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I got a call from a couple of family members, who were hiking to an old abandoned train station in the backcountry.  I had warned them not to go there.  It’s a dangerous area where entering a marijuana grow site or encountering growers could cost you your life. They told me that the cell service was sparse and their batteries were almost dead.  This would be the last call they’d probably get out before dark and to meet them at 10:00 pm at this remote location.  They thought it could take them anywhere from 3-5 hours to make the hike up to this road.  The road itself is extremely dangerous to drive.  It’s a single lane dirt road. Many areas are washed out due to the amount of rain we’ve had this year, leaving only enough room for your car to barely fit on the road.  

Another family member offered to drive with me, but he had to work in the morning, so I declined.  I followed Google Maps, which worked great during the initial 4 hour trek up the mountains, but towards the end, it lead me off onto private property.  There was a fork in the road, but because their ranch road bore the same address as the public road, Google Maps directed me towards their property.  I came to an opened gate with a no trespassing sign warning you that it was heavily patrolled.  There was no place for me to turn around.  At that moment, I encountered three trucks.  They asked me where I thought I was going.  I told them that I was lost. They said to turn around and leave immediately.  I said that I would as soon as I got to an area that was large enough to turn around.  I got back onto the pubic road and decided to head back towards this small unincorporated town.  As soon as I had cell service, I pulled over in a turnout and called my mom.  One of the trucks returned and pulled up next to me.  He just sat there for a minute and then spun off.  He came back, blocked my path, aiming his truck at my car, and turned on his high beams.  I put my car into reverse, went around him, and sped off.  

At this point, I was starting to lose it, and scared shitless.  I called the Sheriff’s office and told them my predicament. They said that they had received a call from the lost party and already had a search and rescue team out looking for them.  I gave them the coordinates of the meeting place, but apparently they were unable to reach it because they couldn’t get across the river.  They wanted me to get off the mountain and head towards another nearby small town to wait for them to be air lifted out.  

By this time, it was close to midnight and everything was closed.  Both the CHP station and Sheriff’s substation closed at 5:00 pm.  There wasn’t any law enforcement in town because they were all out looking for them. This small town was crawling with homeless people.  Well, here, we like to call them trimmigrants.  I couldn’t find a safe place to wait and I really had to pee.  I looked for a remote area with a turnout and pulled over.  Right when I got out, a guy climbed out of the bushes and asked me for a ride. I hopped back into my car and took off.  I ended up back on the freeway, and just remained on it, going back and forth until I finally got the call to pick them up.  I met them at the Sheriff’s substation and was finally able to use a restroom.  I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t one safe place for me to park and wait.  To top it off, it started raining, my windshield wipers broke, and I cut my finger while trying to fix them.

Well, anyhow, I’ve had a little bit of clusterfuck here lately.  My son’s new assignment was in a really dangerous place, one of the countries that was on the immigration ban list, but thankfully, that changed, and now he’s going to a much safer location. However, I just found out that his dog has spleen cancer, and will likely die within a few weeks or so.  He wanted to see her one last time before she died, but that’s completely out of the question.  I’ve never had to dig a grave before.  It was sad digging her grave, while she was still alive, but I thought I'd be too sad to do it afterwards.

I’m taking a little break from the forum. I need it. The weather is great and I’m going to do a little hiking myself.  Nowhere near that area, though.  If you have any questions, or if you stumble onto something that you think I might find interesting, shoot me a PM.

Thanks!

Ciao!

I'd advise either not letting dumb family members talk you into dangerous situations, or just getting a permit and a gun.

I always told my kids there would be 5 days in every year when you wished you hadn't got out of bed. You just had one. Just think.....Things are improving.

(Mar 31, 2017 06:19 PM)Syne Wrote: [ -> ]I'd advise either not letting dumb family members talk you into dangerous situations, or just getting a permit and a gun.

Well, you have to protect your friends and family, right, Syne?

You know, our black bear population here has drastically increased since hound hunting was banned.  When you’re out in the wilderness, you’ll encounter bear, fox, coyotes, rattle snakes, and occasionally, a mountain lion, but they’re all extremely skittish.  Men are by far the most dangerous animal to encounter.  

You know that cat calling discussion we were having?  Well, it may seem silly to a man, but to a woman, not so much.  It doesn’t bother me when I’m in a well populated area, but when I’m alone, it is a little creepier.

For example, when I was getting ready to leave, I was trying to decide what to wear.  I thought about wearing my hiking pants and boots just in case I had to hike a little to reach them, but then I decided on my running shoes and yoga pants.  I thought that they’d be more comfortable for the drive.  There was a gas station that looked open.  I filled up my car, and headed for the door, but it was locked.  Two guys were sitting on a retaining wall, and one said, "Hey, gorgeous."  Right then I thought, oh shit, I shouldn’t have worn the yoga pants.

