Trail Hazards for Trail Runners & Hikers (& It's Not Ankle Sprains)
Posted by Jason Kay on Wed, Aug 03, 2011
Trail Hazards for Trail Runners & Hikers (& It's Not Ankle Sprains)
Wingchi snapped this shot on July 4, 2011 of a brown bear on Big Tree Trail in Sequoia National Park, CA.
As the late-season snows finally start to recede in the high country, and mud gives way to wonderful wildflower displays, it has become time for the newest hazard to trail runners and hikers to emerge.
Any one watching the hiking / trail running blogs and news feeds know that it is now bear season. Yes, it’s time for BooBoo, Yogi, Smokey and all their friends to come out (or into your unlocked car or home as the case may be) and gorge themselves.
Bear Defense is not throwing your peanut-butter power bar at the 500-800+ lb animal and hoping that satisfies their need for 20,000+ calories a day, and then running away. It is NEVER a good idea to run from a bear. Nor is it wise to practice KungFoo. Instead, use Bear Defense Spray or Bear Pepper Spray.
This are NOT the same thing as personal defensive pepper spray, or throwing some cayenne pepper into the air.
So why not just shoot a gun in the air or at the charging bear? Well, first you need to carry the gun and be licensed to do so. You also need to practice shooting the gun. On the flip side, you can just buy a can of spray at your favorite outdoor store (and in many cases, the spray can is lighter too).... But don't take my word on it, a 2008 study from the Journal of Wildlife Management showed in 72 cases where people sprayed bears to defend themselves, bear spray worked as a deterrent involving grizzly, black and polar bear encounters.
98% of those people walked away uninjured.
I know I would not be able to hit a bear head-on that was charging with a bullet. And besides, not taking the bear down may make it angrier (or more protective of her young!)
Something else to consider: it is now *mandatory* that you carry bear spray into Banff National Park, or Parks Canada can fine you up to $25,000.
Don't spray bear repellent on camping gear, tents and backpacks to keep bears away, because once the volatile components have broken down, the pepper residue will actually attract bears!
Always carry the spray within easy reach (not in the bottom your pack, or jammed into a pocket where you can't get it out in a hurry.) You really want it handy in case of a surprise encounter while hiking, sleeping, cooking, and being generally out and about in bear country. Keep the safety clip on at all times, so you don't accidently spray yourself or your friend's dog.
Bear spray forms a big fluorescent cloud (so you can see it) that causes intense discomfort, burning and swelling of the eyes, nose and lungs, giving you time to leave the area. It doesn't cause permanent damage to bears or humans, but isn't pleasant to either.
Look for the EPA registration and establishment numbers, usually found at the bottom of the front label; only bear sprays will have this information along with a clearly visible expiry date (canisters last about three years). Also, bear spray labels will clearly refer to bears and canisters are a minimum of 255ml or 7.9oz.
But bear spray should be your last defense. Ideally, you want to avoid an encounter by "hiking in a tight group of at least four people, making lots of noise and being alert for signs of bears" (diggings, tracks, scat, overturned rocks & logs). Leash dogs at all times, but dogs are known for chasing off bears. Keep campsites clean and scent-free; cook and store food and toiletries at least 50 yards downwind from your tent.
I've personally hiked in bear country for years both on the east coast and in Colorado, and not followed all the rules above. However, I usually see bears closest to civilization, or where there are very large concentrations of food stuffs (like berry patches, unsecured garbage, or freezers/fridges eating ice cream and shrimp), but don't let Mama or Tedd.E Bear keep you from enjoying your favorite activity in the great outdoors... be like the boy scouts or when you wear your ankle brace for hiking or trail running, just Stay Protected.