Rinconada PSK - CENTRAL COAST BUSHCRAFT Outing

In early April 2014, my Bushcraft group [CENTRAL COAST BUSHCRAFT/FACEBOOK] started planning for a PSK [Personal Survival Kit] outing to be held in May on the Rinconada Trail [Trailhead GPS Coordinates: N35-17.396, W120-28.490] in the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Margarita, CA. 

 

 

The main objective of the outing was as a "drill" to experience a night outdoors using only those items one should carry in their daypack in order to survive a lost/injured dayhiker situation [e.g., a Space... Blanket and Disposable Poncho shelter, 1 bottle water, 1-2 snack items, folding knife, fire tool(s)]. A secondary objective, if time allowed, was to practice priorities of survival [Protection, Signaling, Water Procurement, Food Gathering, and if safe to do so, Firemaking]. 

 

Participants were advised they should bring a backup pack with expanded survival capability [Trauma/First Aid, commo, extra water, food, etc]. Once at camp they would identify and break out the items they planned to use for the evening.
 

We started the hike on a Saturday afternoon in mid-80's temperatures. The hike in was rated MODERATE with 1200' elev. gain and about 1.5 miles in length. I was accompanied by JC and CV:

J.C. & C.V., Santa Lucia Range behind them

 

We had decided to use a primitive campsite that is located along the trail. The campsite has a stone fire ring and we had a U.S.F.S. fire permit in hand, just in case conditions allowed a fire [no FIRE DANGER warnings had been issued]. We got to the campsite and established out shelters for the evening:

 

The camp

 

Everyone had the freedom to choose equipment as they saw fit. J.C went with a tarp shelter and U.S.G.I. casualty blanket, along with some other bits of kit:

 

J.C.'s shelter 

 

Interior view

 

C.V. decided on a more traditional approach, opting for a canvas tarp shelter and a space blanket [he also brought a heavy wool cable knit sweater for additional warmth]:

 

V.C.'s canvas shelter

I used my sheath knife to dig a rump hole before putting my blanket down:

My well-used survival knife

 

For this exercise, I myself decided to use a rain poncho for a shelter, and my clothing and a GRABBER "SPORTSMAN" model space blanket for warmth during the night. The "SPORTSMAN" blanket is equipped with a hood and mittens sewn into 2 corners, to facilitate holding it close around you:

My poncho shelter set-up

 

GRABBER "SPORTSMAN" blanket

 

I have to say, it is a sinking feeling to look at a poncho and a single space blanket and realize this is your sole source of warmth and protection from the elements for an evening. On the bright side, overnight temps were forecast to be mild, in the upper 50's. "Were"...

 

[Normally in this situation, you'd pull up grasses or pull down foliage for bedding. We didn't want to destroy Los Padres vegetation for the sake of a drill, so we allowed the option of a ground pad in lieu of, if a member so chose]

 

Packs were suspended from a tree branch to keep them accessible, dry & clean, and reasonably bug- free:

 

Packs suspended via paracord

 

After making camp I set about making a meal. I went with Oriental flavor Ramen and added a foil packet of Tuna to give it additional taste and calories:

 

Swiss M71 cookstove fueled by ESBIT tablets

 

I had brought 2 quarts of water and used it sparingly, as I was not aware of any springs in the area. I was also suspicious of any water here because this area was heavily mined for Cinnabar [Mercury] and I worried the water would be tainted with toxic heavy metal. After dining we started exploring the area, looking over an old mining operation, and plinking at boulders with slingshots. It was a beautiful evening as the sun went down:

 

Santa Lucia sunset

 

As there was no wind, we deemed it safe to have a campfire. C.V. used some kind of granular firemaking powder to start the fire, after clearing all dry grass a safe distance from the fire ring. He boiled water in a steel bottle to cook his MOUNTAIN HOUSE meal in the bag:

 

MOUNTAIN HOUSE dinner

 

We all enjoyed the campfire that evening:

 

Evening campfire

 

About 9 or 10 p.m., everyone agreed they were bushed and wandered off to bed. The plan was to be up by 6 a.m. to hike out and enjoy the Memorial Day weekend with friends and family. The evening started out fine. I was quite warm and the ground wasn't too hard. I managed to catch some sleep.