On the way up, on the main highway, there’s two rest stops.  At the first one, there were two men sitting in a truck.  No one else was around.  I decided to wait until I reached the next one.  It’s down a hill, and not visible from the highway, but when I pulled in, no one was there.  I started heading towards the bathroom, but then a guy pulls in and parks right next to my car.  I didn’t park next to the bathroom.  I parked in the center of the parking lot for a reason.  I was wondering why in the hell would he park right next to my car.  I waited a few minutes for him to get out of his, but he never did.  I started thinking about all the stories of women being attacked at rest areas.  I didn’t go in.  I walked back to my car and he was just sitting in there.  He wasn’t making a phone call or anything.  I get back into my car and I’m thinking, fucking men!  God damn it!  I have to pee and that fucking idiot has to park right next to me.  When I’m with a guy, I make him stand by the door.  When I’m with a woman, it’s an unspoken rule.  There’s just so much shit that we have to think about that probably never even crosses your mind.  And yeah, I get a little jealous sometimes.  

When you’re in remote areas people always wave when they pass you.  It sounds naïve to be lulled by a simple nod or wave, but it does help.  It’s sort of an acknowledgement.  I won’t hurt you, if you don’t hurt me. I have a gun, but trust me, I'm sure that everyone that's up there are armed, as well.  I should have taken someone with me, but hindsight is always 20/20, right?

(Mar 31, 2017 06:50 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: [ -> ]I always told my kids there would be 5 days in every year when you wished you hadn't got out of bed. You just had one. Just think.....Things are improving.

That's a good way to look at it.  

Thanks, Zinman!

How's things with you?  Any news from your doctor?

(Apr 1, 2017 02:11 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote: [ -> ]

(Mar 31, 2017 06:19 PM)Syne Wrote: [ -> ]I'd advise either not letting dumb family members talk you into dangerous situations, or just getting a permit and a gun.

Well, you have to protect your friends and family, right, Syne?

You know, our black bear population here has drastically increased since hound hunting was banned.  When you’re out in the wilderness, you’ll encounter bear, fox, coyotes, rattle snakes, and occasionally, a mountain lion, but they’re all extremely skittish.  Men are by far the most dangerous animal to encounter.  

You know that cat calling discussion we were having?  Well, it may seem silly to a man, but to a woman, not so much.  It doesn’t bother me when I’m in a well populated area, but when I’m alone, it is a little creepier.

For example, when I was getting ready to leave, I was trying to decide what to wear.  I thought about wearing my hiking pants and boots just in case I had to hike a little to reach them, but then I decided on my running shoes and yoga pants.  I thought that they’d be more comfortable for the drive.  There was a gas station that looked open.  I filled up my car, and headed for the door, but it was locked.  Two guys were sitting on a retaining wall, and one said, "Hey, gorgeous."  Right then I thought, oh shit, I shouldn’t have worn the yoga pants.

On the way up, on the main highway, there’s two rest stops.  At the first one, there were two men sitting in a truck.  No one else was around.  I decided to wait until I reached the next one.  It’s down a hill and not visible from the highway, but when I pull in, no one was there.  I started heading towards the bathroom, but then a guy pulls in and parks right next to my car.  I didn’t park next to the bathroom.  I parked in the center of the parking lot for a reason.  I was wondering why in the hell would he park right next to my car.  I waited a few minutes for him to get out of his, but he never did.  I started thinking about all the stories of women being attacked at rest areas.  I didn’t go in.  I walked back to my car and he was just sitting in there.  He wasn’t making a phone call or anything.  I get back into my car and I’m thinking, fucking men!  God damn it!  I have to pee and that fucking idiot has to park right next to me.  When I’m with a guy, I make him stand by the door.  When I’m with a woman, it’s an unspoken rule.  There’s just so much shit that we have to think about that probably never even crosses your mind.  And yeah, I get a little jealous sometimes.  

When you’re in remote areas people always wave when they pass you.  It sounds naïve to be lulled by a simple nod or wave, but it does help.  It’s sort of an acknowledgement.  I won’t hurt you, if you don’t hurt me. I have a gun, but trust me, I'm sure that everyone that's up there are armed, as well.  I should have taken someone with me, but hindsight is always 20/20, right?

(Mar 31, 2017 06:50 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: [ -> ]I always told my kids there would be 5 days in every year when you wished you hadn't got out of bed. You just had one. Just think.....Things are improving.

That's a good way to look at it.  

Thanks, Zinman!

