Solo Bushwalking

[north-north-west]

Come on, Steve. Don't you know that statistical rigour is an oxymoron!

Statistically the greatest danger to human beings is human beings. More humans are killed by humans than by any other animal. If you want to be safe, just avoid humans.

I knew there was a sound, logical reason for being antisocial.

[Happy Pirate]

Come on, Steve. Don't you know that statistical rigour is an oxymoron!

Statistically the greatest danger to human beings is human beings. More humans are killed by humans than by any other animal. If you want to be safe, just avoid humans.

I knew there was a sound, logical reason for being antisocial.

I reckon you're both right!
I seem to find 100 good reasons to be anti-social. They are all walking tracks or paddling routes.
Other humans are definitely our greatest danger (after ourselves ). The snakes, crocs, cliffs, strange fungi, wet leaves on a path all get too bad a rap. (Doesn't stop NPWS in Nth NSW from constantly leaf-blowing their short-walk tracks when I'm trying to listen to Lyrebirds though...GRRR!!)

My previous point was that people say silly things like "statistically speaking driving a car is more dangerous than flying, skydiving, feeding sharks, nude hiking in the Western Arthurs, drinking reindeer pee" etc. because they only compare actual fatality numbers not as a percentage of participants.

I hope I don't sound silly, but it's not so much snakes and spiders that worry me but a run in with one of those all boys weekends in the bush. And just to clarify, I do like company, but sometimes, yes it's easier and nice to go solo.

I suspect that there is also an inverse-square law that relates distance from 4WD track to the chance of encountering the sort of men you'd rather not. Generally I think once you get a decent distance away from car parks and roads, as jomad suggested, most people will be more likely to try to take you under their wing than into their tent and the overland is definitely a good example of this.
Just make sure you're prepared for the conditions. Solo hiking must be synonymous with self reliance.

cheers
Steve

[nq111]

My previous point was that people say silly things like "statistically speaking driving a car is more dangerous than flying, skydiving, feeding sharks, nude hiking in the Western Arthurs, drinking reindeer pee" etc. because they only compare actual fatality numbers not as a percentage of participants.

Under pressure from the other half I once found a study (californian I think) that corrected for all the factors pretty well.

They found mountain climbing, if excluding the 20,000ft type stuff with significant objective dangers was safer per person hour than driving. From memory the incident rate was considerably higher in the mountains, but serious injury and death significantly lower than driving (injuries from a driving accident are often particularly nasty or fatal).

The big mountain stuff was significantly more dangerous however so I am banned from Mt Cook

Your original point is spot-on though - we are crap at guestimating risks to ourselves from big data sets - we just can't intuitively handle the numbers. So we systematically overestimate minor risks that are prominent in our experience (e.g. the press). Risk of shark attack being a classic example (ok - i am not correcting for swim-person-hours here ).

[madmacca]

(Doesn't stop NPWS in Nth NSW from constantly leaf-blowing their short-walk tracks when I'm trying to listen to Lyrebirds though...GRRR!!)

Oh wow - training lyrebirds to mimic the sound of a leafblower??? There goes peace and quiet in the bush forever.

[Hallu]

Well they already mimic chainsaws and car alarms after all http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y .

[Happy Pirate]

(Doesn't stop NPWS in Nth NSW from constantly leaf-blowing their short-walk tracks when I'm trying to listen to Lyrebirds though...GRRR!!)

Oh wow - training lyrebirds to mimic the sound of a leafblower??? There goes peace and quiet in the bush forever.

So then there would be less tourists and so less maintenance. Damn!!! I didn't realise there was method in their idiocy!
GRRR!!!
Double GRRR!!!

[walkinTas]

I seem to find 100 good reasons to be anti-social. They are all walking tracks or paddling routes. ...My previous point was that people say silly things like "statistically speaking driving a car is more dangerous than flying, skydiving, feeding sharks, nude hiking in the Western Arthurs, drinking reindeer pee" etc....

