Is it safe to hike in Forest park alone??? (Portland: crime, homes)

[msheiny]

It looks like a beautiful park. Is there much crime that takes place within the park? As a young woman would you hike/bike alone?
thanks

[Squidlo]

Id recommend wearing a lot of cologne.. much easier for the police dogs to find the body. Enough dark humor..
Over the years I lived in Portland I can recall many instances of rape and women disappearing in the woods of Forrest Park. Bodies have been dumped there even recently. I even had a childhood friend murdered in that park. No I dont believe its safe to run, hike, walk ect.. in the park alone if you are a woman. My two cents here, and you can check the news archive in portland and see what has happened in that park over the years. Your mileage may vary. Id at least get a good hiking buddy or a large protective dog.



Squidlo

[msheiny]

Thanks for your response. Not really what I wanted to answer to be, but not surprised! I do have two visious golden retrievers!!!!.......not!!

[oldtintype]

I think it depends on where and when. I know a fair amount of people who do jog and hike alone or with just a dog. It's a very popular jogging area. I'd consider contacting someone from one of the trail/hiking/jogging groups, people who actually use the park for specific info rather than just sensational stuff. I also believe the bodies found that the poster aboved mentioned were prostitutes who were dumped there. Not that that's any better but I don't think they were killed in the park or preyed upon in the park. I've taken my son (five) and our border collie there several times and we didn't feel uncomfortable. We didn't go hiking hours into the park though and maybe that's the difference.

A year or two ago there was a story about hikers who found a man and daughter who were living in the park in a really hidden away area and had been apparently for a long time. He only left to get his social security checks and homeschooled the daughter in the park. It was a strange story and he ended up taking the daughter from the foster care home she'd been put in and disappearing again--most likely still living in the park somewhere! Parts are so rural that it would take an experienced hiker/search and rescue person to find you, so yes, there could be a lot of people hidden away living in the park or other things. I imagine if you're interested in short hikes during the day that's where the difference is.

[oldtintype]

Here's a link to the story, unfortunately it doesn't tell you that shortly after all of this they disappeared again...
Peak Oil News & Message Boards >> Public Policy; Political and Legal News >> Amazing Survival Story - Foreshadowing From Portland (http://www.peakoil.com/article332.html - broken link)

[msheiny]

Thanks for sharing!

[PNW-type-gal]

Forest Park is HUGE. Even though it's right above downtown Portland, parts of it are pretty remote and empty. Certainly the main paths are just as safe as any other large park, despite the alarmist comments above. I've walked several of the paths by myself - granted, during the day, and in the major areas - and never been slightly worried.

[nancy thereader]

That's amazing that parts of the park are still rural. And, it is part of a city ???

[PNW-type-gal]

Forest Park is a City of Portland Park + natural area with 74 miles of trails on 5,100+ acres (so says the city website).

Portland Parks & Recreation :: Forest Park

Portland's Forest Park — Friends of Forest Park

[Squidlo]

I dont really consider losing a close friend in that park to be alarmist. She was just 16 and not a prostitute just a normal young woman. That being said common sense should be used anywhere you may be alone.


Squidlo