How's things with you?  Any news from your doctor?

such storys really make me wonder what type of ivory towers many live in.
all that wealth and science and yet such a lack of civilisation.
when power & greed are actively and openely promoted as the primary social moral codes you get a society filled with psychopaths.
p.s and predators, yet being a predator is something that is also actively promoted as being ideal.
all that alpha male BS spouted about and normalised in the MSM.
all that chavenistic gender role stereo typing by both men and women defining men as the normalised predator.
raising girls to be second rate in the power system of society.
socially chastising women for being pro-active socially and sexually.

your not the cluster_uck, society is.

unfortunately for women and children the current administration has been selected and supported by groups to promote predatory male behaviour, rienforcing all those gender role stereo types and victimising women children and the weak.

(Apr 1, 2017 02:11 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote: [ -> ][...] Men are by far the most dangerous animal to encounter.  [...]  There was a gas station that looked open.  I filled up my car, and headed for the door, but it was locked.  Two guys were sitting on a retaining wall, and one said, "Hey, gorgeous."  Right then I thought, oh shit, I shouldn’t have worn the yoga pants. [...] When I’m with a guy, I make him stand by the door. When I’m with a woman, it’s an unspoken rule. There’s just so much shit that we have to think about that probably never even crosses your mind. And yeah, I get a little jealous sometimes. [...] When you’re in remote areas people always wave when they pass you. It sounds naïve to be lulled by a simple nod or wave, but it does help. It’s sort of an acknowledgement. I won’t hurt you, if you don’t hurt me. I have a gun, but trust me, I'm sure that everyone that's up there are armed, as well.

Yeah, just where are those fabled "Deliverance" hillbillies who have a predilection for male endomorphs like Ned Beatty, when they would be convenient?

Secular Sanity,
I'm glad to hear that you managed to make it out of that situation unscathed even though at the time you wouldn't be granted the luxury of hindsight.  I couldn't suggest what to do in those sorts of situations, although I've been in precarious positions myself that's more about one man trying to pee higher than another one.  A bit of chest pounding and calling to the wild seems to be the only thing that some of them understand.

The only thing I can suggest if you ever end up in that situation again is to at least make it look like your talking to someone on a phone (You don't have to have a signal), while being in an isolated location means anything can happen, there is still the chance that if any would be attack thinks there is the remotest of risks, they might not take that risk.

Excerpts of a practiced conversation (Made audible to those you feel a threat) could be something like:
"So..... you'll be here in 5 minutes, your just at that bend 1 mile back."  {pause as if someone is speaking back}  "Yeah I'll wait here for you...."

In the case of using the toilet, that means you wouldn't have much time before they realise no one is arriving, but it might be enough to relieve yourself and get back in the car.

You could go more of a "don't F'with me" route, however you'd likely want to daub bumper stickers over your car along the lines of  "Support the N.R.A.", "Blue Star Mothers", "Proud to be Texan" (even if you aren't), "I heart my cats".  (I don't know how useful these stickers would be because the guy out in the sticks probably can't read)

Hopefully you won't end up in a precarious situation again, something that might not be a great help but worth mentioning  is Litany Against Fear (Frank Herberts  "Dune")

Quote:   "I must not fear.
   Fear is the mind-killer.
   Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
   I will face my fear.
   I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
   And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
   Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

(Apr 1, 2017 02:11 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote: [ -> ]

(Mar 31, 2017 06:19 PM)Syne Wrote: [ -> ]I'd advise either not letting dumb family members talk you into dangerous situations, or just getting a permit and a gun.

Well, you have to protect your friends and family, right, Syne?

You know, our black bear population here has drastically increased since hound hunting was banned.  When you’re out in the wilderness, you’ll encounter bear, fox, coyotes, rattle snakes, and occasionally, a mountain lion, but they’re all extremely skittish.  Men are by far the most dangerous animal to encounter.  

You know that cat calling discussion we were having?  Well, it may seem silly to a man, but to a woman, not so much.  It doesn’t bother me when I’m in a well populated area, but when I’m alone, it is a little creepier.

For example, when I was getting ready to leave, I was trying to decide what to wear.  I thought about wearing my hiking pants and boots just in case I had to hike a little to reach them, but then I decided on my running shoes and yoga pants.  I thought that they’d be more comfortable for the drive.  There was a gas station that looked open.  I filled up my car, and headed for the door, but it was locked.  Two guys were sitting on a retaining wall, and one said, "Hey, gorgeous."  Right then I thought, oh shit, I shouldn’t have worn the yoga pants.

