[pct-l] Bear spray

[Marion]

Since you've asked, here's my opinion.
I have never done an overnight hike in grizzly country.  I have never 
used or even touched a can of bear spray. Black bears in general are not 
dangerous animals if you follow basic principles.  They are 
opportunistic, persistent, intelligent, patient, and creatures of habit.

I have heard about a few incidents in which people were injured by black 
bears on or near the PCT.
Some true incidents, as near as I recall:
Location:  Tahquitz Scout Camp near Jenks Lake (Barton Flats, So Cal. 
This camp has no central dining hall.  All troops cook all their meals 
in their campsites, all summer long.  So they have lots of bear 
activity.)  Scouts are sleeping cowboy style on tarps and under open 
tarps.  Some have gone to bed dirty, wearing clothes they cooked/ate in. 
  Two sleeping scouts get their heads scratched by a bear who is walking 
thru camp in the dark looking for food. Both scouts are back at camp the 
next day showing off their stitches and bandages.  The bear was tracked 
and killed.

Near Center Basin crossing, JMT
A bear gets food down from a tree hang.  The hiker tries to get the food 
back.  The bear takes a swipe at the hiker and the hiker is injured.

Also near Center Basin crossing, JMT
A hiker is sleeping with his food.  The bear crashes the tent and the 
hiker is injured.  The bear is tracked and killed.

At Tuolumne Meadows Hiker camp
A hiker gets sick during the night and vomits in his tent.  A bear grabs 
the tent and drags tent and hiker some distance before being scared off 
by onlookers.



Notice some commonalities to these stories.
Dirty hikers.  Food odors.  Food in a tree.  Food in a tent.  Trying to 
get food back once a bear has it.
All of these are practices to avoid.

Instead do the opposite.
Food in a can, away from your tent.  Cook far away from the place you 
sleep.  Go to bed in clean clothes, with clean body, to minimize food 
smells in your tent/tarp area.  If a bear does get your food, let him 
have it.  If you follow sensible precautions you should never need bear 
spray.
Since I hike with llamas and a few llamas have been killed and eaten by 
black bears near the PCT, I carry a wrist rocket slingshot and practice 
with it.

I am sure this message will stimulate additional stories, corrections or 
additions to my stories.  Let's roll!