 

Sometime during the night, a deer approached C.V.'s tarp and poked him with either a tine or foot. He woke up to see what hit him and heard it run off [he said he'd wished he had opened the tarp and got a picture].

 

The temperature dropped significantly early that morning, maybe 49 degrees by my estimate...10 degrees cooler than forecast. Wind gusts also picked up during the night. At about 4  a.m. I had to get up to use the privvy and being groggy, managed to trip over a rotten wood stake I'd driven into the ground and broke my shelter ridgeline...effectively wrecking my shelter and losing my only protection from the winds...fully 50% of my shelter/warmth retention system was gone.

 

Checking my watch I reckoned that I could ride out the last 2 hours until daylight with just the GRABBER blanket, and pulled it over my head. Being a small blanket, it had a gap on one side and it was impossible to sleep. All I could do was lie there awake and try to keep the gap closed.  About 5:30 a.m. I gave up and decided to watch the sunrise over the Santa Lucia range:

 

Sunrise!

C.V. was already awake and soon J.C. was up and we all set about breaking camp and loading packs for the hike out:

 

Loading up for the hike out

  

C.V. and J.C. led us out. Both had modified their hiking staffs to suit their personal tastes and needs. J.C. had installed frog gigging spikes in the end of his and a long removable bolt to prevent them from being worn dull. C.V. nad modded his with 1" measuring marks:

 

The hike-out 

 

Heading down the trail we saw some great views:

 

Looking east towards California Valley

Looking down into Pozo Valley

 

 On the way out we stopped to check out a section of the Rinconada Mine. The Rinconada Mine began operation in 1872. Cinnabar [a Mercury bearing mineral] was mined there for 90 years. In the photo below,  C.V. checks a hole that was drilled either for blasting or ventilation [not sure which]. His hiking stick went 3' in and still didn't touch bottom:

Deep drill hole

From 2003-2004, the site and the adjacent Rinconada Trail were closed to public access while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a thorough environmental clean-up of the mine site. The trail re-opened to the public in 2005.

Possible ventilation shaft opening

Bats now inhabit the mine, which is cordoned off with a steel wire fencing and signs warning against entering the mine:

Protected Bats

After reaching the trailhead parking lot, we said goodbye and went our own ways, I lingered a few minutes to collect litter from the parking lot. It's important to "LEAVE NO TRACE" and carry out litter that would otherwise mar the beauty of our national forests and trails. Collecting litter is a way to "give something back" and show reverence and be good stewards of the great gift that has been given us.

Safe Hiking!

GOBLIN RANGER

 

Bushcraft Knives for Trail and Camp

5-in-1 "Survival Tool"...a useful kit item for dayhikers.

5-in-1 "Survival tools" have been around for many years.  Basically they are a match safe that incorporates several useful tools into it's design. They are usually molded in rescue orange-colored plastic and have a lanyard attached that allows them to be worn around the neck. Generally these tools cost around $4 to $5 dollars.

5-in-1 Survival tool

Besides the match safe function, they also include a whistle on one end and a compass on the cap end. Unscrewing the compass/cap accesses the matches. A ferrocerium rod is embedded in the body of the match safe, and a signalling mirror is located inside the cap beneath the compass.

Signal Mirror

 

The match safe will hold 30+ waterproof matches when arranged alternately head up/down. I placed jute tinder in mine at both ends to cushion the matches and provide some emergency tinder. Don't forget to include match striking paper, as their is no striking surface on the match safe itself.

The ferro rod is short and difficult to use, but not impossible. Using dryer lint, I found it worked best to wrap the tinder around the body of the tool in direct contact with the ferro rod and striking directly into it. Better still, carry a small tin with petroleum jelly-impregnated cotton balls for a synthetic tinder. Petroleum jelly soaked cotton balls are long burning and will ignite easily with sparks.

Petroleum jelly cotton ball tinder

 

In experimenting with the 5-in1, I found that the lanyard lock separates too easily, and the tool could become lost. I'd suggest putting a knot in it to prevent loss. Like any tool, practice makes perfect, so I would recommend that you try some fire making using the tool in advance of going outdoors. I did find the ferro rod wears down quickly, so you might not want to practice too much with it, or have 2 and dedicate one for practicing with.  

Also, practice with the signal mirror with a friend. This is easily done by having them stand 50 or 100 yards distant, making a "V" with your Middle and Index fingers, moving the sun's reflection onto the back of your hand, and then sighting the "target" [friend] between your fingers and flashing them with the mirror.

