[pct-l] BEAR AVOIDANCE - - - BEAR REPELLENT

[Michael Chamoun]

Amen!

On Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 8:17 AM, Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com <
diane at santabarbarahikes.com> wrote:

>
> On Jan 23, 2009, at 7:19 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> > In Kentucky I've seen campsites that were littered with Moth
> > Balls.  When I
> > asked what it was about they told me, to keep snake away.  I think
> > these
> > might replace the "anti-snake & bear tone generator."
>
> Oh lovely. It's bad enough that Section A is littered with the trash
> of novice thru-hikers (I don't believe immigrants pack Clif bars and
> other stuff like that). Now we're encouraging people to litter the
> place with toxic moth balls. (I know you aren't encouraging this, but
> I hope nobody thinks this is a good idea.)
>
> If people are so terrified by wildlife, they should stay in the city.
>
> Snakes are nothing to worry about. Just don't harass them or step on
> them and everything will be fine. If one is in your way, thump the
> ground and wait for him to leave. If he won't leave, just walk a very
> wide space around him or toss a few lightly thrown rocks in his
> direction. Snakes are beautiful. Powerful, lithe, interesting creatures.
>
> Every time the bear can talk comes up the fear on this board gets
> whipped into a frenzy. Just don't be stupid. Buy the biggest bear
> can. Your food won't fit in anything less. Probably won't fit in the
> biggest one, either. If you haven't hiked for months at a time,
> you're going to underestimate your hunger. You will be WAY hungrier
> than you have ever been. At least you won't have any toiletries to
> put in it. What's the point of those?
>
> Put your food in the bear can, put the bear can away from your camp
> and retrieve it in the morning. Yawn. A boring ritual that just about
> ensures nothing will happen. Bears have learned about the bear cans.
> You're going to be fine.
>
> I enjoyed seeing bears on the trail. They were usually so terrified
> when they saw me they ran like I didn't know they could. It was
> always so disappointing. But for a second or two they didn't notice
> me and it was great to see them, even if I was quaking just a bit. I
> never saw them in the Yosemite area, except for the car camp at
> Tuolumne Meadows. I saw them before and after, though, and lots of
> tracks!
>
> I saw a little fox running down the trail toward me near Burney
> Falls. He had no idea I was there for a very long time. It was
> wonderful to see an animal not behaving in fear. As soon as he saw me
> his facial expression changed and he ran like heck. Too bad. He was
> so cute.
>
> If only the birds didn't curse and flee from me and saw me as one of
> their friends, I would have had an even better time with the wildlife.
>
> What would you rather experience out there? Moth balls and the
> sterility of ordinary human life, or a world you don't normally live
> in? Don't be stupid but don't be so full of fear you don't experience
> things, either. Or worse, leave the area a disgusting trash heap of
> toxic crap.
>
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