[pct-l] Bear Spray

[ambery-80243 at mypacks.net]

Bear bells are actually not very effective in letting a bear know you are around.  They aren't loud enough, the noise they make gets lost amid other nature sounds such as wind and rivers, and there are birds, marmots and other critters that make similar noise that a bear wouldn't pay any attention to. 
>From the studies I've read, sounds that are completely unnatural in the woods, like clacking your poles together or tapping them on rocks is more effective. It's the same reason that talking or shouting will alert them.   Mama bears with cubs also don't want to be anywhere a male bear is, so snapping twigs will actually alert them because they may sense that something is walking through the woods that is threatening.  (And I'm surprised that rangers in Alaska actually suggested them.  I know a lot of outdoor people from Alaska who refer to them as "dinner bells".) 

 -----Original Message-----
>From: jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com
>Sent: Feb 21, 2016 10:13 AM
>To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>Subject: [pct-l] Bear Spray // Re: Pct-L Digest, Vol 98, Issue 20
>
>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.
>But if anyone is really concerned about bears where spray is prohibited, check out"bear bells." The concept is to alert the bear to your presence so you don't bump intoone another and spook him which could result in an attack upon yourself. They costabout $15 and hang from your pack while making a little noise but not a lot. They can alsobe turned off, so to speak, with a little thingy that they come with. So you can use them in the bush where you have less distance visibility and turn them off in the open where you feelsafer. Rangers in Alaska say they prefer them to spray because spray is used at that last second...better to alert the bears in advance of trouble.
>Day Early
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