[pct-l] No need to fear bears?

[Roger Carpenter]

Anyone contemplating hiking in grizzly country should read the book, "Bear
Attacks, Their Causes and Avoidance", by Stephen Herrero.  If the victim was
found dead in his tent, he probably had something in the tent the bear
really wanted, such as food.  Or, the campground was a source of food and
this particular bear had previously grazed the area and found food.
Habituation to sources of food left by humans is a common cause of bad
grizzly encounters.  A backpacker who selects campsites carefully, never
cooks in the campsite and keeps it very clean will likely avoid the kind of
attack the unfortunate victim in Montana had to endure.  Along most areas on
the PCT I would sleep with my food, but never in grizzly country!  Chapter 9
of this book is about "avoiding encounters" and covers the topic in detail.


Roger Carpenter
AKA Pine Cone


> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-
> bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Don Billings
> Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 6:21 PM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] No need to fear bears?
> 
> Bear attacks leave one dead, two injured at Montana campgrounds
> By the CNN Wire Staff
> July 28, 2010 5:53 p.m. EDT
> 
> ----------------------------------
> 
> Rangers are scouring the area to determine what type of bear was
> responsible.
> One man was found dead in his tent.
> My guess is that the bear(s) were grizzly. They aren't sure yet if it
> was more
> than one bear.
> 
> I know. The PCT doesn't have grizzly's but this is an FYI for people
> who might
> be thinking of the CD Trail which, I think,
> does go through Montana.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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