Finally a word of caution: I have seen some cheap copies of 5-in1 tools molded in blue and green plastic for as little as a dollar. Look closely and you will find the ferrocerium rod is missing. Those knockoffs are probably okay for training youngsters, but I'd recommend purchasing a quality one for your personal trail pack, and do make sure to buy one molded in bright orange so it cannot become lost if dropped atop leaf litter in camp.

Happy Hiking!

Goblin Ranger

Rinconada Trail outing and overnight campout

On April 4-5, I went on a solo overnight campout on the Rinconada Trail, about 9 miles east of Santa Margarita, CA. Santa Margarita is one of the oldest communities in this county [San Luis Obispo County, CA]. It started as an "Assistencia"...an outlying assistance center for Mission San Luis Obispo, which was founded in 1772. Basically, the livestock that fed the Mission were raised there. It's an area of beautiful scenery.

I started out from the trailhead a little after noon, using a FOX TACTICAL rucksack to carry my kit and 3 quarts of water, a load of about 35 pounds total weight. The trail would peak at about 1200' gain and the campsite I planned to use was about 1.6 miles distance. It was a cool day with clouds; good weather for hiking elevation with a heavy load. Here's the view looking east towards back country:

 

After hiking for about an hour, I came across this cattle gate which was a landmark for the unmapped campsite I was seeking:

 

Unfortunately, the campsite was located beneath a group of Oak trees on a hill to my right and behind my field of vision, so I walked past it. I walked as far as Hi Mountain Road and realized I'd missed the campsite. I knew I had to turn around and go back. On the return pass, I spotted the fire ring on the hill, partially hidden beneath the trees, as it was now within my field of view; A good lesson to always check behind you! I set up my camp and settled in:

 

The camp had a very nice fire ring. Unfortunately, high winds and strong gusts made it unsafe to make a campfire, so it was to be a cold camp. I hung my ruck from a limb with a paracord loop and snap carabiner. This is a great way to keep gear off the ground and not have to bend over to access pack pockets:

 

For supper, I used my MSR Pocket Rocket stove. The fare that evening was buttery mashed potato's with chicken breast chunks mixed in:

 

 

Mmmm, hot, tasty, filling and loaded with carbs. The only meal I needed that day and the next morning as well:

 

After dinner I bagged my trash and suspended it and my food from a high branch in an Oak tree away from camp:

 

 

 

I hung my Tomahawk and Bolo Knife off a broken branch on the old Oak tree next to my campsite, where it was safely off the ground and readily available to me. I made the leather sheaths and wood burned the creeping vine on the `hawk handle myself:

 

 

For added grip, I covered the handle of my Bolo knife with suede Buckskin. This knife is a great chopper and will perform many camp tasks well:

 

 

I've always been a bit of a Rock hound, and was stunned at the amount of Quartz and other interesting rocks in this area, in which there were Cinnabar [Mercury] mining operations:

 

 

It was a beautiful evening as the sun went down:

 

 

...and the sunset was to die for:

 

 

The wind howled all night long and shook the tent. Fortunately, I'd correctly oriented it toe-end into the wind, thus it remained upright throughout the gale. I had a pleasant [if noisy] evening. The next morning I wasn't hungry and skipped breakfast. As the sun rose, I loaded my pack:

 

 

Once the sun was fully up, I started out on the hike back to the trailhead by 8 a.m. It was an equally beautiful morning to be a-trail:

  

 

 

 

The morning sun was warm and cast a long shadow:

 



 

As I descended the trail, the whole Pozo Valley opened up before me:

 



 



 

On the way out, I made it a point to open a plastic bag and gather litter. As always, "Pack it in, pack it out" and if you can, bring a little extra with you. I managed to round up a couple of pounds of beer bottles, aluminum cans, cigarette butts, a hubcap, and other trash. It's a small way we can show our respect for our outdoors and encourage others to do the same by modeling good trail practices:

 







 

If you are visiting the area and are interested in hiking this trail, here are the GPS coordinates for the Rinconada trail head:  N35-17.396, W120-28.490. Elevation 1740′.

 

 

Happy Hiking!

