That's bite, not bit :-) I had meant to mention last night that over the years, I've noticed that while out paddling with other kayak campers, there as been a wide disparity amongst those who do and don't take proper precautions around the camp site. Many don't seem to care much about food in their tents, placement of tent spot, where they cook, etc. If I've noticed any consistency, it would be one where the closer the group has been to know problem areas, the more effort and caution is exercised (even amongst the more lazy). My personal philosophy has always been to take adequate precautions no matter what my location is. Family camping in a park to right out there in prime bear habitat, there are non-negotiable practices that I adhere to. Foodstuffs, toothpaste, gum -- you name it -- if it is a substance that would attract attention, then I'm overly cautious. It doesn't matter where I am. Some of you have had small vermin nibble through tents and gear, so you know that even precautions to protect expensive tents and gear, still pays dividends. So, be alert, be extra cautious, and don't be lulled into complacency just because your not camped unavoidably near big bear habitat. Hang your food, keep a clean camp, and eat well away from your tent and sleeping area. Spills and such can be difficult to clean up out there. Be camp wise. And don't feed animals or leave food scraps for the little (and big critters). BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 06:14 AM 07/05/2000 -0700, Doug Lloyd wrote: >I had meant to mention last night that over the years, I've noticed that >while out paddling with other kayak campers, there as been a wide >disparity amongst those who do and don't take proper precautions around >the camp site. > >Many don't seem to care much about food in their tents, placement of >tent spot, where they cook, etc. I learned about this, first hand, at Bull Lake, Montana in 1985. I did a good job of policing my camp before nightfall. I noticed an old stump with many claw marks but did not pay much attention to it. Then, shortly before retiring, I got out a bag of peanuts. I ate half the bag, and left them on the table. Later that night, a bear woke me by tearing apart the ant-infested stump just outside my camp. Looking out from the fly of my tiny tent the bear looked about 100 feet tall. (You try it!) After savagely ripping chunks off the stump the bear wandered over to the picnic table and helped himself to my peanuts. Now the scary part. The bear turned back toward me and sniffed around the perimeter of my little tent. My first thought was of a Gary Larson cartoon which has the bear, seeing someone in my situation, saying "Sandwiches!" My next thought was simply that the bear would piss on my tent, which would have ended my trip instantly. The bear got bored with me and moved on into the Cub Scout camp nearby. They did the beating on pots and pans thing (I couldn't, all mine were stowed away with all the food except the d**n peanuts) and the bear ran from their camp, back through mine, and crashed off into the woods. Will I take proper bear precautions, and stick to them, next time out? You better believe it. jerry. ps. The mosquitos were worse than the bears at Bull Lake. Ain't goin' back there again. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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