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Working in the Wild:  Scary story - can't be too careful out there!  |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 6:25:45 PM
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A 24-year old female field researcher in Colorado's San Isabel National Forest was found dead after calling for help. Probable homicide.
Here's the link:
http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_178115840.html
It's easy to feel invincible when you're working outdoors, but the wilderness is no place to let your guard down. I think both women & men should be equipped with bear spray (if not a gun), radio or cell phone, and flares, but I've been out there a number of times without any of those things. Moral: Always watch your back, girls.
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Edited by - Jen on Jun 29 2007 07:27:54 AM |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 4:46:14 PM
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That is so sad! Those poor women! It is amazing that only one was killed! Doesn't it creep you out that the killer was still hanging around and was acting normal enought that the other woman asked him for help?!
Elizaray |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 4:55:39 PM
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| What a horrific story, this is why us mothers worry. What really is sad is how there are many stories about the kindness and helpfulness of people that never get reported just these kind of stories. I read a book called the Kindness of Strangers about a young man who set out to hitchhike across the country with no money just relying on the kindness of stranger. It worked out and he only had good encounters. I wonder if that would happen today. JoAnn |
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Vintage Redhead
outbound
14 Posts
Kaylyn
Saint Charles
IL
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 09:33:20 AM
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This is *so* tragic!! Those of us who go out camping, hiking, etc. do so to *escape* the everyday nonsense...not be confronted by it! The difficult part to wrap my brain around is that so many of us are trusting that those near us are like-minded and safe. What a sad reminder that we can be threated and harmed anywhere... ~ K
~ Kaylyn ~ (Suburban FARMGIRL, family CAMPER, altered ARTIST)
My Cause: http://nickspavilion.blogspot.com/
My Life: http://vintageredhead.blogspot.com |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 1:49:47 PM
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Yep, I hear you all. The infuriating aspect from my perspective as a (former) field biologist is that the government is always trying to save money in the wrong places, and penny pinching may well have contributed to this woman's death. Our illustrious president has effectively "condensed" the federal government per his Republican agenda by laying off vast numbers of employees (instead, contractors are hired for one-time jobs and volunteer labor is rampant). So, when it comes to remaining employees, it's cheaper to send a team into the field & have them break up to cover more ground. Bye-bye, buddy system. I have a female friend whose job often requires her to survey remote mountain areas alone (despite her own sensible reservations). Pardon me, but that is bulls t.
Sure, a similar tragedy could have occurred if a team (of women or men) had been working in close proximity, but chances are, the creep would have been more intimidated.
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Edited by - Jen on Jul 03 2007 1:51:45 PM |
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Vintage Redhead
outbound
14 Posts
Kaylyn
Saint Charles
IL
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 3:42:56 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Jen
Yep, ...when it comes to remaining employees, it's cheaper to send a team into the field & have them break up to cover more ground. Bye-bye, buddy system. I have a female friend whose job often requires her to survey remote mountain areas alone (despite her own sensible reservations). Pardon me, but that is bullst.
Sure, a similar tragedy could have occurred if a team (of women or men) had been working in close proximity, but chances are, the creep would have been more intimidated...
I agree, this isn't right. It goes against nearly every safety precaution we have been taught (and try to teach our kids) about taking a buddy everywhere and never going off alone by yourself. But these field researchers are having to make a difficult choice: go by myself, get the work done, earn a reputation in my field of expertise, earn good graces by being easy to work with, better the chances of landing one of the few *paid* positions in my field of expertise...*OR*...be bothersome, risk losing this, risk a future, be a cog in the wheel. Hmmmm...if it were *my* future and career at stake, I'm pretty sure I'd land on the side of going it alone. That isn't a choice that *anyone* should have to make.
I, too, think the creep would have been intimidated - sounds like a woman alone on the trail was his desired target. I hope he rots this time...he should never have been released in 2002!! ~ K
~ Kaylyn ~ (Suburban FARMGIRL, family CAMPER, altered ARTIST)
My Cause: http://nickspavilion.blogspot.com/
My Life: http://vintageredhead.blogspot.com |
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Working in the Wild: Scary story - can't be too careful out there! |
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Scary story - can't be too careful out there!