 

Goblin Ranger

 

 

 

 

 

© 2014, MANNY SILVA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 



The "Common Man's Bushcraft Knife"

Some time ago my wife found a good condition used CASE XX butcher knife at a garage sale for a dollar. These knives are a very old pattern that have been around for a couple of centuries. They were produced in huge numbers and sold to Indians and white men alike for use on the early American Frontier:

CASE XX butcher knife

 

Usually having a blade of 6" to 8" and anywhere from 3/32" to 1/8" thick, they are most often made of carbon steel and will take a razor sharp edge, making them a perfect blade for common woods tasks such as butchering deer, cutting rope, etc. Usually they have simple, durable wooden scales that are sturdily riveted onto the handle. They will handle all but the worst abuse a tool could be given.

These knives are not, nor were they ever, intended for heavy tasks such as "batoning wood", but they will shave tinder and make "fuzz sticks" easily enough. And I suppose one could make small cuts around a sapling to fell it "Beaver chew" style [something I have seen the noted Primitive skills instructor Cody Lundin do using only a 4" bladed Mora style neck knife].

Indeed, even the famed woods writer, George "Nessmuk" Sears used a modified butcher blade in conjunction with a small double-bit camp hatchet and a large pocketknife. The "Nessmuk Trio" gave him tools for accomplishing any camp task imaginable:

The Nessmuk "Holy Trinity"...Moose folder, Axe, Butcher

 

Over the years I've seen a lot of these butcher knives carried in sheaths at Mountain Man rondy's I've attended. Most Mountain Men re-enactors wear them in a Crow style sheath. These blades were sold and traded to the Indians for pelts by Fur Company's. Being inexpensive, they were often purchased by the trappers and other members of the Fur Trapping brigades during the American Fur Trade era of the 1820's. Butcher knives and sheaths are often seen in paintings made by Alfred Jacob Miller, a painter who chronicled the Mountain Men during the Fur Trade era. 

 

Mountain Man sketch by Alfred Jacob Miller

 

More recently, these knives have become quite popular with bushcrafting practitioners, and have earned the nickname, "Common Man's Bushcraft Knife." I'm not sure, but I think perhaps the term "Common Man" might be an invention of self-reliance and woods craft instructor Dave Canterbury. He certainly uses the term in many of his videos anyway, and even sells these knives and custom sheaths through his online store Self Reliance Outfitters [The Pathfinder School, LLC]. They can usually be found at department stores as well.

Just like MORA knives, these butcher blades offer good quality and utility for very little money, a valuable attribute for those who cannot afford a high dollar production or custom made knife.  A new, quality made butcher knife from ONTARIO [OLD HICKORY] brand rarely costs much more than $11.00 dollars or so from major retailers.

If these knives have a "downside", it is that they are not adequate for heavy tasks like batoning, and secondly, the steel is prone to rust without proper care. If the knife's blade is to be used in conjunction with meal preparation, it should not be treated with petroleum-based oils or greases; rather, use Olive oil, which is also a good treatment for preserving the wooden scales.

For this knife, I used scrap leather to form a simple pouch sheath, which would be attached to the belt by means of a frog. I bought a nice piece of scrap leather for $3.00 at the local leather shop, then cut it to a pattern I'd made out of cardboard. After gluing the sheath I used an ice pick to punch holes and then hand stitched it with a needle and polyester thread. All in all, I probably had about three hours work invested in the sheath. I also made a small sheath to hold my barrel-leg jackknife:

 Belt sheath with frog

 

After wearing this sheath for awhile, I decided that I didn't like it and re-modeled the sheath into a  Crow pattern sheath. Crow sheaths, named for the Indian tribe, are excellent because they can be carried in a variety of ways. I've included a photograph below. As you can see, the Crow sheath permits any number of carries...forward cant, reverse cant, strong side, support side, middle of back...strong side reverse carry in this instance. If you wear it on a belt over your clothing, you need not remove your belt to re-position it, but simply push it forwards or backwards, out of your way and however you wish to present the handle.

Crow sheath

 

One final point:  Be VERY careful not to perform a "quick draw" with any knife, lest you cut through the sheath and possibly your own flesh. Generally, you want to get a good grip on the handle and gently tug it, say about half way out of the sheath, to "loosen" the knife. Now you can safely draw the knife the remainder of the way without a sudden, "explosive" release when friction is overcome, and hence, a potential accident. A fast knife draw should only be performed in an emergent situation where speed is an absolute necessity, such as defense from a violent predator.

