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The use of a whistle is a great idea in lieu of bear spray. Everyone should have a whistle on their pack anytime they are in the back country. They weigh under an ounce, cost under $10, and often come with a compass and thermometer as part of the package. Attach it to the outside of your pack where it is easily accessible. It's another thing that you don't need....until you do.
The standard for SOS is "3 shorts, 3 longs, 3 shorts." Using a whistle that would be 3 short tweets, 3 long tweets, then 3 short tweets.
Same thing is true for a light: 3 short blinks, 3 long blinks, 3 short blinks.
I've never heard of a whistle to scare off a bear, but who knows, maybe? I did use a stubby laser beacon once that I carry for emergency signaling to annoy a bear advancing on my camp. Alone, 2am, middle of nowhere. I was motivated. Can't say it worked but the bear eventually lost interest/moved away, it might have lost interest anyway.
I did carry bear spray once for a remote tech climb up in Wyoming, apparently the area was known for grizzlies (Washakie Needle). Never saw any bears but did come across some pretty big tracks above timberline.
A tip: I think some think bear spray is like super mace, a stream to spray at the nose and eyes of a bear. It's not. It's a mist that you need to spray in front of the bear so it inhales it. I watched a few youtube videos on spray use and how to spot a likely charge beforehand, then bought a 2-pack of spray: One inert "practice" cylinder and another "live" cylinder. I highly recommend this, the practice cylinder gave me a very good sense of range, mist composition, etc. IMO worth the spend if you need to carry bear spray.
I always bring spray if I'm camping, especially alone. I've encountered a bear at about 50 yards in the snow mass wilderness and it wanted nothing to do with me. I've also encountered a big cat at a closer distance and it was much scarier, but again, it wanted nothing to do with me. Bears are real and they want your goodies, but probably not you. I think they usually go for those picnics baskets when you have your back turned. My brother's car once got broken into by a bear near Crestone. No witnesses.
Never heard of a whistle to scare off bears? Well, I never had heard that either, until I lived in Alaska. whistles or bells. Yep, hang bells on your pack to announce your presence, and the bears will just run away. Some liked to call that a dinner bell. But it seemed to work more often than not!
still waiting for someone to tell the story about how bear spray saved the day.
In Japan, bear bells are quite popular. On a typical mountain, hundreds of locals have bells on their packs with a variety of tones and sounds.
Sounds like you're hiking surrounded by wind chimes. Not sure how effective they are...
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Wentzl wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 11:03 pm
TomPierce;
Never heard of a whistle to scare off bears? Well, I never had heard that either, until I lived in Alaska. whistles or bells. Yep, hang bells on your pack to announce your presence, and the bears will just run away. Some liked to call that a dinner bell. But it seemed to work more often than not!
still waiting for someone to tell the story about how bear spray saved the day.
Anyone?
Yes, well aware of bear bells. I used to live in Alaska. Designed to alert an otherwise unaware bear of your presence. I was thinking instead about the use of a whistle to scare off a fully aware bear. Maybe that works too. Probably better than listening to grown adults yelling "Hey bear!" incessantly.
Wentzl wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 11:03 pm
still waiting for someone to tell the story about how bear spray saved the day.
Anyone?
That gentleman who is the owner of a bear spray company in Montana posted couple of success stories from his personal grizzly encounters.
I've tried couple of sprays at the Avalanche Lake, the pressure that can is packing is impressive. It was drizzling that day and I made sure wind was in my back, so I've managed to not poison myself.
I’ve seen bears in Colorado, but interestingly, pretty much only when they’ve been walking near a road I was driving along.
I own bear spray but have only carried it while hiking in WY and never felt the need to use it. The one time I was warned about a bear shortly ahead on a trail by some hikers going the other way, I took out my earphones so my music played through my speakers instead. Five or so minutes later, I saw a bear bolt out of some bushes and launch itself across the trail and into the forest, quickly disappearing into the trees. I guess bears aren’t into the musical stylings of Queen.
"I'm not selling drugs, dude. Drugs sell themselves. I'm selling stoke!"
- Guy at the table next to mine at Alta's Slopeside Cafe, in what I can't help but selfishly hope were (will be?) his verbatim words to the arresting officer(s)
Hiking in AK a friend brought a whistle. He tweeted it as we walked thru forest with dense ground coverage. I found it annoying, but whatever. Another time a friend carried a 45 pistol. He said if we encountered an angry brown bear the gun probably won't stop it, but it might be enough to give it pause and walk away. It would also give everyone else a chance to run. On an extended canoe/fishing trip we had a couple rifles. All the other times no one carried any deterrent. The local view was bear spray was useless. Its more important to be bear-aware and don't do anything stupid. Otherwise, carry a rifle. That's Alaska for ya!
Hiking in the Tetons I was chatting with the park rangers one morning and the topic of carrying bells came up. Their perspective was surprising. They said the sounds of bells might alert a bear and it will either stay away or investigate. One thought the bears were getting used to people and the bells signaled dinner is coming!
- I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was blaming you.
TomPierce wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 3:14 pm
I've never heard of a whistle to scare off a bear, but who knows, maybe? I did use a stubby laser beacon once that I carry for emergency signaling to annoy a bear advancing on my camp. Alone, 2am, middle of nowhere. I was motivated. Can't say it worked but the bear eventually lost interest/moved away, it might have lost interest anyway.
I did carry bear spray once for a remote tech climb up in Wyoming, apparently the area was known for grizzlies (Washakie Needle). Never saw any bears but did come across some pretty big tracks above timberline.
A tip: I think some think bear spray is like super mace, a stream to spray at the nose and eyes of a bear. It's not. It's a mist that you need to spray in front of the bear so it inhales it. I watched a few youtube videos on spray use and how to spot a likely charge beforehand, then bought a 2-pack of spray: One inert "practice" cylinder and another "live" cylinder. I highly recommend this, the practice cylinder gave me a very good sense of range, mist composition, etc. IMO worth the spend if you need to carry bear spray.
-Tom
I am not implying that I would cook bacon and eggs near my tent in the backcountry of Yellowstone with nothing but a whistle to defend against grizzlies.
Just saying that in places where the risk of a life threatening encounter with a bear is relatively low (aka most of Colorado), I would definitely blow my whistle if I happened on a bear.
Early in this thread there was talk of a bear encounter at the S Colony 4wd trailhead. When I walked through there on Friday morning I noticed a small bag of trash at the information signs. Walking back through Saturday afternoon there were 2 areas of fresh bear scat right next to trail just on the other side of the bridge. The trailhead was packed btw, with people parking along the road. I foresee more bear encounters there in the near future.
This is my first year not bringing bear spray. I got used to bringing it after all the time I spent in the Smokies.
Istoodupthere wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2024 7:57 pm
Early in this thread there was talk of a bear encounter at the S Colony 4wd trailhead. When I walked through there on Friday morning I noticed a small bag of trash at the information signs. Walking back through Saturday afternoon there were 2 areas of fresh bear scat right next to trail just on the other side of the bridge. The trailhead was packed btw, with people parking along the road. I foresee more bear encounters there in the near future.
This is my first year not bringing bear spray. I got used to bringing it after all the time I spent in the Smokies.
