A Spontaneous Nature Adventure
I was recently in an area with some beautiful hiking trails.
I was unfamiliar with that spot and had no map of the trails- I wasn’t even sure if I could find the path off the road, but I didn’t want to lose out on the opportunity to explore.
So I packed a small backpack and went on an adventure.
I did take some precautions.
I had a small personal alarm, and I wore a fake wedding ring on the off chance that I met anyone untoward on the rocky trails.
I eventually found the path, and I started to climb.
About an hour into the hike, I noticed my water was getting low. I only brought a regular-sized water bottle and was already rationing it.
The sun was high and much of the vegetation was only up to my thighs. I took advantage of any shade I found, stopping there to cool down.
Alone in the Woods
I didn’t see anyone else during the entire hike.
But at one point, when I only had about a fifth of my water bottle left; when I could feel my skin starting to burn from the sun, and my feet starting to drag, I heard a noise off in the distance.
And I caught myself in a weird moment.
My first instinct when I was feeling a little vulnerable was to look down at my clothing choice to see if I was blending into my surroundings.
I was.
I had chosen a marbled teal green top and dark leggings that roughly mirrored the vegetation around me.
I felt a wave of relief.
And this was striking to me.
My first thought wasn’t, “hey, I could ask for water or directions- I might need help”. It was “I hope I am invisible”.
I only want to be noticed if it is by the right person.
Otherwise, I’d prefer to be left alone and can handle myself- even though I was struggling.
The noise never moved closer, and I found a place mid-hike to refill my water bottle. So, I was fine. (I did have a bad dehydration headache for the next few hours, though.)
But the moment stuck with me.
It made me realize that none of the precautions that I took for that hike were wildlife-related.
A bear wouldn’t get repelled by my fake wedding ring… but a man might.
Even my personal alarm- which would be useful in the case of an animal attack- was not placed in my bag with that use in mind. In fact, it is the same one that I carry with me in my purse around the city- where there are exactly zero bears around.
And yet that’s where I learned to carry it.
Messy Bun Book Lover