[pct-l] Bear Spray and Snow

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

Oh, so I should worry and fret and carry pepper spray because of what  
happens in some national park where people are storing their food  
improperly all the time and chasing bears around with cameras to try  
and get a good story to tell their friends at home?

The reality of the PCT is not like a national park or a tv nature  
documentary. The reality is you carry a bear can in the areas where  
it's required and probably don't see any bears there outside the car  
camps. Then the rest of the time you don't have trouble with them  
because they run away as soon as they see you. Sounds sanguine but  
it's just how it is. No need to stir up fear when it's not really  
needed (oh wait, it's the PCT-L and winter, sorry, carry on.)

On Dec 1, 2012, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: "JPL" <jplynch at crosslink.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bear Spray and Snow
>
> Probably don't want to be quite so sanguine about black bears.   
> They have
> been known to attack and kill people, including not long ago at  
> Great Smokey
> Mountains NP.  They need to be treated like the wild animals they  
> are.  We
> don't carry bear cans in black bear territory but its wise to  
> protect your
> food and give them plenty of room.