So in conclusion, if you want a good trail blade and are reluctant or without means to spend a lot of money, consider purchasing a butcher style knife. For less than the price of many other knives, you can easily outfit yourself with a fixed blade knife, a camp axe or hatchet, and a good quality folding pocketknife and enjoy all the benefits of "Nessmuk" Sears' "Holy Trinity" on your own trail adventures.



© 2014, MANNY SILVA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Making a "Primitive" PSK

Recently, I spotted some nice tins at the craft store for a buck fifty. They were slightly larger than my ALTOIDS tin PSK [Personal Survival Kit], so I realized I could add a few extra items if I wished. I picked one up and decided to Japan it.

"Japanning" is an old Mountain Man trick that I learned at rondy years ago. Basically you just use tongs to hold a shiny tin in flame and it changes the metal to a rainbow colored effect.

I like to do my Japanning over the gas range...just be sure to have the fan on and good ventilation [it can set off the smoke alarms]. After it cools I rub some CRISCO or bullet lube grease into the metal and it is then both attractive and rust resistant. Incidentally, real "Japanning" was enamel work done by 17th century European artists to copy the cloisonne enamel work of Far East artisans.

"Japanned" tin 

 

 Contents of PSK

I like my trail gear rustic & primitive, so the Japanning was my first pick for a finish, but that sounds also like a great choice for a Tactical/Urban kit...a pocketknife, some first aid items, a small flashlight....those things easily carried and of great use in an earthquake or some other disaster event.

We're not talking about a 72 hour bag here...we are speaking of a small kit you can carry in a pocket at all times so you have means to perform a few tasks, such as making a fire to warm yourself, IF you were suddenly cast into a survival situation without ability to access a 72 hour "Get Home Bag" [which you should also have assembled and have in your car]. An example would be your car containing your 72 hour kit has been "pancaked" in a parking garage collapse.

Why would I want my gear "blackened you ask? Well, here are my thoughts... 

It's interesting to read accounts of the 18th-19th century, because so much of the gear and clothing was blackened or dyed to be non-reflective and match the environment. Their concern of course, was light reflection and detection by native peoples of that period who viewed the white men as intruders, might object to their presence, and thus relieve them of their possibles.

Of course, the same threat [robbery in a disaster/civil unrest situation...i.e. loss of "possibles" or survival necessities] does exist today in the way of gang-bangers, looters, and other bandits. In such a situation where Rule of Law is severely disrupted, I'll want to stick to "dead space"...darkened routes of travel that will conceal my presence and movement from potentially dangerous persons. To that end, I'll want my equipment non-reflective so it does not betray my presence. 

One other thought: Likewise, 21st century tactical gear shouldn't draw unwanted attention to the possessor.  I'm always amused by people who wear head-to-toe tactical garb, and carry tactical man bags with nametapes and morale patches...it's a sure way to draw attention to oneself. I rarely give everday folk or homeless folks a second look but such manner of tactical dress always commands my attention as does gangster dress. I can assure you, street thugs are very savvy and capable at assessing people, and can tell who may be armed or in possession of goods they may want to acquire [robbery].

To quote a good friend of mine..."You want to be "The Gray Man"... the person no one gives a second look."


Stay safe!

GOBLIN RANGER





© 2014, MANNY SILVA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Personal Safety for Trail Hikers...Preparation & Awareness

All trail hikers should practice personal safety on the trail. Potential dangers to the trail hiker are becoming lost or injured, venomous snakebite or animal attack, and violent assaults by people on the trail. In this blog post I'll discuss tips for having safe hikes. At the end of this article, I'm going to discuss strategies for coping with violent physical or sexual assaults in detail, because I feel this is a very neglected trail topic.

Trail Safety Tips

1. Make a Hiking Plan - Plan your outing in advance. Identify where you will park your vehicle, the trail(s) you plan to hike, entry and exit points, and any side trails you plan to take, time of departure and time of return. Write the plan down and make a sketch of the trails, and then leave the plan with a reliable friend who will call law enforcement if you fail to return. Leave a second copy inside your vehicle for Search & Rescue [SAR personnel] should your friend/family member lose theirs. Finally, don't deviate from the plan. If you become lost or injured, Search and Rescue personnel will be relying on your Hiking Plan for conducting their search. If you deviate from the plan you will hamper their efforts to locate and recover you. An excellent hiking plan is available here: Ojai Search & Rescue Hiking Plan. 

