Re: [Paddlewise] "Commado" Camping

> From: "Kasia Pierzga" <kasia_pierzga_at_hotmail.com>
 
> >And what do you plan to do when whomever it is you are hiding from finds 
> >you while you are out there all alone?<
> 
> <snipsnip>
> 
> Are you suggesting that because I'm a woman, I shouldn't be out alone? I'm 

Not only did I not suggest that, I stated I have traveled and camped as a
lone female myself on numerous occasions... in the US and overseas.

> not going to let worries about "what might happen" keep me from living my 
> life.   But just like everyone else -- men included -- I need to be 
> conscious of safety.

Those that know me personally know that I live my life that way (not
allowing worries about what might happen preventing me from experiencing
life).  But I also think it is not wise to camp on private property 
without asking permission or deliberately avoiding asking permission 
because you fear the owner will say no.  If you do so, be prepared for 
the consequences.  Unfortunately, it may have impact on the rest of us.

You continue to refer to your gender as an issue of safety and why you 
won't tell the property owner you are camping on their property for your 
own safety.  *Your* safety is not all that is at issue here.  These
days, there are many single female property owners that live out in
the "boonies" (I was one for many years).  A lone individual unannounced
and uninvited spending time on my property (I'm talking 20 acres in an
area with similar acreage and more for property owners... not a small 
front lawn in a subdivision) was a cause of concern for me because past
experience meant 50% were there for the view... my place was elevated
with a spectacular view of the hill country...  and 50% were up
to no good.  Hard for me (and other property owners) to know who was
which until it was too late.  And it isn't only the single female
property owners that become concerned about their safety.  Several
hundred acres were burned near me along with a home and two outbuildings 
when a camper decided to fire up a camp stove during high-risk fire season.
*We* don't know what *you* are up to.  We can't know unless you ask and
give us a chance to say "please be our guest, no camp stoves, ok? and
you'll find the water spicket by the back door, so help yourself."  

> Anyway, if a campground is busy and full, then sure, it's likely safe 
> to camp there as a woman alone. But if the only other occupants are 
> a bunch of guys with a cooler full of beer, I'll pass, thanks. 

What campgrounds are you referring to?  The national parks and state parks
that I'm familiar with have a no-alcohol policy with park rangers on
duty.   I repeat, I have never felt threatened when camped in public
campgrounds and I have found plenty of campgrounds, even in California
at the right time of year, that are virtually empty except for the
ranger on patrol.  

> If one is truly practicing "low-impact guerrilla camping" -- no fires, no 
> noise, no brush-clearing or wood-chopping, etc. -- I don't know what the 
> difference is between sleeping for eight hours and stopping unseen on 
> someone's property to take a pee, to have lunch or to take a mid-day snooze 
> break.

You will get no argument from me about low-impact camping.  I'm a strong
proponent of low-impact camping.  The issue is tresspassing and respect
for property owners and the fall-out that disregarding that respect might
have on the paddling community at large.  To some property owners, 20
at one time or one-at-a-time over 20 visits still means the same thing...
you are there without permission and invading *their* privacy.  If you
show common courtesy and ask permission, then they are aware of your
intentions and most likely will be happy to allow you to camp (I agree
with Mark and I think most owners would be quite hospitable when shown
due respect and asked which leaves a much better impression about our
sport).

> Jackie suggested that even travelling with one other woman is safer than a 
> woman travelling alone, but I doubt that's true. 

No, I did not say that.  I said if I had concerns about being a lone 
female traveler to primitive camping grounds, I would reserve those 
trips to go with another paddler or paddlers.  It just happens that
they have been with males or a combination males and females.  

> And don't get me wrong... 
> having a man around can be handy -- they can lift heavy stuff, open tight 
> jars, and some can even cook! ;-) -- and there are definitely places where 
> it's safer to travel with a man in tow (I'm thinking particularly of some 
> international destinations). 

Which basically punctuates the point I made previously.... what do you plan
to do when whomever it is you are hiding from finds you as you are camped
out alone?  It has happened.  I'm afraid you are lulling yourself into a 
sense of false security by thinking you are always stealth.  There have 
been examples here where other paddlers were sure they were stealth camping 
only to find out the next day they were not.  I will repeat what I said 
earlier, many who think they are unobserved are mistaken.

Regards,

Jackie


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