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Started By
Message
re: Backcountry Safety
Posted on 7/6/19 at 7:01 pm to Hammertime
Posted on 7/6/19 at 7:01 pm to Hammertime
quote:
Bear spray is the same pepper spray that women walk around with, but it just comes in a bigger canister. My dog got sprayed with it, and I didn't know it until 20 minutes later when my roommate petted him and wiped his face. Dog didn't make a noise or run away from the mailman lady who sprayed him through the fence
Absolutely not true. Not even close. Bear spray has an additive that creates more of a cloud than a spray. It also has a lower concentration than self defense spray. Also has an orange tint so it’s easy to see the area contaminated.
I live in an area where the brown bear population is higher than the human population. Make noise, keep bear spray with you and know how to use it. I’m out all the time and always have my bear spray, rarely have my glock. In the fall when bears are fattening up and closer to the shorelines looking for dead trout I usually have a sidearm.
Also a couple good books out about learning bear behavior. Worth researching if you are going to be out often.
2
Posted on 7/6/19 at 7:25 pm to TimeOutdoors
quote:
I live in an area where the brown bear population is higher than the human population. Make noise, keep bear spray with you and know how to use it. I’m out all the time and always have my bear spray, rarely have my glock. In the fall when bears are fattening up and closer to the shorelines looking for dead trout I usually have a sidearm.
So here's a scenario. You have bear spray and a powerful sidearm. You are being charged by a bear. What's your course of action?
Posted on 7/6/19 at 8:05 pm to Globetrotter747
quote:
So here's a scenario. You have bear spray and a powerful sidearm. You are being charged by a bear. What's your course of action?
You throw the spray and then shoot it to make it explode right in their face, duh.
Posted on 7/6/19 at 9:25 pm to Jack Daniel
Do some research, handguns don't have much stopping power, wounding a bear right on top of you is not going to be that good I don't think. Having said that, you need to practice with the bear spray canister before you need it.
Posted on 7/6/19 at 10:40 pm to TimeOutdoors
quote:It's not an additive, it's the spray pattern of the tip. It's called a fog pattern IIRC
Bear spray has an additive that creates more of a cloud than a spray
quote:So do many personal defense sprays
Also has an orange tint so it’s easy to see the area contaminated
Posted on 7/6/19 at 11:12 pm to NimbleCat
Mountain lions and ticks are your biggest threat. frick ticks.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 7:00 am to Golfer
quote:
Possession of a firearm without a special permit in National Parks and Forests is a yuge fine and/or trip to federal pound you in the arse prison.
Don’t think that’s true. A ranger told me it’s perfectly ok to carry in Olympic Natl park.
ETA....I’ve never carried.
This post was edited on 7/7/19 at 7:01 am
Posted on 7/7/19 at 7:30 am to LSUintheNW
Does anyone have any recommendations for a GPS with SMS capabilities?
Any info on the Garmin InReach Explorer?
LINK
Any info on the Garmin InReach Explorer?
LINK
Posted on 7/7/19 at 8:31 am to Globetrotter747
Bear spray and bear bag is all you need.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 10:15 am to mylsuhat
quote:
info on the Garmin InReach Explorer?
I have one and love it. I was getting text on the LSU game while hiking the Wind River range.
I have the most basic subscription so only send a few text a day. I really haven’t played with the gps part as much as just use the texting.
It blue tooth's to phone so the small screen size isn’t an issue.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 11:10 am to LSUintheNW
A recent amendment allows carry in NP. Some neck beards in Seattle were pissed when I was there a few months ago. They claimed rednecks would kill someone whilst they were picking mushrooms.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 11:26 am to Globetrotter747
quote:
You are being charged by a bear.
In what normal instance will anyone ever be charged by a bear? It is extremely unheard of and rare for this to happen.
How about follow protocol in bear country and you will likely never see one. I live in grizzly country and while I've encountered them, and have been bluff charged, I've never felt the need to administer my bear spray. And I am in the backcountry every week climbing peaks in Glacier, Flathead National Forest, the Mission Mountains Wilderness, etc.
People need to educate themselves if they are terrified about something that won't ever happen; otherwise simply stay out of bear country.
This post was edited on 7/7/19 at 11:32 am
Posted on 7/7/19 at 11:48 am to canyon critter
quote:
It is extremely unheard of and rare for this to happen.
What are the stats in N America. A few every year?
Another interesting stat I saw was most bear encounters start when the bear is already very close. Close enough where the speed of a bear charging gives you one second to react. Tough to draw aim and hit target that quick.
