[Paddlewise] feathered bears wearing PFD's

Made it back from my solo trip up the eastern shore of Baranof Island here in
Southeast Alaska. Plenty of whales, seals and waterfalls. Ended up at the hot
springs at Tenekee. 


Got home to find over 800 messages from Paddlewise! My served screwed up and
send some of your prose two or three times!


I will add my comments to your recent discussions:


-I paddled a feathered paddle (When I started out as a white water paddler
that was all that was available) Last year I changed from a 90 degree to about
a 65 due to  tendionitis. Worked wonders.


-I always wear a my P.F.D. (even when I go down to the hot Evereglades of
Florida)


-I most of the time keep my food in my kayak at night and have yet to have a
bear bother it. 


_A bit of advice I will give on bears that I learned from the Tlingit peoples.
when you are about to come ashore yell "chuk...chuk" (means "get" in Tlingit)
This lets the bear know you are there. most bears I have encountered here in
Southeast (and that is a lot of bears) will do what ever they can to avoid you
but if surprised will defend themselves. Bears have bad eye site and when they
see you on the water your shape doesn't look human...in fact it looks more
like a killer whale...if they can't smell you at that point they can't idenify
what you are . your voice though is usually enough to warn them away. Also
they sometimes sleep in the tall grass at high tide level and are invisible
till you walk up on them when looking for a camp site....so yell and clap your
hands as you approach shore....and you will live to tell your grandchildren
about the bears you saw (at a safe distance ) in Alaska.


Bob...Sitka





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