[pct-l] bear bagging

[Josie]

OK, I can't resist.

First of all, I totally agree with Ryan's comments about the bears and the need to carry a bear canister. But I have to say the best bear prevention technique outside of the national parks is the four-legged variety. My dog has travelled most of the PCT with us and is now hiking the CDT with my husband and I and we have never had a problem with a bear with the dog around. Don't get me wrong, if it came down to it a bear could easily kill a dog, but they don't like dogs, so they just stay away. We live in Nor. Cal and have had more than 50 face-to-face confrontations with bears (never lost any food), but all of our bear encounters have been without the  dog.