Hiking is a wonderful activity, but it’s not without its risks. We’ve shared many guides about wilderness survival, but there’s another scenario that bears mentioning—defending yourself from an attacker. Whether we’re talking a hostile animal or a dangerous person, we’ve gotta to learn outdoor safety techniques that will help us escape harm.
That’s why we’ve come up with a guide to self-defense for hikers! This primer offers more than the usual hiking safety tips—it equips you with strategies for dealing with aggressors on the trail.
Trail Self-Defense Moves Every Hiker Should Learn
When you’re out on a hike and you are approached by a threat, you’ve got to act quickly. If you have a weapon, or even bear spray, you have an excellent deterrent on hand. But what if you don’t have something like that? Here are a number of self-defense strategies and moves you can fall back on.
Look threatening. Depending on the nature of the threat, you might be able to do something to scare it off. Many animals, including black bears, will hesitate to attack if you look like you’re gonna give them trouble. You can raise your arms to make yourself look bigger, then threaten the bear with a confident and commanding voice. This should cause the animal to retreat. On the other hand, if the threat is a person, you can say something like, “I’ve got a knife and I’m prepared to use it.”
Blocking/interfering. You can use your backpack for self-defense. Hold it out to block an attack. In some cases, it may be advantageous to throw the backpack at the oncoming threat. While they’re dealing with it, you’ve given yourself a few precious seconds in which to act decisively. If you do have a weapon, you could draw it at this point. If you don’t have a weapon…
Make a strategic retreat. Yes, it seems braver to stand your ground. That’s not always the smart tactical play, however. You could be in a vulnerable position—with the sun in your eyes, for example. Or you might be right beside a slope or a chasm! If your current position is a disadvantageous one, you’ll want to move someplace safer. This doesn’t mean that you should run. If you’re retreating from a bear, running could be a bad idea!
Fighting. Self-defense for hikers may require that you put up your fists—or elbows, or knees. We’ll discuss proper techniques when resorting to violence in the next section!
Personal Protection Hiking: Attacking a Threat
Going on the offensive. Is offense the best defense? In chess, that may be so. In a dangerous real-life situation, it’s simply one possible option—and it’s a risky one. Your tactical mindset will need to make a quick risk assessment to determine whether going on the offensive could be a winning strategy. If you think it is, then try one or more of these defensive techniques:
- Heel-palm strike. This is a frontal attack in which you strike the enemy with the heel of your palm. Hitting the nose or throat of your opponent can be very effective, and can give you the edge in a fight.
- Knee strike. You can deliver a kick to a vulnerable spot, such as the opponent’s groin area. A knee strike will often be more impactful than a normal kick using the foot. You’ll want to deliver as much force as you can.
- Elbow strike. If a person manages to close the distance and is now in your face, you can swing your elbow to hit them. When you don’t have enough room to throw a good punch, an elbow strike packs a lot more power on landing a hit. An elbow strike can also be a good move to use if someone comes at you from the side. Rather than turning to face them, you’ll simply jab your elbow at them.
- Eye strike. This move can be risky, but if you get a clear opening, then go for it. Jab your fingers into your opponent’s eyes. An eye strike doesn’t require much force or strength, and it can put your opponent at a disadvantage.
We strongly recommend that you practice these moves to ensure that you can carry them out properly. Taking a martial arts or self-defense class is a good idea. Keep in mind that an offensive attack may enrage your opponent and that can make the situation more volatile. So if you go for it, you should either keep it up until you subdue or drive off the threat, or ensure that you can make an effective escape.
Playing dirty. Don’t fight fair. Throw dirt into your opponent’s eyes. Hit below the belt. Use a bite attack! If they’re not expecting you to pull off such a move, even better! A self-defense situation is not a time to fight honorably. Any action that can give you the edge is fair game.
Using improvised weapons. Grabbing an item to use as a weapon carries some risk. Your opponent may be able to take it from you and then use it on you. Keeping a cool head and applying tactics should help you prevail. For example, you could use your water bottle to hit someone on the head to knock them out. Then they won’t have a chance to fight you for the weapon.
Personal Protection Hiking: Animal Encounters
One of our top hiking safety tips is to familiarize yourself with the wildlife in the area you’re visiting. Learn about the types of animals you’ll have a chance of encountering. You’d better be able to identify them on sight, too!
Brown Bear or Grizzly Bear. Wildlife authorities recommend that you play dead if a brown bear or grizzly attacks you. Keep your backpack on in such a scenario—it provides vital protective coverage for your back. Remain still and “dead” until the bear goes away. If the bear doesn’t stop attacking you, then you’ll have to switch gears and fight back with all you’ve got. You can’t expect to win this fight, but if you hurt the bear enough, it just might leave you alone.
Black Bear. Dealing with a black bear is a different matter. Do not play dead! If you can get away to a nearby secure location—such as a building or a car—then go for it. If you cannot get to a place of safety, then fight back. Use your water bottle or backpack or anything on hand. Aim for the bear’s face and muzzle. A fierce attack is likely to drive the bear away.
Mountain Lion. If you see a mountain lion nearby, remain standing—don’t enter a crouching position. Face the animal and seek to make eye contact. Do not turn your back to it! Raise your arms and do what you can to make yourself appear larger. Wave your arms and speak in a strong, intimidating tone. Do not run! That may trigger its instinct to chase its prey. If you have something to throw, go for it. If you end up fighting the animal, hit it as hard as you can. Use whatever you can grab from around you as a weapon—a rock, a branch, even a jacket.
Dog. If you run into a potentially dangerous dog, do not make eye contact with the animal. Turn your body to the side, but do not turn your back to the dog. Do not speak to the dog, and don’t shout at it. Don’t attack it with bear spray! You want to de-escalate the situation if possible. Understand that a dog is unlikely to attack you unless you appear to be a threat. Keep still and then try to slowly back away.
Personal Protection Hiking: Outdoor Safety Techniques
Your tactical training can keep you safer during a hike. Many of the key tactical skills will help you avoid danger in the outdoors. Situational awareness and tactical readiness will prove to be vital outdoor safety techniques in a risky encounter. Preparation will equip you for both wilderness survival and trail self-defense. Having the right gear can make a big difference.
Bear spray should be included with your equipment if you’re venturing into bear territory. You might be able to use it to deter a human attacker as well, but that is not its intended purpose. It is not classified as self-defense gear! Don’t rely on bear spray alone if you need a deterrent versus people.
If you’re feeling highly vulnerable, you may be able to hike with a weapon. Just be sure to observe the rules and regulations for it. Even something like pepper spray may have restrictions. A tactical knife can be a good option here—as a knife is a traditional outdoor tool commonly carried by hikers.
Communication tools will come in handy in an emergency. While you can’t expect an immediate response from rescue services, an attacker will think twice if they know that you’re in touch with someone else.
A first aid kit is absolutely a must-have. After an act of trail self-defense, you may end up with an injury that requires prompt treatment.
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