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#105794 - 11/04/08 04:14 AM Safety Tips For Backpackers
aed343 Offline
newbie

Registered: 09/07/08
Posts: 3
Loc: Ecuador
With a growing popularity in outdoor sports likes hiking, backpacking safety is concern. Many backpackers travel abroad to hit the trails in exotic places.
Unfortunately, many become victims of crimes because of poor security practices. Criminals seek out backpackers because they are easy targets.

Why?

First, many travel alone to isolated places where a law enforcement presence is none existent. Second, backpackers tend to carry everything with them in their bags. Important things like passports, cash, mp3 players, and credit cards.

So what can you do as a backpacker to be safe and enjoy your trip to a foreign country?

Never hike alone. Travel with a group of backpackers instead. Besides, this will make your trip more enjoyable and give you the opportunity to develop friendships with others who have the same interest.

Inform family and friends of your plans. This will prevent them from worrying after not hearing from you after a couple of days. Many panicked family members and friends contact embassies and law enforcement abroad to start a search for loved ones after losing contact for a couple of days, only to find out later that the “missing person” was in fact up a mountain hiking, with no form of communication and in no danger.

Be sure to carry a small first aid kit with you. This way in the event that you are injured, you will have medical assistance available. You could also help someone else along the trail if they need assistance.

Also, make sure that you are physically able to take on the task of hiking. Here in Quito, Ecuador the altitude is an issue. In fact, it is the second highest capital in the world next to La Paz, Bolivia. Getting accustomed to the altitude takes time. So be careful if you are hiking in high altitude locations. Furthermore, any extreme variation in climate, which is different from that of your home country, can cause problems. Be sure to check out weather conditions ahead of time.

Use a skilled guide who is familiar with the area. This prevents you from getting lost or accidently straying into “bad areas”. Also, the guide will have local points of contact that he can reach out to in order to help in emergency situations.

Leave your passport, extra cash, and credit cards at the hotel in a safe rather than carrying them in your backpack. There is no need for these items in the isolated areas that you are visiting.

For those of you who enjoy hiking, backpacking safety should be a priority.

What other tips would you all suggest?
_________________________
Alton
http://www.travel-security-and-safety.com/

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#105795 - 11/04/08 05:45 AM Re: Safety Tips For Backpackers [Re: aed343]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
I don't backpack in other countries, ie ones I don't live in. Other than this factor, your list sounds pretty standard and has been posted here many times before.
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

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#105796 - 11/04/08 04:48 PM Re: Safety Tips For Backpackers [Re: aed343]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
AED343, Welcome to the TLB Forum <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Ecuador is a great place for backpacking and visiting IME. Been there, Done that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You make very valid points that I reiterate in some posts when foks inquire about travel to certain parts of the World. But your points apply to places that we seek out as you mentioned, because we like solitude. With solitude comes the danger of isolation from help whether it's with regard to an injury, animal attack, or thieves <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Keep posting here as it's nice to have folks from outside the USA to give another side to opinions and topics. You could probably chime in on cold weather camping as it does get quite cold up there from what I recall <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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#105797 - 11/06/08 04:31 PM Re: Safety Tips For Backpackers [Re: lori]
aed343 Offline
newbie

Registered: 09/07/08
Posts: 3
Loc: Ecuador
Thanks for the comments. However, as "basic" as these tips may seem and regardless of the number of times they are mentioned people still refuse to heed them.

Just 6 months ago we had a serial rapist victimizing backpackers left and right. Most of the victims were lone female backpackers.

On a daily basis backers are robbed by criminals here because they fail to follow the mentioned tips.

The way I see it, the more people that hear and read the tips the better.
_________________________
Alton
http://www.travel-security-and-safety.com/

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#105798 - 11/07/08 05:31 PM Re: Safety Tips For Backpackers [Re: aed343]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
Amen Brother, Amen to that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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