A few questions about the land of enchantment (Socorro: trains, rain)

[ABQConvict]

You are more likely to be killed in a car crash than while camping out. That said, Arizona prison escapees are the leading cause of crime in New Mexico after cougars and snakes.

???

[ktroy]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

You are more likely to be killed in a car crash than while camping out. That said, Arizona prison escapees are the leading cause of crime in New Mexico after cougars and snakes.

???

Criminal cougars and snakes. Maybe NM is not for me after all...

[rruff]

Originally Posted by Northanna_2001

This makes me think twice about camping out, etc. in isolated places.

If you camp in really isolated places, the crooks will never find you. Much safer, IMO.

[ABQConvict]

Exactly, it is camping out within view of a road that is dangerous.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by rruff

If you camp in really isolated places, the crooks will never find you. Much safer, IMO.

Never say never....

Eley went to the Jemez Mountains in April of 2006 to be alone. By June, his family said they stopped receiving email and letters from Eley, and they reported Eley missing in December. Eley's skeletal remains were found in July 2009. Authorities made the connection between Eley and the man known as the Cookie Bandit, Joseph Burgess, after Burgess shot and killed Sandoval County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Harris. The gun Burgess used to kill Harris was registered to Eley.




Rich

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

New Mexico ranks #2 in the nation of the most dangerous states. That concerns me as these statistics must mean something.

What concerns me most aren't the targetted murders, domestic violence but some of the more random kinds of crimes. South of Las Cruces some gang members hid out in a secluded rest area and laid in wait for whoever might pull in there, a 20 year old kid traveling to relocate with a sister in California pulled in to rest and was murdered for no reason.

A couple young women in Las Cruces, one college students killed by some acquaintances she partied with out in the desert, another when she got home from a party - apparently a stranger who just noticed her coming home.

I'm never afraid but when it was explained that rest areas at night in New Mexico can be dangerous because very there are very few state highway police to check on them, it makes me more concerned about possible crime. Apparently the truck drivers know to avoid them, the poor 20 year old kid didn't know.

So many drug cartel members move their drugs through New Mexico that I think there is a risk to law enforcement types but also some of the drug addicts are weird, they seem to hang around secluded gas stations at night trying to sell you some story they need $30 for gas. They don't really scare me but you worry how desperate others might be and they might do more than try to convince you they just need gas money.

[Phawk57]

[quote= I'm never afraid but when it was explained that rest areas at night in New Mexico can be dangerous because very there are very few state highway police to check on them, it makes me more concerned about possible crime. Apparently the truck drivers know to avoid them, the poor 20 year old kid didn't know. [/quote]

Rest areas at night are dangerous anywhere. I will use one when traveling in daylight and especially if it is somewhat busy but I won't go into one at night.

[bongo]

There have always been concerns regarding leaving parked cars at easily accessible trailheads in northern NM. We've just accepted it as part of life. If it's easily accessible to the local partiers one's car can easily be broken into or vandalized.

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

Never say never....

Eley went to the Jemez Mountains in April of 2006 to be alone. By June, his family said they stopped receiving email and letters from Eley, and they reported Eley missing in December. Eley's skeletal remains were found in July 2009. Authorities made the connection between Eley and the man known as the Cookie Bandit, Joseph Burgess, after Burgess shot and killed Sandoval County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Harris. The gun Burgess used to kill Harris was registered to Eley.

That is tragic. To be honest, there are very few places in the Jemez that are accessible to the public that qualify as isolated, though. The Jemez are more road than mountain and the vastest roadless wilderness there is largely off limits.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

That is tragic. To be honest, there are very few places in the Jemez that are accessible to the public that qualify as isolated, though. The Jemez are more road than mountain and the vastest roadless wilderness there is largely off limits.

And that is why it took over three years to find the remains which were in the open? Sorry, I do not buy that explanation....

Come on folks, a few rules need to be observed.

1. Be alert of your surroundings... There was a young woman killed in northern New Mexico a few weeks ago. She was jogging on the railroad tracks. She did not hear the train, she was wearing an MP3 player...

I encounter these people quite often in various environments while walking my dogs... They are shocked that I might be trying to get around them while they are texting, talking etc on cells and/or have something else stuck in their ears...

2. Use some common sense. I have nothing to add to that...

3. Make sure you are prepared for some basic survival issues. Like warm clothing, water, yes even a cell phone. How many get lost every year on the "Non-Isolated" Sandia Peak.

There are no absolute rules that will keep you safe under all circumstances...


Rich