Fridge / Cooler Electric Cooler and Bears

PoodMood said:
I have a question for those using an electric cooler that is stored in the Galley of the Camp Inn. What do you do when you are camping in bear country? How about when there is a bear box that you need to store your cooler in? Do you just switch to a regular insulated cooler for those trips?
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I have 2 one in the galley and one in the van as long as you keep the van doors closed and the galley shut you should be OK. I put food and trash in the bear boxes.
 
The Postman said:
You're welcome.
If you have not yet visited the Great Cathedrals of Europe, never fear- they are dwarfed by Gods Creation of the Great Cathedrals of the US West: the National Parks and Wilderness Areas, the most protected and accessible by the camping public.

I hope to emulate @dirty6 , @David Rossiter and others who have traveled further north, thru the Yukon and Alaska, to see more.

Bears are a wonderful part of those ecosystems. You just have to be wise and well informed, as in anything else, to enjoy them.

One more:
wessiler.substack.com

Bear Spray Is A Placebo

A hiker in Glacier National Park was just killed by disinformation. Here’s how to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to you.
wessiler.substack.com wessiler.substack.com

Short answer: hike with a wingman in bear country
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100% disagree
Properly used bear spay is very effective . The problem is it has to be ready . Same with a gun. If you see a bear approaching you have maybe 30 seconds you dont have time to dig anything out of your pack or unholster your firearm. Secondly you have to know how to use it . If a bear is running towards you with its head down spraying the top of its head or shooting a grizzly in the head is pretty much useless. You need to spray downward if front of the bear so it runs into the mist.
I dont know where you got your " facts" but every ranger, or expert and every test I've ever seen says bear spray is the most effective. The guy that died was attacked multiple times and was hiking at night in grizzly country. The bear spray sent the bear running . But he later came back and unfortunately the guy had used most of the spray on the first attack . Was there a den nearby? Or cubs?
Couldn't tell you . But I will say unless you want to hike with a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with slugs. At the ready your average person is better off with the spray. Do some guides carry a large bore pistol? Yep and they're very well versed in gun safety and usage and generally have it on a lanyard around their neck for quick access.
Btw more people die from moose than from bears . But for your average hiker or camper who's not proficient in firearms bear spray is the best.
 
Dan sloan said:
100% disagree
Properly used bear spay is very effective . The problem is it has to be ready . Same with a gun. If you see a bear approaching you have maybe 30 seconds you dont have time to dig anything out of your pack or unholster your firearm. Secondly you have to know how to use it . If a bear is running towards you with its head down spraying the top of its head or shooting a grizzly in the head is pretty much useless. You need to spray downward if front of the bear so it runs into the mist.
I dont know where you got your " facts" but every ranger, or expert and every test I've ever seen says bear spray is the most effective. The guy that died was attacked multiple times and was hiking at night in grizzly country. The bear spray sent the bear running . But he later came back and unfortunately the guy had used most of the spray on the first attack . Was there a den nearby? Or cubs?
Couldn't tell you . But I will say unless you want to hike with a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with slugs. At the ready your average person is better off with the spray. Do some guides carry a large bore pistol? Yep and they're very well versed in gun safety and usage and generally have it on a lanyard around their neck for quick access.
Btw more people die from moose than from bears . But for your average hiker or camper who's not proficient in firearms bear spray is the best.
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Thanks @Dan sloan Not disagreeing with your interpretation. 100% agree one should practice with bear spray in advance and have it in hand or in belt handy.

What brand do you like, spray or gel?

Just curious if you fully read the linked citation and the source, as its a bit counter-intuitive or perhaps less well known how the pervasive argument came about?

I am NOT on one side or another...just noticing some information about bear spray is based on an incorrect interpretation of Teh Science. And its an ongoing debate.

One thing we can agree- one certainly CANNOT infer from the general to the specific when it comes to bears. Too many variables, and "whatabout" arguments or cherry picking one instance is misleading, in a loaded conversation. I'm not looking to win a debate fwiw.

Personally my approach is "one is none and two is one" and if one is to use any tool, one has to invest the time to research proper use, and practice.

Or stay out of a higher risk environment.
Its all about personal risk management.

If I were to hike in the head high thick willows along a salmon run in say Alaska, I'd do as the Alaskan guides do, escorting clients to the secret fishing hole.

If I were hiking the AT (ask me about a "funny" not funny black bear encounter sometime, with BW...) I'd prepare differently.

I'd also be thinking about the differences in black bear vs brown (grizzly) behavior too, on last ditch "what if its on you..."

Brown lie down
Black Fight Back
White Say Good Night...

especially with local knowledge- talk with park rangers, BLM/USFS managers, and if hunting the local guides familiar, etc

Or not hike alone there...

But this is a great convo so please share your experiences if you like.

I especially like @JohnC pics and guidance on the differences in two parks, YellowStone and Teton National Park
 
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