[pct-l] 1978 bear avoidance

[Jon Danniken]

Ralph Alcorn wrote:
> I'm enjoying reading 2500 - Mile Walk, An Oldtimer on the Pacific Crest
> Trail by Karl Ellingson, on his 1978-79 PCT thru-hike. A lot easier to get
> lost back then. Anyhow, his technique for bears was to carry a Ziploc bag
of
> mothballs, and open it every night and place it at the top of his food
bag.
> He did hang his food 20% of the time.

Pondering here, I would imagine that the bear would approach the mothballs
out of curiosity (they would attract the bears), but once close enough, they
*might* have a repellant effect.  Just thinking out loud here; maybe one of
you could go try it in bear country and let me know if I'm right.  :->

Jon