Chelsea King – Poway – Update – Body Found
03/02/2010: UPDATE: Chelsea King’s body has been found and the search has been called off.
Lake Hodges will never be the same. I will think of her every time I am there and every time I drive by it, which is very often.
These used to affect me before, but, now that I have a child of my own, my heart goes out to her friends and family.
Regarding hiking safety, I don’t know what to say. Lake Hodges was one of the areas where I felt a lone woman could be safe. There are trails like Black Mountain and Woodson Mountain, where the trails are sufficiently filled with people to deter a would-be predator. But that is what I thought about Lake Hodges.
Hopefully, putting this guy away will remove a great percentage of danger from San Diego.
I won’t say any more about this except it is tragic and pointless. There are going to be new debates about the release/punishment/rehabilitation of sexual offenders, but it is really outside the scope of this site.
Stay safe out there on the trail.
Unbelievable what people will do to one another. My heart goes out to her family. The punishment will not, could not, fit the crime.
What a tragic story. I know I’ve asked you before about advice for hiking alone as a woman, and I always stick to suburban hikes with high traffic. But regardless of gender, I think everyone should be cautious and find a hiking companion whenever they can.
My condolences go out to the King family.
People, be careful, make smart decisions, learn self-defense (which also teaches you to be aware and what to look for) and, as Kelly states, hike with a partner.
I tend to hike alone quite a bit, but, as a relatively large male of the species, I am not a likely target. I still keep my eyes and ears open for anything unusual, keep my cell phone handy, and leave my detailed itinerary with a loved one.
Please be safe out there people. Too bad the reality of aberrant social behavior and criminal motivation can interrupt our zen-like moments on the trail.