The mountains may be risky, the mornings may be dark and the streets may be sketchy, but damn it, that shouldn’t hold us back. Staying active and healthy is so incredibly important, and yet it can be hard to maintain this lifestyle while not putting yourself at risk. There has been a spike in mountain attacks in the past few months, and it remains relatively unsafe to walk around the streets of Cape Town. Activities like hiking, rock climbing, running, cycling, and heading to the gym have been tainted with fear, particularly for female bodies.
The usual advice is to avoid heading out when it’s dark and to never go alone. That’s not good enough. We are busy, independent people with things to do and lives to live. To organise our schedules and passions according to fear is infuriating. However, we are not powerless. Our community is there to protect us, and together we can help each other live the healthy, fulfilling, safe lives we deserve. Here are a few ways you can look out for yourself and your fellow badasses, both on the mountains and in the city:
1. WhatsApp groups
The mountains can be a pretty risky place, in terms of attacks as well as general safety issues such as falling, getting lost or getting injured. For a number of years, the Cape Town outdoor community has been taking steps to protect its members. A mass WhatsApp group has been established. It allows people to share details about their activities and, therefore, be connected to a network of trackers. You can let people know who will be going where, what route will be followed and when one is expected to return (e.g. two females hiking up Devil’s Peak, ETA 13:00). You can send regular updates on your progress, and once you are back safely, you let the group know. If you have gotten into trouble along the way and your messages stop, a few hundred people will soon be on a mission to get you home safely.
This system can be implemented on a smaller scale for urban activities. A WhatsApp group of people in the area will work just fine. For example, if I want to head to the gym and I’ll be walking home in the dark, I can let the group know about my plan, and they can monitor my messages to make sure I get back safely. You may even be able to find someone who can escort you home or would be willing to give you a lift.
If you would like to be added to the mass WhatsApp group, you can head to http://hikersnetwork.co.za/safetymountain/ where you will need to fill out a short Google form and then you will be added to the group.
2. Prepare for emergencies
While WhatsApp groups can help from afar, sometimes things go wrong and you need to be able to handle tricky situations until someone can get to you.
For mountain safety, the following may come in handy:
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a whistle (this is useful if you are unable to move and you want to attract attention)
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a first aid kit (you may want to include items such as bandages, gauze, antiseptic, antihistamines, and some over-the-counter painkillers.) For more info on handing first aid emergencies, you can check out this link (https://www.thebmc.co.uk/mountain-first-aid)
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something to keep you warm (a space blanket or waterproof windbreaker would be best)
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water and some nutritionally-dense food to keep you going
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a multitool of some sort (you can find some cheap options online, such as this one: https://www.takealot.com/marco-standard-9-piece-multi-tool-silver/PLID44766399 from Takealot!)
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some strong paracord or accessory cord (you can find this at most outdoor shops!)
For urban safety, a whistle and a protective measure such as pepper spray can be helpful in some situations. However, you should be aware that these items can actually put you in more danger as they may antagonise an attacker.
It is important to take note of the following numbers and have them stored somewhere in case of an emergency:
CPS – 021 650 2222/3
Police – 10111
Ambulance – 10177
Mountain Rescue – 021 937 0300
Cellphone emergency – 112 (you can dial this number from any cell phone, even one without airtime, and you will be directed to the closest emergency service)
3. Opt for group activities
Quite frankly, this is a really annoying tip that you’ve definitely already heard from someone. It’s frustrating that sometimes to be safe, you have to give up some independence. However, the above advice can really protect you, and often the only way to get close to guaranteed safety is to join up with other people!
There are a number of pre-existing events and groups that you can try out, such as:
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The Saturday morning Park Runs which take place all over the city (http://www.parkrun.co.za/)
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The Mountain Club of South Africa, which organises regular outdoor events (http://www.mcsacapetown.co.za/)
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The UCT Mountain and Ski Club which is run by students and offers weekly mountain events on your doorstep (you can sign up on Peoplesoft or at Sports Admin for a relatively low R200)
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UCT societies such as the athletics club, the cycling club and other sporting groups
And, of course, you could always start up your own running, cycling, hiking or gym group.
Safety concerns are an unavoidable part of living an active lifestyle, and they are not to be taken lightly. However, we should not be held back by fear. We all deserve to live life to the fullest, and it is ultimately up to us to watch out for each other. We will not be stopped.