On the way up, on the main highway, there’s two rest stops.  At the first one, there were two men sitting in a truck.  No one else was around.  I decided to wait until I reached the next one.  It’s down a hill and not visible from the highway, but when I pull in, no one was there.  I started heading towards the bathroom, but then a guy pulls in and parks right next to my car.  I didn’t park next to the bathroom.  I parked in the center of the parking lot for a reason.  I was wondering why in the hell would he park right next to my car.  I waited a few minutes for him to get out of his, but he never did.  I started thinking about all the stories of women being attacked at rest areas.  I didn’t go in.  I walked back to my car and he was just sitting in there.  He wasn’t making a phone call or anything.  I get back into my car and I’m thinking, fucking men!  God damn it!  I have to pee and that fucking idiot has to park right next to me.  When I’m with a guy, I make him stand by the door.  When I’m with a woman, it’s an unspoken rule.  There’s just so much shit that we have to think about that probably never even crosses your mind.  And yeah, I get a little jealous sometimes.  

When you’re in remote areas people always wave when they pass you.  It sounds naïve to be lulled by a simple nod or wave, but it does help.  It’s sort of an acknowledgement.  I won’t hurt you, if you don’t hurt me. I have a gun, but trust me, I'm sure that everyone that's up there are armed, as well.  I should have taken someone with me, but hindsight is always 20/20, right?

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Can't do much protecting if you're ass is the one in a bind.
Them being armed is only an argument for you being that much more overpowered when unarmed. One of the benefits of concealed carry is that you have the element of surprise, and as a woman, them underestimating you works in your favor, as they might not feel they need a weapon at the ready to take you.
You'd probably be less afraid if you knew you had the means to defend yourself, especially against one or two unarmed creeps. Bathroom stalls don't stop bullets.

(Apr 1, 2017 05:31 PM)C C Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, just where are those fabled "Deliverance" hillbillies who have a predilection for male endomorphs like Ned Beatty, when they would be convenient?

I was really young when that was first shown on HBO.  My dad turned it off during that scene when he realized what was happening.  I remember asking my dad about it.  Wondering why they were making him strip. He said that they were just trying to pull him down the mountain by his pants.  It didn’t make sense to me, though.  I kept asking over and over until finally my mom told me that they were trying to rape him.  I didn’t even know that was possible.  It was so disturbing to me at the time.  I didn't see it again until just now.  I always thought that they were just trying to rape him, but I just watched the clip.  They did rape him.  No wonder that line became so notorious.

(Apr 2, 2017 12:10 AM)stryder Wrote: [ -> ]Secular Sanity,
I'm glad to hear that you managed to make it out of that situation unscathed even though at the time you wouldn't be granted the luxury of hindsight.  I couldn't suggest what to do in those sorts of situations, although I've been in precarious positions myself that's more about one man trying to pee higher than another one.  A bit of chest pounding and calling to the wild seems to be the only thing that some of them understand.

The only thing I can suggest if you ever end up in that situation again is to at least make it look like your talking to someone on a phone (You don't have to have a signal), while being in an isolated location means anything can happen, there is still the chance that if any would be attack thinks there is the remotest of risks, they might not take that risk.

Excerpts of a practiced conversation (Made audible to those you feel a threat) could be something like:
"So..... you'll be here in 5 minutes, your just at that bend 1 mile back."  {pause as if someone is speaking back}  "Yeah I'll wait here for you...."

I was on the phone with my mom.  Maybe that’s why he left the first time, knowing I had cell service, and could call 911, which I did right after he left.  

I actually had to return the next day to help them get their truck, but I wasn’t alone, and it was daylight.  I wish it wasn’t so dangerous because it’s absolutely beautiful there.  You pass through three counties and several microclimates.  Now that marijuana is legal, it should reduce the risks associated with it.  Hopefully, things will improve.  The prices should drop.  Large companies are buying up land for cannabis growing and partnering up with a few of the local wineries. I don’t know.  We’ll see.

(Apr 2, 2017 02:31 AM)Syne Wrote: [ -> ]An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Can't do much protecting if you're ass is the one in a bind.
Them being armed is only an argument for you being that much more overpowered when unarmed. One of the benefits of concealed carry is that you have the element of surprise, and as a woman, them underestimating you works in your favor, as they might not feel they need a weapon at the ready to take you.

You'd probably be less afraid if you knew you had the means to defend yourself, especially against one or two unarmed creeps. Bathroom stalls don't stop bullets.

True, but I think that most of our adaptations involve avoiding encounters in the first place.  I can shoot and fight.  I’ve boxed and did Kenpo most of my life.  My brother is a boxer.  He’s big.  I asked him once when were sparring to punch me as hard as could.  I wanted to see if I could still focus afterwards. He was worried that he might kill me.  It was a lot harder than I anticipated.  It really rung my bell.  Even with a gun it’s still scary.

(Apr 2, 2017 03:33 AM)Secular Sanity Wrote: [ -> ]True, but I think that most of our adaptations involve avoiding encounters in the first place.

That seems like a dubious assumption. Adaptations occur in response, which avoidance...huh, avoids.