy.

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
I also slept with a knife near my head

I agree - the knife near the head is the must. With it one can exit the tent in case of emergency by cutting the fabric.

The knife should be sharp for this. It is better use the foldable knife to avoid cutting himself while sleeping.

If one wishes to use the knife as the defence weapon, then some training is necessary. Otherwise it can make things only worse. CS spray is definitely better in this respect. But the CS spray can not be taken in the aircraft.

This is really good to read. I've only recently been able to drag myself out to ride on the streets in town by myself, but would love to take a short camping/touring trip alone. I guess the main thing I'd worry about is some creep following me somewhere on a lonely road. I know I could kick the crap out of someone enough to defend myself until someone else could come help in a campground or something, but maybe not if there was no one within hearing distance. :(