Not being gregarious, and being anti-social are completely separate to my mind. I am just not gregarious - any more than is essential! I can socialise (if I choose too), so I am not anti-social. I just don't feel the urge to "flock". Solo walking avoids the need to flock.

On a different note I agree that statistics are widely misunderstood and usually misquoted. Often those who use statistics could not explain standard-deviation for love or money, nor understand the meaning of "statistically significant" or how to calculate it. I remember having a conversation with my son's teacher, who claimed he was under the average weight for his age. She seemed genuinely shocked when I told her that by definition close to half the population was (probably) under the average weight for their age and without knowing the deviation around the mean her statistic was worthless.

[Happy Pirate]

I seem to find 100 good reasons to be anti-social. They are all walking tracks or paddling routes. ...My previous point was that people say silly things like "statistically speaking driving a car is more dangerous than flying, skydiving, feeding sharks, nude hiking in the Western Arthurs, drinking reindeer pee" etc....

Not being gregarious, and being anti-social are completely separate to my mind. I am just not gregarious - any more than is essential! I can socialise (if I choose too), so I am not anti-social. I just don't feel the urge to "flock". Solo walking avoids the need to flock.

On a different note I agree that statistics are widely misunderstood and usually misquoted. Often those who use statistics could not explain standard-deviation for love or money, nor understand the meaning of "statistically significant" or how to calculate it. I remember having a conversation with my son's teacher, who claimed he was under the average weight for his age. She seemed genuinely shocked when I told her that by definition close to half the population was (probably) under the average weight for their age and without knowing the deviation around the mean her statistic was worthless.

You're right. Anti-social in it's true sense implies something darker than just not needing human company when some other interest is tantamount (nature).
And I can happily natter away to like minded company for hours but will rarely bother to try and 'break in' to a busy and boisterous crowd.
I love your idea of 'flocking' in people. I've been POed for ages by people who, in an almost empty campground, have to pitch a tent almost on top of mine.
Flocking instinct.
I've blamed it on city/suburban living.

Steve

[wayno]

"I love your idea of 'flocking' in people. I've been POed for ages by people who, in an almost empty campground, have to pitch a tent almost on top of mine."

maybe they are just looking for company . someone to talk to

[walkinTas]

maybe they are just looking for company ...

Yep! Like sheep, flocking together for the night. Afraid to be alone. Feel more secure as one of the flock.

[Jason68]

A friend sent me this quote once...

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

Helen Keller

[north-north-west]

I seem to find 100 good reasons to be anti-social. They are all walking tracks or paddling routes. ...My previous point was that people say silly things like "statistically speaking driving a car is more dangerous than flying, skydiving, feeding sharks, nude hiking in the Western Arthurs, drinking reindeer pee" etc....

Not being gregarious, and being anti-social are completely separate to my mind. I am just not gregarious - any more than is essential! I can socialise (if I choose too), so I am not anti-social. I just don't feel the urge to "flock". Solo walking avoids the need to flock.

On a different note I agree that statistics are widely misunderstood and usually misquoted. Often those who use statistics could not explain standard-deviation for love or money, nor understand the meaning of "statistically significant" or how to calculate it. I remember having a conversation with my son's teacher, who claimed he was under the average weight for his age. She seemed genuinely shocked when I told her that by definition close to half the population was (probably) under the average weight for their age and without knowing the deviation around the mean her statistic was worthless.

You're right. Anti-social in it's true sense implies something darker than just not needing human company when some other interest is tantamount (nature).
And I can happily natter away to like minded company for hours but will rarely bother to try and 'break in' to a busy and boisterous crowd.