2. Hike with a partner -Whenever possible, hike with a friend. Cougars and criminals are much more likely to assault a person walking alone than a pair of people...there's just too much risk to their success. Both are predators...they look at a person and the situation presented and decide if the opportunity is in their favor. If it is not, they'll likely look for another target. A pet dog, especially a large dog, can be a good deterrent if you can't get a friend to come along on your hike. I was hiking recently and encountered a lady walking with two dogs. Even though our conversation was friendly and I kept a safe distance, I noted how her dogs actively maintained position between us. Just be sure to observe trail rules such as leash law requirements.

3. Be Aware! - Walk with your head up and be aware of your surroundings. Wearing an iPOD or similar personal music system with earphones will inhibit your ability to hear someone running up on you from behind. Always have your head on a swivel and watch your back trail...attacks from 2 and 4-legged predators are most likely to come from cover, from the side or, more likely, from behind. Scan your environment and watch for strange behaviors such as persons who appear to be following you or loitering on the trail ahead of you. Being aware of everything around you will greatly minimize your exposure as a target. 

Isolated trails can be dangerous...be aware!

 

4. Plan to spend a night or 2! - GOOGLE search "Lost hiker" at any given time and you are likely to find a recent news report of an ill-equipped lost or injured hiker who spent a cold night on a trail. Anyone can step wrong and twist or injure an ankle on a trail or start a late hike and become lost in sudden darkness. In March 2014 a pair of hikers in Santa Barbara, CA became injured when they were caught on a trail after dark and suffered falls. One sustained 2 broken ankles, and the other died from injuries sustained in a fall while going in search of help for the injured hiker. Always carry the essentials of basic survival in a day pack...a space blanket, extra water and food, a First Aid kit, a pocketknife, a means of making fire, a flashlight and a whistle. These items weigh little and will allow anyone lost or injured to care for themselves, avoid hypothermia, and signal for rescue. Also, make sure you label all your gear with your name. It's very common for lost hikers to lose or ditch gear. Marking equipment with your name aids searchers and clues them they are on track.

 

Essential trail kit displayed on a  Space Blanket.

 

5. Use "heavy-traffic" routes – Trails that are popular and heavily trafficked will offer greater safety for you. Again, Cougars and Crooks don't like to take risks. They will select isolated locations, areas with concealment, such as a brushy section of trail or an isolated side trail that will offer a vantage point and concealment to watch for a victim, provide privacy for their acts, and have few [if any] witnesses.

 

6. Watch for suspicious people! - Be alert for people who appear to be following you on the trail, people who approach and are overly-friendly or who are loitering on the trail or in a trail head parking lot.  Obey your instincts. We all have a "primitive brain" that reads and signals potential danger. If the hair on the back of your neck stands up, there's a reason! Turn around, go back, but whatever you do obey your instincts and take actions to protect yourself.

7. If you are confronted on the trail - Cougars: Do not run...this will trigger the cat's prey instincts to attack you. Several years ago a trail runner fought off a cat attack, but was attacked a second time and killed when they started to run away. Face the cat, open your jacket and make yourself appear large, and yell at the cat. Back away slowly and NEVER turn your back on the cat.  If you have pepper spray, use it. Aggressive humans: Assuming you aren't able to run, walk away, or otherwise avoid the person, be assertive! Stand your ground; be loud, aggressive, and indignant. Yell at the person, "WHAT DO YOU WANT!" You need to communicate that you are not going to be an easy target. DON'T turn your back on them. DO maintain distance between you and the assailant. If possible, move to position an object such as a car or bench between you and the assailant. Scream, shout for help, and draw attention to yourself. It may be enough to deter the suspect from attacking you.

8. If the suspect grabs you on the trail - Only you can decide what you can or can't do in that situation, based on the totality of circumstances you are presented with. You may decide not to resist OR you may decide to fight. If you do fight, think in terms of applying "Strengths to Weaknesses". Select soft, vulnerable targets like the eyes, throat, and groin for jabs, grabs, punches, kicks. Use personal weapons such as teeth and nails. Fight dirty, break free and run. Again, most suspects are cowards and want easy prey. Your nails may collect tissue and/or blood evidence from the assailant [i.e., DNA evidence useful for later identification], so do not wash your hands following an attack and go directly to the local law enforcement agency, file a report and ask the officer to have a technician collect the evidence from your nails.

