[pct-l] Bear Spray // Re: Pct-L Digest, Vol 98, Issue 20

[Brick Robbins]

2016-02-21 10:13 GMT-08:00  <jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com>:
> Conflicted National Park rules and regs?
> Impossible ! Government operates as a well oiled machine.
> Two years ago, my friends and I were specially told we could NOT take bear spray into the Hetch Hetchy region.
> I asked why Yellowstone NP allowed bear spray where at least 1/3 of packers have it in plain viewand Mr. Ranger at Hetch Hetchy gave an inadequate answer. But he was quick to ask uswhen we arrived if we had bear spray with us with an attitude.

It is popular by some to attack government as being inherently bad.  I
guess one popular idea by these folks is to sell public lands, so
"private enterprise" can "do better" - as that seemed to be the goal
of the angry guys with guns that occupied Malheur National Wildlife
Refuge.

The National Park System manages each unique holding in the way it
sees a best, so rules will vary as the lands they protect vary. For
this reason, Yellowstone and Glacier NPs (with grizzlies) are going to
be different than Yosemite NP, which besides the scenery in "The
Valley" is mostly famous for black bears and the huge number of poorly
behaved idiots who visit the park.

If the Yosemite Ranger told you not to carry bear spray, then there
was a good reason for that, even you personally considered his answer
to be "inadequate."

Yes the Yosemite NP park employees sometimes do have "attitudes" but
they come from dealing with hoards people who think they know better
than the NPS does, and won't follow the rules.

The NPS does its best to  preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural
resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment,
education, and inspiration of this and future generations. Cut them
some slack.