Hmmmmmm. Maybe. But it's easy to say 'anti-social *&%$#!' than 'non-gregarious, *&%$#!, half-crazy, borderline dissociative personality, too-intelligent-for-her-own-good, sarcastic, smart-arsed, borderline Asperger's etc *&%$#!'. (and typing all that has given me carpal tunnel syndrome . . . )

[neilmny]

..........Hmmmmmm. Maybe. But it's easy to say 'anti-social *&%$#!' than 'non-gregarious, *&%$#!, half-crazy, borderline dissociative personality, too-intelligent-for-her-own-good, sarcastic, smart-arsed, borderline Asperger's etc *&%$#!'. (and typing all that has given me carpal tunnel syndrome . . . )

That description in itself would save you from any unwanted company NNW, by the time you got it out they'd be gone or lost interest
Having said that ......... some of (come to think of it all of) your trip reports and photos are *&%$#! fantastic. You can't be all that farkedarp!

[north-north-west]

It's not only the quantity but the quality of the *&%$#!. I just can't handle people. I could alienate the Dalai Lama in a half hour. Without trying.

[inmused]

I almost always walk alone, but in doing so I follow the same rules every time:

I leave a copy of my plan at home with full detail fo route and time.
I leave a copy of my plan and my emergency contact persons details on the dash of my car
I don't deviate from my planned route
If possible I sms my location and status at pre determined locations

But I love walking alone, I usually set a cracking pace stop when ever I want to take photos.

[kanangra]

Now there is a kindred spirit.

K.

[walkinTas]

Hmmmmmm. Maybe. But it's easy to say 'anti-social *&%$#!' than 'non-gregarious, *&%$#!, half-crazy, borderline dissociative personality, too-intelligent-for-her-own-good, sarcastic, smart-arsed, borderline Asperger's etc *&%$#!'. (and typing all that has given me carpal tunnel syndrome . . . )

There is no need to worry with descriptions like 'anti-social *&%$#!' or 'non-gregarious *&%$#!', - it's much simpler, everyone else is a 'Flocking *&%$#!'.

[Taurë-rana]

It's not only the quantity but the quality of the *&%$#!. I just can't handle people. I could alienate the Dalai Lama in a half hour. Without trying.

There are lots of people either, but when I find the right people, which I have blessed to do more and more lately, their company is better than no company. And the right people give me the right amount of breathing space and prevent the occasional anxiety I feel when in the middle of nowhere all by myself knowing that the nearest person is miles and miles away. (Except when I'm trapped in sky high bauera, and then the company just stops me from becoming a blithering idiot).

I walked the OT in March and was expecting to walk it by myself but ended up with two others coming with me. They were perfect company - we were all independent but also there for each other, walked at our own pace, sometimes together and chatting, lots of the time by ourselves. I think walking the 8 days by myself would have not been good for me, and I certainly wouldn't have gone up The Acropolis on a dodgy day by myself but with company was ok. And would possibly not have gone looking for Cathedral Falls by myself, but because I knew if there was a problem I would have someone come and look for me, it was ok. What were people saying about security ?

And I enjoyed their company

[walkinTas]

And would possibly not have gone looking for Cathedral Falls by myself, but because I knew if there was a problem I would have someone come and look for me, it was ok.

And did you sit on the bank opposite Cathedral Falls? One day I hope to climb down to Boulder Falls? - but I better take company for that.

[Taurë-rana]

[walkinTas]

OMG! Well done! Just as beautiful as I imagined. Now I must go. I am really jealous.

[flatfoot]

I walk solo and a base jumper crashed (literally) my party one day.

So that you are not anti-social, make sure you carry a first-aid kit, space blanket and at least have some first-aid training. A PLB or Spot also is handy in these situations.