9. Weapons - If all else fails, you may have field-expedient weapons [pens, keys, etc.] and/or environmental weapons [rocks, sticks] at your disposal for self-defense. Having a walking stick or a bottle of pepper spray in hand is a great tool to add to your personal safety kit. Having it in hand allows the potential assailant to get a look at it and weigh the risk. Personal safety alarms can be useful. They attract attention, which crooks don't want. I do not recommend knives and guns. They require specialized training and in a worst case scenario you could be disarmed and have them turned against you, not to mention legalities of carrying a concealed weapon.

10. Take a Personal Safety class - Personal safety classes are available from a number of local sources, such as SARP Center of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly, and private vendors as well. They will teach you several skills, including both verbal and physical skills to use if accosted by a stranger. Any skills you can add to your personal inventory will help you avoid being a victim, whether on the trail, or on a public street.

11. Carry a Cell Phone - Carrying a cellphone is wise, as it allows you to notify law enforcement and summon assistance if you encounter an aggressive animal or human. A few years ago a Game Warden friend told me about 2 people hiking in a local State Park who reported via cellphone that they were being stalked by a Mountain Lion. Unable to reach them soon enough, he requested a CHP helicopter to respond. The helicopter crew located the couple, moved in closely, and frightened the cat away. Have local law enforcement numbers programmed into your phone's speed dial. In the case of aggressive humans, immediate notification of law enforcement is especially important to increase chances of apprehension, so do not wait until you are safely home to make a report.  It may help prevent further crimes from occurring or it may provide a lead needed to solve an open case. Some people believe that law enforcement is ‘too busy” to be bothered. Nothing is further from the truth...they are never disinterested in your report. They may have other priority calls to respond to and be delayed in getting to you, but they do want to hear from you and will respond as soon as possible. 

Trail Tools...Cellphone, flashlight,

Pocketknife, Pepper Spray, Matches and Whistle.

 

12. What if the assailant is armed? – Again, only you can decide what you can or can't do in that situation. As I've stated previously, most suspects don't want to draw attention or alert anyone to what they are doing, and they may only be bluffing with the weapon to coax you into cooperating so they can commit a sexual assault. On the other hand if the subject has threatened to harm you, you may have nothing to lose by running for your life. As you do so, scream, yell, and draw attention to yourself from other hikers in the vicinity.

13. If you are sexually assaulted - I highly recommend that you notify law enforcement immediately. You will be assisted with accessing medical care for injuries and specialized post-sexual assault care. It is your choice whether you cooperate with a criminal investigation; however it may help protect others if you share some details such as attacker's description and method of operation. You will likely need support, and possibly long-term counseling, and law enforcement can help connect you with victim support advocates from the SARP Center [SARP Center, 51 Zaca Ln. Suite 140, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 FAX: (805) 545-5841 E-Mail: contact@sarpcenter.org].


Violent Assaults on the Trail

Compared to incidents involving lost or injured hikers  and animal attacks, violent criminal assaults against hikers are relatively rare. However, strange things do occur, even in communities that are considered safe and free of violent crimes. An example of such an aberration occurred locally in October 2011, when a 63 year-old man hiking a trail on Cerro San Luis was bludgeoned to death and possibly robbed according to police investigators.  Again, the purpose of this post is to offer some personal safety tips for trail hikers [especially ladies] and hopefully increase awareness of potentially dangerous situations one could encounter from "two-legged predators" on the trail.

I also want to stress that, regardless of environment, time of day, or season of the year, the key to personal safety is awareness and preparation, not paranoia. Personal safety awareness should be a part of every person's daily practices. I served 34 years with a law enforcement agency and investigated hundreds of assaults and other crimes and can say with confidence that the majority could have been greatly minimized, if not avoided altogether, if only some simple preventative measures and personal awareness had been practiced


Personal Awareness - a natural gift

Before I discuss specific tips, I want to discuss personal awareness in greater detail. All of us possess an Amygdala; a portion of the brain that processes emotion. It triggers emotion faster than consciousness, in part to protect you from harm. It does this by interpreting subconscious hints of danger to trigger lightning fast responses. This is why you get that “hair standing up on the back of your neck” sensation; your Amygdala is signaling you that something is being perceived dangerous [Precognition – a defense response mechanism]. 

