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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 7 Feb 2012
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An ounce of preventative measures (i.e. good camping and food storage habits, extra awareness in bear country to prevent surprise encounters) is worth more than a pound of cure (guns).

Carry some bear spray and bangers just in case. Effectiveness is certainly not guaranteed, but having it as a backup will provide you with some comfort on the very rare occasion that you would actually have to use it.

Plus, in Alaska you won't ever be that far away from someone who is packing a gun. Keep that in mind when you making your moves on the local lasses
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Old 7 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MountainMan View Post
Plus, in Alaska you won't ever be that far away from someone who is packing a gun. Keep that in mind when you making your moves on the local lasses
This is the pure golden advice that you just don't get in a guide book...
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  #3  
Old 7 Feb 2012
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Quote: "The bear entered the vehicle through the windscreen, travelled through the car and out through the rear window, killing the drivers and a back seat passenger."

I love the Daily Mail! It's just too bad that the occupants of that car didn't have an assault rifle handy when the bear came flying through the air at them.

Someone I know vaguely through a backcountry skiing forum just posted a vivid description of a mishap with bear spray. He was camped with friends in the snows in Oregon and was asked how the spray worked. Demonstrating the procedure for pulling the pin to arm the spray can, he accidentally fired spray into both his eyes. He found this remarkably unpleasant.

Me, I neither carry nor particularly miss guns, bear spray, bangers, bells or other paraphernalia. Who needs more complications in their lives? In polar bear country I might be tempted, but grizzlies.....? Nah.

YMMV.

Ted, look for the Herrero book. It's good reading, and gives you lots of stories to tell without undue scaremongering.

Mark
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Old 7 Feb 2012
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I am sure RUS bears are no different from American or Canadian bears, so -

The advice I received here is that bears are at their most dangerous when they are -

- Hungry. Be extra wary after their hibernation period. Keep preparation cooking and eating of your own food to the minimum time and always store food in air-tight containers, hanging on trees well away from you and your camp.

- Threatened. Retreat but carefully and steadily, unless charged or followed faster than you are retreating. Be especially careful when there are young or injured bears about.

- Surprised. When camping or moving about make continuous noise so they hear you from a distance. I have heard of people wearing bells and a small radio round themselves. Although it could attract their attention it does reduce the chance of them acting on instinct and impulse when suddenly surprised by seeing you close up.

I have been told they find loud noise (like moto engines with aftermarket cans?) uncomfortable and, unless desperate, will avoid it.

The other advice I received was to climb a tree - but I am dubious about that for 2 reasons. It reduces your options to just that with no alternative escape plan or route if it fails. Secondly, bears can climb trees!
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