[Onestepmore]

I almost always walk alone, but in doing so I follow the same rules every time:

I leave a copy of my plan at home with full detail fo route and time.
I leave a copy of my plan and my emergency contact persons details on the dash of my car
I don't deviate from my planned route
If possible I sms my location and status at pre determined locations

All good tips
Plus tell somone else reliable of your plans and ETA, and remember to ring them when you bget back to let them know all is well
Plus trip intention notes in a log book and/or police station if appropriate - remember to sign out when you return
Remember log books aren't checked unless someone reports a person is late getting back
I bought a SPOT for hubby for the specific purpose of getting the 'I'm OK' message, after a worrying weekend with bad weather and no word from him. Definitely peace of mind for a longer walk. I also recetly bought a dedicated ResQLink bouyant PLB. He now has a proper GPS (Magelllan 710 - we're still learning how to drive it though!), as well as his phone.
Decent first aid kit
Pen/pencil and paper
Whistle (a lot of US packs have this incorprated on to the sternum strap)
Map, compass
Enough food for an additional day longer than expected (OSM packs - 'one square meal' - easy emergency food) PS I aapprove of their name
Appropriate warm weather and rain gear and some sort of a shelter even for a shortish walk, like a lightweight tarp, in case of sudden bad weather
Leaving the route details on the dash of your car sounds like a good idea, as it seems that often other people aren't aware someone hasn't returned until a car has been sitting somewhere for several days
I'd just worry a bit that it means anyone checking out your car as a potential break in target would know you're not suddenly going to return back in the next 5 minutes, but that's a risk you'd just have to take. I'd make sure there were no home address details, old addressed envelopes etc left in there so someone couldn't target your empty house in the time specified that you'd be away.
Am I a worry wart?

Last edited by Onestepmore on Thu 30 May, 2013 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[wayno]

there are online intentions websites for lodging trip plans

http://adventuresmart.org.nz/Outdoors-I ... efault.asp

[Haematocrit]

Am I a worry wart?

Yes

[Happy Pirate]

"I love your idea of 'flocking' in people. I've been POed for ages by people who, in an almost empty campground, have to pitch a tent almost on top of mine."
maybe they are just looking for company . someone to talk to

This seems to be more along what I see as the impersonal, crowded, big city mentality: You get so used to rubbing elbows with everyone but remaining aloof so you pitch camp virtually on top of them but then ignore them.
I'm happy to socialise but that is done politely before or over dinner not by camping so close you can hear each other fart. And in particular not when big groups come and crowd out solo or duo walkers.
I seem to notice this more with inexperienced walking parties, caravaners and (sometimes) even big inexperienced family groups.

Last year on the GOW I even asked a party to move since we were in an enormous, empty, quiet campsite and they decided to pitch within spitting distance (they didn't have an allocated site) and carry on like they were competing at a comedy fest. I was polite and explained that I came here for the solitude and communion with nature and that I had chosen the most secluded site for a reason and that the place to socialise was over dinner in the shelter but that it was walking etiquette to give people as much space as possible unless invited to do otherwise.

A friend sent me this quote once...
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
Helen Keller

I like that! As a motif or something. I don't agree with it entirely in practice but I think the wisdom of a blind women who daily plunges headlong into danger just to get by is a great reminder of the reality of life.

How about this: Security is an illusion you can spend your life chasing by avoiding all experience that makes life worth living.

Might use that as my sig.

cheers
Steve

[wayno]

if its good weather spread all your gear around, like you're drying it out to reduce the likelihood of someone pitching too close. also helps if you like to cook foul smelling food....

[north-north-west]

Too much like hard work. Just learn to snarl convincingly. It works wonders. Especially if you talk to yourself all the time.

[Happy Pirate]

Unfortunately I was out wandering when they arrived. When I got back I started peeing outside my tent and then, when I couldn't raise a good fart, managed to emulate a couple successfully.
All I got was sniggers and raised voices.
That's when I decided hints weren't going to work and asked them to move.

[Rob A]

there are online intentions websites for lodging trip plans

http://adventuresmart.org.nz/Outdoors-I ... efault.asp

Woahhh hang on. Last time I checked these "online registration" forms were nothing of the sort, they simply emailed to your trusted contact.
Two seasons ago they were nothing more than drivel dressed up at mutton. Even the "form" was squalid. Has anything changed?
As I recall DOCS were almost begging people to protest them.