One of the hardest things for modern humans is to recognize and obey that danger instinct. For example: A friend of mine was walking on a street in San Francisco one evening when they saw a man walking toward them. My friend said they instantly experienced the sensation of "the hair standing up on the back of their neck", however they decided to ignore the signal and continued on. As they drew abreast of the man he suddenly, and without warning, wheeled and sucker-punched my friend for no apparent reason. The lesson here is clear: OBEY your natural instincts and do not get sucked into rationalizing, denial, and thus inaction.

I also want to take a moment to discuss the "Nature of Violence". Just like a Cheetah assessing a herd of Gazelles on the African Savannah, human predators perform the same target assessment; who is slow, weak, ill, and vulnerable? Is the scene safe to carry out an attack? What will be the benefits versus risks?

 On the other side of this equation, the “prey” animal has the natural gift of “Fear”, a natural process that readies the body to survive by triggering physiological changes like adrenal dump to enhance fight or flight, blood vessels constricting and pouring blood into core organs, and cortisol releases to facilitate blood clotting of wounds and injuries.

In the natural world, all predator animals have binocular vision; that is, their eyes are located on the front of the head to permit judgement of distance...in other words, "Range to Target". Consider where man's eyes are located. Coupled with our intelligence, we were able to become savvy, cunning, hunters and rise to the top of the natural world's food chain. 


Union of Awareness & Preparation

Staying safe is accomplished by a union of 1.) PREPARATION - developing an inventory of personal safety skills...mental, physical, verbal, and technological tools [i.e., pepper spray, TASER's, etc.] and, 2.) by increasing AWARENESS of developing situations and then taking ACTION [and not being lulled into INACTION] on perceived threats, by obeying instincts and practicing the "OODA Loop" - OBSERVE [spot the threat], ORIENT [what are my options, what avenues can I take to evade harm], DECIDE [select course of action], and ACT [put plan into motion].

For example:

OBSERVE - You are hiking a trail section and, being aware of your back trail, notice a strange man that you think is following you.

ORIENT - You spot a group of hikers resting and taking hydration up ahead of you.

DECIDE - You make a decision to stop and chat with the hikers and take hydration.

ACT - You stop and engage with the hiking group.

By using the OODA process, you disrupt the man's plan and force him to change up his plans. He can either pass, fall back, or stall nearby, at which time you begin the OODA process again, essentially keeping him off balance and unable to enact his plan, because he is forced to respond to your change-ups.


Developing an Inventory of Skills

In many communities, personal safety courses are offered through private vendors, public organizations, and local colleges and universities. It is important to start learning skills for dealing with potential situations and developing a set of personal skills.

Each situation is different and all are dynamic [evolving moment to moment, sometimes rapidly] and training should cover all levels from avoidance strategies, to include communication skills, personal weapons/physical combatives, and possibly tools such as pepper spray's or TASER devices. Lethal weapons such as knives and guns require great skill and extensive training to deploy safely, use effectively, and retain. Losing retention of a knife or gun can result in the lethal tool being turned upon you, so I strongly caution against them for defense.

Often personal safety training is done through role-playing, and in this way the student can develop experience and thus have a "Mental Schematic" of sorts for coping with that situation were they presented with it again. Role-playing also acts as a form of "Stress Inoculation" by exposing the student to a stressful situation in advance, so it is less disabling if they encounter the situation in real life.

Finally, I would like to stress that it is equally important not to live in a perpetual state of paranoia or unwarranted fear. Constant, self-created fear [worry] is extremely injurious to your natural warning system...it erodes and decays it to such degree that there is no signal left when a perceived threat is real.

In conclusion, I would like to state that here in the local San Luis Obispo County area, we live in a very safe community, and you are much more likely to suffer a fall or injury on a trail, or spend a cold night disoriented, than you are to experience and attack by a cougar or aggressive human. Enjoy our trails and outdoors by planning your outings, communicating with friends, carrying survival basics in your pack, and being aware of your environment. Develop personal skills, tactics, and strategies for dealing with aggressive animals...both 2 and 4-legged!

Stay aware, stay safe, and happy hiking!



© 2014, MANNY SILVA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED