Hardcore Hikers

[Angus MacSpey]

Here's a warning to all the hikers out there.

Since the prevalance of bear attacks has gone up in the past two years, the Parks department suggests that campers attach bells to their clothing and carry pepper spray in case a bear actually comes at you.

Pepper spray!

I've been hit with the stuff before with little effect, so I don't see it stopping a mad grizzly sow. I'll stick to a large-caliber handgun, thank you very much.

When they talk of bells, they leave out the "dinner" part. I do hear they find bells in bear poo once in a while in Alaska.

I was once told by a wise old man that people who shun powerful weapons like firearms have had their survival instincts short-circuited somehow. I believe it. I have an uncle who is only alive today after a grizzly attack because his hunting buddy had a .300 Win Mag.

Pepper Spray!


I think it's a joke perpetrated on tourists.

[KiltedKnight]

Pepper spray!

I've been hit with the stuff before with little effect, so I don't see it stopping a mad grizzly sow. I'll stick to a large-caliber handgun, thank you very much.

When they talk of bells, they leave out the "dinner" part. I do hear they find bells in bear poo once in a while in Alaska.

I was once told by a wise old man that people who shun powerful weapons like firearms have had their survival instincts short-circuited somehow. I believe it. I have an uncle who is only alive today after a grizzly attack because his hunting buddy had a .300 Win Mag.

Pepper Spray!


I think it's a joke perpetrated on tourists.

Considering that a bears sense of smell and all his other senses are about 100 times more sensitive than yours I'd say the bear will listen to reason.

Chris.

[MacMullen]

Andrew Breecher - I'm not hardcore, I just like to hike. A lot. At a time. I actually think I'd be unhappy on a short, overnight trip. I keep glancing at the trips that the Appalachian Mountain Club offers, so I could meet up with other outdoors-types in the area, and I just can't stand the thought of an eight-mile backpacking trip.

Andrew, what type of kilt do you generally hike in? Wool? Poly? Or one of the "modern" kilts?

[Andrew Breecher]

Pepper spray!

I've been hit with the stuff before with little effect, so I don't see it stopping a mad grizzly sow. I'll stick to a large-caliber handgun, thank you very much.

On the other hand, bear-caliber pepper spray is much different from what women carry around in their purses. Even the can is a serious affair. Bear bells (I hate the things) work in theory by keeping surprises to a minimum. Most of the time, bears aren't going to just attack you for no reason. But, if you come around the corner of a rock with no warning and it's sitting there, you might startle it into doing something reactive.

I haven't had any encounters with grizzlies (I've seen them from afar, though), but I have been up close to several brown bears in the east. Two cubs were very interested in me, standing up on their hind legs to watch me for a while until their mother shushed them away, but the most usual sighting is a big black butt rushing into the trees away from you. Just don't let them get your food....

Andrew.

[Andrew Breecher]

Andrew, what type of kilt do you generally hike in? Wool? Poly? Or one of the "modern" kilts?

I wear a four-yard poly-viscose Bear kilt on my long hikes, but for day hikes I usually wear a wool kilt. I hope to wear my Bear kilt on all three of my Triple Crown hikes, for no other reason than the stubborn desire to prove how much abuse it can take (and 8,000 miles!). If it did wear out for some reason I'd probably switch to a four-yard wool kilt. Most "modern" style kilts are no good for the outdoors, because they're cotton or cotton blends. There have been other threads talking about this topic; I'm sure it will show up if you search for "cotton" and "outdoors".

Andrew.

[MacMullen]

Yes, I remember reading the "cotton kills" threads.

I'm trying to decide what kind of kilt would be best to replace shorts for camp wear on the beach after kayaking. I figure that a kilt would be easier to put while taking off my wetsuit in mixed company, plus, it would be warmer than shorts on Lake Superior shores, plus, for the hiking that we do after we get to camp.

Maybe I should splurge on a dry suit and wear my kilt underneath it.

Thanks for the help.

[Andrew Breecher]

I'd say any sort of kilt would be fine for after kayaking. I wouldn't try to wear a kilt under a drysuit - not only would it be extremely uncomfortable while sitting on all that wadded-up material, but the kilt would get horribly wrinkled stuffed into the legs of the suit!

As for changing in mixed company, my experience is you just politely ask others to turn around for a moment. If everyone on the beach has to change anyway, just have all the men face one way, all the women face the other. Nice and civilised. After all, everyone's in the same boat (so to speak).

Andrew.

[MacMullen]

I was kidding about the drysuit.

[Kilted KT]

Quick question here...prolly directed to Andrew...

do you have any issue with chaffing when hiking in your kilt, or do you use bodyglide or some other anti-chaffing product?

[Andrew Breecher]

Body Glide, baby. I tried powdering the donuts with Gold Bond, but that very much the wrong way to go! Gold Bond promotes calluses, and that's not where you want those! Body Glide all the way - don't leave home without it.

Andrew.