Bears, Backpacking and Beers.

Thanks to my parents I have received a subscription to Backpacker magazine for the last couple of years. Every month a fresh copy is on my doorstep filled with adventure travel ideas, gear reviews, tips, and great back country recipes etc. It is a gospel of sorts.

This month’s poll was; what would you do if a black bear had your food canister? The answers varied but the majority stated that they would make noise and attempt to scare away the bear. But many people don’t know what to do.

On our first introduction Tracy and I were hiking in Gatineau park near Ottawa when we came around a bend to see a mother and two cubs only a 100ft or so down the trail. Remaining calm we began yelling and making noise and the animals moved off into the bush and we continued on our way.

The largest bear I have seen to date was on the trail back to the car after rock climbing. Adding to the situation was that we had a 100lbs+ rottweiler with us. With dogs and bears 50% of the time the dog will scare off the bear. The other 50% of the time the dogs barking is taken as aggression and the bear will protect and attack. Luckily my climbing partner, and owner of the dog, grabbed the dog’s snout before he had a chance to bark at the massive black figure in front of us. The bear eventually ran off.

There are some rather simple dos and don’ts when it comes to meeting bears on the trail;

1. While hiking keep the chatter up. If a bear is around the corner but hears you coming they will most likely not be startled.
2. Confronting a bear; keep eye contact, yell, and clap your hands. Raise your arms and/or your pack above your head attempting to make yourself bigger and more intimidating.
   
3. Do not run, they will out run you.
   
4. If it is too late and attack is imminent, DO NOT remove your pack. Some people think less weight you can get away, but in reality if a bear is after you, you are not getting away and the pack will protect your back from the attack.
   
5. In an attack, lie in the fetal position and protect, head, chest, abdomen, and groin -oh and start praying. Do not move or make noise in this position the bear will take it as aggression and continue its onslaught. Once the bear lets up and walks away stay there motionless to be sure the bear is long gone and has lost interest. When the coast is clear get up -if you can- and get out the way you came. These are hard to process mentally but could save you.

While camping the simple things are -especially in the backcountry;

1. Keep camp ~100 feet from any water source.
   
2. Try to keep your kitchen ~150feet from camp and downwind.
   
3. Do not cook in clothing you will wear to bed, if you smell like backcountry chicken curry, you are merely seasoning yourself.
   
4. Keep a clean camp; food that drops pick it up or it is merely a breadcrumb trail.
   
5. Hang kitchen gear, food and clothing that may have a scent in a bag. Before dark find a sturdy branch but not big enough for a bear to crawl out on. It should be at least 12ft from the ground with no branches below it. Take 25-50ft of rope with you. Throw the rope over the branch and heave it up and tie it off. *Be sure you have done this before you get into the après-hike beverages. Believe me this is really hard to do after a long day and some drinks especially when one of your crew, who weighed in at 140lbs soaking wet, drank a bag-o-wine to himself.
   

So hike and camp smart and the person snoring next to you should be the one you hiked in with.