[cdt-l] bears

[Ginny & Jim Owen]

Skot Phrea wrote:
>I apolgize for being all "agro" in my earlier post, I just got home after a
>"shakedown" of much of the " O.T ''. My train service on my late Amtrak
>surely contributed to my bad attitude. IF ANYONE IS POMPOUS IT IS ME.
>A.I.D.S / H.I.V  carries a signifigant emotional weight as well as counting
>ounces of medications. I love everyone that has kindness in thier heart. If
>anyone would like a free crystal necklace I will give you one because i 
>sent
>a bunch home and I cannot afford MILKSHAKES for all of you .  The Sinatra
>and Sotol have me in a very mellow mood.  3000 +  G.P.S. scout applications
>~   Love ,   Skot
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "William Tarantino" <wjtara at wm.edu>
>To: <cdt-l at backcountry.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 11:58 AM
>Subject: Re: [cdt-l] bears
>
>
> > Jim,
> >
> > Your reasoning that thruhikers are at less of a risk of attack because
> > there are no documented incidents of attacks on thruhikers makes no 
>sense.
> > Of all the visitors to bear country, thruhikers are probably the MOST
> > susceptible to attack, simply because they are there for months at a 
>time.
> > The only reason why there are no documented attacks on thruhikers is
> > because there are at most 50 in any given year.  There are annual 
>attacks
> > on backpackers, and a thruhiker is simply a backpacker who is in bear
> > country for a much longer time.  I agree that the best way to avoid 
>being
> > killed or permanently disfigured by a bear is to travel in groups, but
> > unfortunately thats not a possibility for everybody.  In the meantime, 
>its
> > no insult to you if someone else (even mistakenly) decides to carry bear
> > spray, even in ignorance, so why the condescension?
> >
> > Will

Skot -
Relax - you can't hurt me like that. But it would piss me off greatly if you 
got yourself eaten by the bear.  Learn about bears - knowledge is better 
than bear spray.  You can start here -

http://gf.state.wy.us/bearid/index.aspx

At least if you get eaten, you'll now which kind of bear is doing it.  <VBG>

Will - I disagree totally about the relative dangers of thruhiking and 
hunting.  Go hunting sometime - and while you're carrying out the bloody 
carcass, think about how much safer you were as a hiker.  Some of those 
"backpacker" attacks have been hunters in exactly that situation.  <G>

In the meantime - think disgust rather than condescension.  Bear spray is no 
magic wand - it won't save you if you don't know how (or when) to use it.  
Or when NOT to use it. But we'll maybe discuss more of that that at a (much) 
later date.  Maybe November. Right now - I'm goin' hikng.

Walk softly,
Jim

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