[pct-l] Safety on the trail

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good afternoon,

Several years ago I read a magazine article about Alaska bears, and it had
an interesting side-bar anecdote about a visiting tourist.  He was advised
to get a can of bear spray, so he did:  It wasn’t one of those breath-spray
size cans that makes a tiny mist; oh no, he got big one.  It had a pistol
grip and trigger, a nozzle that would shoot a heavy stream for about 20
feet, and the whole can would empty in less than 10 seconds.

Since he was familiar with spray-type insect repellant what do you suppose
he did with the bear spray?  That’s right – he hosed himself down with it!

For those of us who enjoy spicy foods it shouldn’t come as a surprise that
bears are attracted to the smell of oleoresin capsicum, the active
ingredient in the spray.  So…what’s to do if you get some of it on you,
then wake up in the middle of the night with a bear standing on your chest
reading the menu?  You’re going to have to resort to something serious:  Whip
out your mothball and stick it under his nose.

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/