[pct-l] BEAR AVOIDANCE - - - BEAR REPELLENT

[David Margavage]

Bear can - check, 50' parachute line - check, bear spray - check, Anti snake
sulfide - check, Anti-bear moth balls, Anti snake & bear tone generator, 357
magnum - check, and oh yes DEET - check.  Hope I didn't forget anything ;-)

Are we there yet?



On 1/23/09, Michael Chamoun <nano.michael at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Amen!
>
> On Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 8:17 AM, Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com <
> diane at santabarbarahikes.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > On Jan 23, 2009, at 7:19 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> > > In Kentucky I've seen campsites that were littered with Moth
> > > Balls.  When I
> > > asked what it was about they told me, to keep snake away.  I think
> > > these
> > > might replace the "anti-snake & bear tone generator."
> >
> > Oh lovely. It's bad enough that Section A is littered with the trash
> > of novice thru-hikers (I don't believe immigrants pack Clif bars and
> > other stuff like that). Now we're encouraging people to litter the
> > place with toxic moth balls. (I know you aren't encouraging this, but
> > I hope nobody thinks this is a good idea.)
> >
> > If people are so terrified by wildlife, they should stay in the city.
> >
> > Snakes are nothing to worry about. Just don't harass them or step on
> > them and everything will be fine. If one is in your way, thump the
> > ground and wait for him to leave. If he won't leave, just walk a very
> > wide space around him or toss a few lightly thrown rocks in his
> > direction. Snakes are beautiful. Powerful, lithe, interesting creatures.
> >
> > Every time the bear can talk comes up the fear on this board gets
> > whipped into a frenzy. Just don't be stupid. Buy the biggest bear
> > can. Your food won't fit in anything less. Probably won't fit in the
> > biggest one, either. If you haven't hiked for months at a time,
> > you're going to underestimate your hunger. You will be WAY hungrier
> > than you have ever been. At least you won't have any toiletries to
> > put in it. What's the point of those?
> >
> > Put your food in the bear can, put the bear can away from your camp
> > and retrieve it in the morning. Yawn. A boring ritual that just about
> > ensures nothing will happen. Bears have learned about the bear cans.
> > You're going to be fine.
> >
> > I enjoyed seeing bears on the trail. They were usually so terrified
> > when they saw me they ran like I didn't know they could. It was
> > always so disappointing. But for a second or two they didn't notice
> > me and it was great to see them, even if I was quaking just a bit. I
> > never saw them in the Yosemite area, except for the car camp at
> > Tuolumne Meadows. I saw them before and after, though, and lots of
> > tracks!
> >
> > I saw a little fox running down the trail toward me near Burney
> > Falls. He had no idea I was there for a very long time. It was
> > wonderful to see an animal not behaving in fear. As soon as he saw me
> > his facial expression changed and he ran like heck. Too bad. He was
> > so cute.
> >
> > If only the birds didn't curse and flee from me and saw me as one of
> > their friends, I would have had an even better time with the wildlife.
> >
> > What would you rather experience out there? Moth balls and the
> > sterility of ordinary human life, or a world you don't normally live
> > in? Don't be stupid but don't be so full of fear you don't experience
> > things, either. Or worse, leave the area a disgusting trash heap of
> > toxic crap.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pct-l mailing list
> > Pct-l at backcountry.net
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>