Fears of Attack and No Cell Reception Deter Women Trail Runners

 A couple of weeks ago, Greg Ellifritz posted an article in which he related his encounter on a hiking/running trail with a woman carrying a knife in hand, probably for self-protection (see "The Girl With A Knife"). He was hiking up the trail while the woman with a knife was coming down the trail toward him. With no room really to move off the trail because of how steep was the hillside, the two had to pass on the trail. It presents an interesting "what would you do" scenario, and Greg gives his thoughts and reasoning for how he reacted and defused the situation. He also followed up with a later article more generally discussing self-defense for hikers (see "Hiker Self-Protection Strategies"). See also his article, "Best Backpacking Gun?" (spoiler, he generally uses an S&W 317 "kit gun" carried in a Safepacker Concealment Holster in remote areas where he is unlikely to encounter predators, but will upgrade to a .357 for areas where he is more likely to encounter 4-legged predators or 9mm where a 2-legged predator might be more common). 

    The articles about the woman with the knife were in the back of mind when I read the following from MedicalXpress: "Fears of attack and no phone signal deter women trail runners, finds study." It notes a recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, which asked 548 regular trail runners about their preferences and concerns when engaged in the sport, and relates, in part:

    The leading concern for all trail runners (women and men alike) was slipping or falling (55.1%). The concerns of men and women differed, however, when asked about encountering other people or wild animals, and the loss of phone reception on trails.

    Women respondents reported a far greater fear of other people (38.9%) and cougars (32.4%) than men, (12.6% and 21.2% respectively). In addition, 50.8% of women were concerned by loss of reception, compared with 33.8% of men.

 I would bet that hikers have similar concerns.