Question #3 - What about the Bears?

See the Grizzly Bear up above? See the big paws? Yep, those are BEAR tracks! Actually, they are Grizzly Bear tracks! The above pictures were taken while we were hiking in June 2008 in Denali National Park, Alaska.

During our trip, we saw 15 Grizzly Bears. It was amazing! But at the same time, we were a little nervous when one Grizzly walked right right in front of us about 30 Feet Away! If you ever wanted to see some grown men pee their pants, just try that trick! haha - well, truthfully, it wasn't that bad, but we were nervous.

So, that brings us to our next question, What About the Bears? Is it really safe to hike into "Bear Country?"

Honestly, I've been on many many backpacking trips around the country, and only in 2 places have I ever run into Bears. While I've seen Bear scat (bear droppings) in many places, we've only ever personally seen them in Glacier National Park (at a great distance) and in Alaska (up close).

Does that mean you won't see a Bear where you're hiking? By no means! In fact, the Black Bear is found all over North America. And just because you don't see them doesn't mean they're not there! We just returned from a Hike in the Monongahela National Forest and while we didn't see a bear, we saw bear tracks and bear skat multiple times.

Now, back on track . . . How can I be safe hiking and camping when I know there are Bears out there?

There are some very simple principles that you can put into practice that will greatly limit the chance of having a negative encounter with a bear.

1.) Make Noise While Hiking - don't buy those bear bells, just talk to your fellow hikers and avoid hiking silently. If you're are in an area with thick vegetation, you may occassionally call out "Hey Bear!" Why? Studies have shown that the human voice travels further than those little bells and that a Bear will take greater note of the human voice and detour around you before you ever see him!

2.) Never Run from a Bear! - If you do encounter a bear, you will probably want to immediately get out of the area. But resist the urge to run. If the bear doesn't see you, quietly and calmly detour around the bear or turn around and go back where you came from. What if the bear sees you? Speak calmly and directly to the Bear, while backing away slowly! Let him know that you are a human and you are No Threat to him. If the bear approaches, stand your ground and continue to speak to the bear. If its a Grizzly Bear and he charges you, realize that most charges are "Bluff Charges." Typically the bear is just trying to scare you off! DO NOT RUN! Remain calm. If the bear continues the charge and you feel he is going to make contact, your best option is to Lay Down on your Chest with Your Pack ON, covering your neck with your hands, until the Grizzly leaves the area. If its a Black Bear, experts normally say to Fight Back!

3.) Carry Bear Spray for Added Protection. This extremely strong Pepper Spray (similar to Personal Defense Spray, but Stronger and in a Larger Quantity) sprays a cloud of irritant about 20 feet away from you into the face of the charging bear. Recents studies have shown that Bear Spray is a more effective deterant that a Fire Arm. In fact, they've found that there were many fewer injuries with the use of Bear Spray over the use of a Fire Arm. If you choose to carry Bear Spray (I do now and had it ready to go in Alaska!) you must still remember to practice common sense and follow good principles. Don't let the Bear Spray give you a false sense of security.

4.) Keep Food Odors Away from Sleeping Areas! While you are in camp, avoid dropping food scraps around on the ground and on your clothing. While you're never going to avoid all odors, it makes sense to try to limit the food odors. Never cook or bring foods into your tent. Its a good practice to cook and eat in an area away from your tent. While you're not actively eating your food, it is wise to hang your food suspended from a tree limb, at least 10 feet off the ground. Why? If a bear gets human food, it will associate humans with food and result in negative encounters. If the bear doesn't cause injury to a human, it will still look for humans and invade camps trying to find a free meal. Eventually such a bear would have to be put down. The expression "A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear" really is true. Bears are shot when they make it a regular habit to "shake down" humans of their food. As you can see, we need to do all that we can to avoid such encounters, for our sake and the bears!

If you practice those 4 basic principles when hiking, you're chances of a negative encounter with a bear are very slim. I'm not going to promise you'll not ever have a bad experience, but I can tell you that reports of bear attacks are very minor compared to the number of hikers that head into the wild. Unfortunately because Bear Attacks are so rare, they get alot of attention when they happen. While these events are very sad, they should serve as a reminder to use good common sense when hiking into the wild. Don't let them keep from experiencing the Backcountry! Its a truly awesome place!

Questions? Comments? Post a reply or Drop me a line at gearwild@gmail.com

PS Don't forget to check out my store at https://www.gearwild.com/

Question #2 - What Kind of Gear Do I Need?

Ok, now this is a great question for me. Why? Because I love new Backpacking Gear! - Thus the website name GearWild.com Anyhow, back on subject . . .

The typical gear list will very from your experience level to personal preference. However, almost every first time backpacker brings too much junk with them on the first trip. Why do I say this? In backpacking the expression "every ounce counts" really rings true. Everything you put in your backpack is going to make it heavier! And everything you add will take up space. If you're heading into the wild for the first time, chances are you don't have all the latest, coolest, lightest, smallest, gear available. - Unless you check out my store that is! - Sorry I just had to add that! haha :)

So, then if you don't have all the great gear, you're probably going to be lugging along some older stuff you've had laying around or could borrow from friends. And there is nothing wrong with that! That is exactly how I started. Not too many people can afford to go out and buy everything brand new for their first trip!