Bear spray hopefully just makes the bear decide you ain’t worth her/his time and effort.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 12:16 pm to canyon critter
quote:
How about follow protocol in bear country and you will likely never see one. I live in grizzly country and while I've encountered them, and have been bluff charged, I've never felt the need to administer my bear spray.
If it's so damn rare and unheard of and no one should be concerned about it, why do you even bother carrying bear spray, Billy Badass?
quote:
People need to educate themselves if they are terrified about something that won't ever happen; otherwise simply stay out of bear country.
There's a big difference between being terrified and being prepared. If I were terrified I wouldn't even be talking about it. I have hiked trails in bear country (including Glacier) alone without bear spray. Shouldn't have... but I did.
But I ultimately want to take hikes into the deep backcountry in remote places like Gates of the Arctic and Kluane and want to be as prepared as possible.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 12:25 pm to Globetrotter747
quote:
If it's so damn rare and unheard of and no one should be concerned about it, why do you even bother carrying bear spray, Billy Badass?
I've been on several trips this year without bear spray. You can be prepared by having it, but I have never had to administer it. And following protocol IS HAVING bear spray whether you "need it" or not... and like you, the only reason I didn't have it is because I forgot in my car as I was getting ready.
As far as carrying a gun, you can ask any backcountry ranger or permit officer and they will say bear spray is far more effective than a gun.
Learning behavior is more important and if you understand how they act you shouldn't be alarmed or afraid of seeing one. They're just as likely to run away as you are to feel the need to from it.
quote:
There's a big difference between being terrified and being prepared. If I were terrified I wouldn't even be talking about it. I have hiked trails in bear country (including Glacier) alone without bear spray. Shouldn't have... but I did.
But I ultimately want to take hikes into the deep backcountry in remote places like Gates of the Arctic and Kluane and want to be as prepared as possible.
Being prepared in Alaska is really no different than being prepared anywhere else. Sure, it's more remote but there's only 1 brown bear on average per 100 square miles in Gates of the Arctic.
This post was edited on 7/7/19 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 7/7/19 at 12:33 pm to Nodust
quote:
What are the stats in N America. A few every year?
Compared to how many backpackers and hikers enter the backcountry every year, it is a fraction of 1%.
quote:
Another interesting stat I saw was most bear encounters start when the bear is already very close. Close enough where the speed of a bear charging gives you one second to react. Tough to draw aim and hit target that quick.
If a bear is close, you aren't doing what you're supposed to by being verbal every few minutes. I do a lot alone here and I tend to be vocal every few minutes just in case there are bears that are nearby, and they have time to lead away from my voice as I come through.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 12:44 pm to canyon critter
quote:
As far as carrying a gun, you can ask any backcountry ranger or permit officer and they will say bear spray is far more effective than a gun.
I don't doubt that at all. But if I am getting out in the deep backcountry many miles away from civilization, I don't think it's unreasonable to want to carry a firearm.
quote:
Learning behavior is more important and if you understand how they act you shouldn't be alarmed or afraid of seeing one. They're just as likely to run away as you are to feel the need to from it.
I'm not afraid of seeing one... but I do respect the fact one could kill me if it got it in its mind to do so. And wild animals are never 100% predictable.
quote:
Being prepared in Alaska is really no different than being prepared anywhere else. Sure, it's more remote but there's only 1 brown bear on average per 100 square miles in Gates of the Arctic.
The further away I am from other hikers... the more inclined I am to want a firearm.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 1:07 pm to Globetrotter747
hmm...
I'm more worried about other hikers.
I'm more worried about other hikers.
Posted on 7/7/19 at 2:24 pm to awestruck
quote:
hmm...
I'm more worried about other hikers.
1+.
I think we've determined that bear attacks are uncommon. Like you, my main concern would be a very common two legged creature called man. Personally, if I were in the backcountry, I'd carry concealed one of my handguns. Which one would it be? The best fight stopper whose weight I could afford to carry. I'd have a 380 in my right front pocket or a 9mm on an outside the waistband holster, just behind my right hip. The topic of gun weight in the backcountry came up on a recent OB topic. A poster kept posting about how he couldn't afford to carry a gun weighing 4#. My Kahr CW 380 w/ 2 loaded mags (total 14 rounds) and a holster need not weigh much (mine weighs 19 oz).
If you want a more powerful gun like the 9mm, my Kahr CM9 w/ holster and 3 loaded mags (total 22 rounds) only runs 34 oz.
This post was edited on 7/7/19 at 9:08 pm
Posted on 7/7/19 at 2:43 pm to canyon critter
Bro. I need to get with you. I want to backpack/fly fish. Need recs.
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