Long pond - mt scio hilltop - oxen pond

Hello,

Sorry if this is a ridiculous question, but I always walk the long pond loop. And I climbed the long pond to Mt. Scio hilltop once. I am an adult, female-presenting, and I walk alone usually. But I called home and told my dad my weekend plans. I told him I wanted to do that hiking trail, then go to the botanical garden, then do the botanical garden’s oxen pond loop.

But then my dad started getting contrary, which is fair I guess, warning me about how women get assaulted all the time on enclosed, woodsy walking trails. Telling me not to do the Mt. Scio Hilltop alone ever again. Am I stupid for climbing the Mt Scio hilltop alone? Or is my dad just slightly too concerned?

Because when I went, it felt like the only risk was the probability of tripping over your own feet and breaking your neck 😭!

Oh also tell me other safe walking trails to moderate level hikes I can do, as a solo hiker… but within St. John’s itself because I am bus reliant and don’t have a car.