But the main thing to remember is this: Don't overpack! You won't need 6 Rolls of Toilet Paper, 2 Knives, 1000 Feet of Rope if you're just going for a short weekend trip. You won't need that big bottle of syrup for your pancakes. (I actually have a friend that carried a large bottle of syrup up the entire side of a mountain so he'd have delicious pancakes the next morning! Boy did we laugh at him!) You won't need the 8 cans of Campbells Soup. You won't need a cast iron skillet to cook with! There are simple ways to keep things light, yet to be sure you've got what you need.

First off, sit down and ask yourself if you will really use the item you are considering putting into your pack! Chances are you won't need a bottle of aspirin, but you may need 4 pills. As I mentioned above, you're going to need Toilet Paper, but can you just spool some off a roll and pack it in a ziplock bag? You can also take that large bottle of syrup and put it in a 2 ounce bottle so you're not lugging the entire container around.

I can tell you from experience that you will only use half of what you take! I always come home and ask myself, "Why did I take 2 knives (or whatever it is) on that trip. I barely used one!" So, be realistic. Remember, "every ounce counts!"

Now that we've spent all this time talking about what NOT to take, lets get back on topic. "What Should I Take with Me on My Backpacking Trip?"

First Off, You'll need a decent backpack! They will very in weight and price. Find something in the middle of the that bracket and you'll be good to go. The size you need will very depending on the trip you're taking. But a good rule of thumb would be to buy a pack about 3500 cubic inches for a typical weekend trip. (If you get a 3500 cubic inch pack you will be less inclined to overfill it because you won't have any extra space to hall around extra junk!) If you're heading out for a weeklong trip you'll need something around 5500 -6500 cubic inches.

In addition to a backpack, you'll need a good sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Check the weight on these guys. They very tremendously! Buy the lightest sleeping bag you can afford. I generally recommend a good 15 or 20 Degree Mummy Style Bag that is "Stuff-able." You want a bag that either comes with or can be put in a stuff sack and smashed down in your pack. A 15 or 20 Degree bag will be a good all around bag you can use in Spring, Summer, and Fall. The sleeping pad will provide a layer of comfort between you and the ground and, most importantly, will provide an extra layer of insulation so that the cold ground doesn't pull your body heat away!

I personally use the Big Agnes Lost Ranger Sleeping Bag with the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad. Its the best sleep system I've ever experienced!

Next, you'll need good boots! I always recommend boots that have a Gore-Tex (or generic waterproof - breathable membrane) lining in them. Why? Because they will keep your feet Dry and they will allow your feet to breath at the same time. Generally "Synthetic" Boots are going to be lighter than Leather Boots. Synthetics also break-in easier. Always look for a rubber lip on the Toe of the Boot. You'll be surprized how quickly the front/top of the Toe in the Boot gets beat up. A Rubber/Plastic Lip on it will make your boots last longer. Now, after you purchase your boots, BREAK THEM IN BEFORE YOUR TRIP! Don't wait till the day you're ready to head out to put them on for the first time. You want to wear them and break them in so your feet are not abused on your first Backpacking trip.

Finally, you need a good Tent! I generally recommend you purchase a 2 person tent. This will give you a little more space if you're hiking alone, but it will give you the flexibility of bringing a companion along with you. What should you buy? Again, buy the lightest tent you can afford. Make sure it has "Taped Seems" so that water doesn't leak in if it rains while you're sleeping.

The Tent I use is the Big Agnes Copper Spur. It was Rated #1 by Backpacker Magazine. It provides alot of room, stays dry, and weighs next to nothing!

If you get those 4 main components, you're starting out great! The items above are the items you should spend the most money on! They will be the items that will take the most abuse and the items that can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a miserable trip.

What about everything else? Stay Tuned. I'll be posting again soon with more details!

Questions? Need Advice? As always, feel free to email me at gearwild@gmail.com

And don't forget to check out my great Gear at http://www.gearwild.com/

Looking for a Great Place to Hike?

Over the last several years, I have hiked in Many Places, however, one place really stands out for backpacking and hiking trips! Where?

Glacier National Park in Montana, USA

Why is it so great? The place is packed with Amazing Views, Excellent Trails, and Wildlife!

The above picture is just one of the beautiful views, just off the Going to the Sun Road. Glacier truly is an amazing place. On our last trip, we spent 10 Days in the Park, Backpacking almost the whole time.

While you need permits for overnight backpacking, if you can make it up there, its well worth the time and effort! You won't be disappointed! We hiked to Cracker Lake, No Name Lake, Upper Two Medicine Lake, Cobalt Lake and many more places. These places are awesome! We caught trout and grilled them up! Wow! That was some good eating! Everyone knows that I love the Mountain House and Backpacker's Pantry meals that I sell at http://www.gearwild.com/ but nothing can compare to the Fresh Rainbow Trout of Glacier National Park.

Thinking of taking a trip, email me at gearwild@gmail.com and I'll give you some suggestions and send you some pics! Thanks for stopping by!