[pct-l] Mendo Rider and bear charms

[Kathi]

I might appreciate a middle of the night bear snuggle if they were soft 
like a teddy bear. :)  Okay... I digress...
Kathi

On 11/6/13 11:31 AM, Nick Thelen wrote:
> Susan Wrote:
> "Although in the high country Mendorider did use bear canisters elsewhere he consistently used what he called bear charms
> which were mothballs in a bag or used individually placed around the items he wanted to protect.  Since I considered Ed Anderson
> to be THE authority on riding the PCT I followed his advice on my journey and placed exactly 10 mothballs around my tent,
> covered tack and food (horse & human) and the only time I had any problem was when I failed to include a small carrying bag which
>   had snacks in it earlier in the day. The chipmunks nibbled at the corners I guess smelling the crumbs.  As far as bears,
> we camped in a few areas where known bears habituated but never had any problems. Have you ever smelled mothballs...
> my guess is the bears and other animals just don't perceive the smell as related to something edible.
>
> Susan"
>
> __________________________________________________________
>
> Just wanted to add a quick counterpoint.
>
> Bears (and other animals) are intrigued by unique/new smells and will come to investigate.
>
> This is not based on my personal experience, but my family homesteaded in Alaska
> before I was born - the 'mothball/ammonia/bleach' idea has been around for some time
> and from my family's perspective is absolutely not a deterrent but more of an attractant
> for bears....and moose for that matter.
>
> To add mothballs are poisonous....unique smell, bear eats mothballs...bear gets sick - not cool.
>
> Best to get the food canistered, away, up in a tree, etc...because I believe no one would
> appreciate a middle of the night bear snuggle :^O
>
> just my .02
> - Nick
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