Re: [Paddlewise] Grizzlies in Desolation Sound?

dmccarty_at_us.ibm.com wrote:
>
>BIG SNIP<
> I would be curious about the pepper percentage in the bear sprays.  And how
the
> percentage was decided on for use on bears.
>

>

|I wouldn't be testing the stuff any. There is just so much in a can and I
|would want it ALL in there, if I ever needed it. Besides, as I said, it
|is documented to ATTRACT bears, so walking down the trail spraying is
|akin to laying out a bread crumb trail. :>)

I don't think you should be spraying on the trail.  But if you carry the stuff
it
would be real to know that the can works.  They can leak and become clogged up.
I have
seen cans that are full but would not work.  To discover that your can ain't
gonna work
when you need to spray could turn into a very very very bad day.  Test Spray
before you
leave home.  Just point in the correct direction!  8-)

|I've never carried the stuff personally, I might add.
|Staying calm and waiting until the bear is close enough, especially in a
|full bore charge, will be a religious exsperiance tho..

Very Very Very true.  I think the spray for use on bears is better than nothing
but just
bearly, sorry could not resist. The bear is going to be very close and the user
is going to have to have enormous prescense of mind to spray the bear.  And even
then the outcome is going to be iffy.  On a person the odds are a bit better.

I have seen black bears while hiking on two occasions.  Awesome.  I was very
close both times
and it was wonderful.  The last time I was between mom and her cub.  Gulp.  Mom
was about 30 minutes hiking time from the cub and had plenty of time to see me
zig zaging up the trail.  I did not see mom until she got up and ran after the
large deer that we had spooked.

Later....
Dan


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