Yep as stated, a bunch of men not knowing how to keep a woman safe. Well, I probably fall into that category as well, but here is my take on this thread....
First and foremost, if it is bad along that trail, don't use it. Go a different direction.
Get her to shop with a friend. Women in general don't take isolation well. During the hunter/gatherer days of mankind, the women folk were rarely isolated. They were always around other women during day time activities. They have the same needs today and for protection they should travel in pairs or groups.
I used to practice a lot of judo back in the day and won my share of contests. My favorite moves would be to jump or climb on a mans chest and stand him on his head. It is a move that even the small women in my dojo could do.
There is nothing quite like the dull-gong-like sound when the top of a mans head slams onto the cement sidewalk.
If you find her a good judo instructor that understands this, then take the opertunity to study with that instructor until your wife is comfortable with the techniques.
She will probably what you with her so you should learn the techniques as well. You can practice together.
Also ask about Dakikubi Jime - Flying headlock throw.
And how to use her legs to scissor a mans ribs and break them if the situation is dire and he has her on the ground with her legs spread.
A Yawara stick as a keychain is useful. Not for punching with it as women just don't have knockout power like a man does, but they can be used for pressure point work. Like the pressure point on the inside of your earlobe. If you want get a man to stand to attention use a Yawara stick or something similar and grab their earlobe in a way that you are pressing it to the nerve on the inside of the ear lobe. You will get him to jump.
All these things can be done by a small woman.
