The Chronicle published a report this week on the death of Joanna Shields. Shields was an experienced athlete and outdoors person, who was found face down in the water in Ventana Wilderness near Big Sur, in a scene authorities described as “suspicious.”
Perhaps it will turn out that her death was a tragic accident, but it’s hard to avoid jumping to the conclusion that it may have been the result of gender-based violence, a threat which I, as a white, cis, het-presenting dude, frankly have never had to consider. I do a lot of solo traveling and camping out in remote areas, and while there are always risks, I have the privilege of safety from attack based on my gender, sex, or presentation.
In 2024, “Man vs. Bear” became a viral phenomenon; women were asked whether they’d rather be alone in the woods with a random man or a random bear, and the vast majority of women chose the bear. And, when men were asked which situation they’d prefer for their wife or daughter, men also overwhelmingly chose the bear. It was a sad statement about gender-based violence in our society. (Sadder, still, that many men chose to ridicule the exercise, rather than learn something from it.)
One of the women who chimed in on the debate at the time was Laura Killingbeck, an accomplished bikepacker and gravel rider. Her 2024 article on bikepacking.com digs into some of her experiences interacting with men on her trips; mostly positive, but some harrowing. Killingbeck states, plainly, that “The central reason why fewer women travel alone is our fear of male violence and sexual assault.” She continues:
Would you rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear?” is just another way of asking, “Are you afraid of men?” It’s the same question I’ve been fielding for the entirety of my life as a solo female traveler. It’s the same question that hovers over women all the time as we move through the world.
Killingbeck is now embarking on the “Choose the Bear” tour, in partnership with Orsa Credit Union. For eight weeks she will trek across Michigan, meeting with support workers and raising awareness of gender-based violence. She doesn’t have a specific ask, but check out her Insta feed as she takes on this new project, using her bike as a tool to start conversations about traveling as a solo woman.
