Verified answer

In 2009 a 19 year old girl was hiking right where you're planning on going, and was attacked by a pack of coyotes and later died. You need to run with a partner, or maybe even a couple partners. It might even be smart to just stay off the trails and run where it's more public.

A handgun would be best. A stick will work.

When I was a kid, my dad would go jogging in the neighborhood and my sister and I would ride our bikes with him. The people were nice, but there were a lot of feral dogs in the area. Though they were never an issue, my dad would always carry pepper spray for them. That would work for you as well. Don't spray into the wind and only use it if it approaches you aggressively.

From my understanding though, coyotes are skiddish to people unless they are in a group. If a pack comes up to you, you may have a problem.

The best advice I can give you is not to run on the trails. Even if you go with a friend, both of you will be safest on the public street.

The same thing you do if any other wild predator approaches you: make a lot of noise, stand your ground, and act intimidating.

However, you would do well to avoid running in the woods unless you're able to take something to defend yourself. A walking stick would be okay, but better would be a handgun, .22LR rifle, or similar. If you do not have access to any guns, I'd say just run at a track somewhere, or in town.

Coyotes rarely attack, but better safe than dead.

Coyotes shouldn't bother you, a lot of people confuse them with a wolf. A coyote isn't very big and it's not going to mess with a full sized human, even if a pack of them comes up to you if you just act big and start doing your best imitation at a lions roar they will scatter. If they keep at it they may be rabid so then a stick would be a great tool for beating it down.

I would be more leery of bears, bears generally won't mess with you either, and black bears will usually just run from from you, but if you see a big brown bear you could be in serious trouble. Standing your ground and making noise works for almost every predator except a bear that's BIGGER than you.

Just say "meep meep", tap your feet in the air and run away!

On the serious hand, please read these links before you camp. You and especially your father should have background knowledge if anything goes unplanned.

Never go hiking alone or at night and yes, bring something to throw at it.

http://www.dcsheriff.net/Coyote_Safety_Tips.html

http://cityoflonetree.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=16...

A stick will work. I also think a knife would be good but idk on how close you want to get. A stick really is better because you have less chance at getting bitten.

Yes, a stick will suffice.

Here where I live, I pull my Kimber and wait to see if he will attack or not, most cases they do not.

Say beep beep then drop an anvil on his head.

Be faster then your slowest friend