|
Tenting in The Wilderness |
Are you going where no man has gone before? I mean out in the wild country where there are no cars,no traffic lights and no park wardens to help you. There are a few things you should know before you brave the wilderness. Ok so you have your tent pitched and you're ready for a snack. Do not prepare, cook or eat in or near your tent. Do this at least 150 ft from the tent. And be certain that the wind does not blow the smell of your cooking toward or into your tent. How's that for starters! As a matter of fact don't keep food in your tent at all and, where bears are concerned, toothpaste, soap and aftershave is considered food! Do not climb into your tent for the night with clothing you used to cook with and if you had a great day fishing clean your fish straight into a fast flowing part of the river and do it downstream from your tent. And be careful not to leave extra fish in the river for the next day. Bears love free meals and he may decide to check out that tent you"re fast asllep in as well. Do not take any food with you that has a strong smell like canned fish, bacon, fresh meat, oysters, blue cheese, pizza, or poutine If you climb into your tent after having wiped the peanut butter off your knife onto your pants: then expect to have a night visitor of the furry kind. Grizzlies will be near rivers in Spring in search of carcasses of animals and fresh new growth as well as defenceless moose calves. Grizzlies also will concentrate near salmon spawning rivers in Fall. While you are hiking in the wild you may encounter both black bears and grizzlies Both type of bears hear, smell and see very well and both can run faster than humans and contrary to popular belief, can run just as well down hill as up hill. All bears can climb trees with maybe the exception of older grizzlies who can be too heavy. Pick a big tree because a grizzly can uproot a small tree. Grizzlies are larger than black bears and they can come in all colours ranging from black to brown and even a shade of blond. The average weight of a fully grown grizzly is around 450 pounds and their top speed can be close to 40 mph.Grizzlies carry a pronounced hump on their shoulder. Black bears are black but also can come in shades of brown and light blond.The average weight of a fully grown black bear is around 260 Ib and over short distances can reach a speed of about 30 mph. Black Bears are more curious than Grizzlies and they can be more of a problem in urban areas and on camp grounds, but drifting food smells can attract both of them. A fully grown moose can weigh up to 1500 lbs and encountering one in the wilderness is quite common but don't get between a mother moose and her calf. She is rather protective and even bears can be badly worked over by those hooves. Moose have bad eyesight but can smell and hear very well and are extremely well adapted to live and travel in almost all terrain. They are more frequent around rivers and ponds where they eat tender shoots and aquatic plants which are full of nutrients. Cougars are the second largest of the cat family in the America's. These large cat's have been known to attack people - especially children, who, because of their size, can make easy prey. They are silent stalkers/hunters and very difficult to spot. If a hiker is faced with a cougar it's best to behave as if dealing with a dog - do not run away - retreat facing the cougar but not staring into its eyes - and make yourself as big as possible. Bear proof containers are the best choice to have along when hiking into thewilderness. These food containers are unbreakable by even the most desperate of bears. Bears are well able to smell what ever foods are inside the container but, not being able to get at it, will learn to disassociate food smell from people. Encountering a bear one should leave the container behind while slowly retreating from the area. After the bear has given up on it and has moved on, the container can be retrieved. Bear spray is sold in most camping stores. The use of bear spray should be considered only as a last resort and only when the bear has advanced too close for comfort. Make certain that you are shooting the spray with the wind. The bear is supposed to get the blast and not you. Although this may scare the bear away also.Your loud screams and
Janette Butt is owner/operator of JB Enterprises in Canada and owner of website www.outdoortentexperience.com which features camping equipment and free advice and tips for novice and seasoned outdoor enthusiasts.
Read more at: . |
