Or peanut butter, or Doritos, or minipizzas....

In answer to where we are going in Alaska - Anchorage, Denali for 3 nites/2 days, Seward area, and then cruise to Vncouver - hopefully no bears on cruise. We are more walkers (versus hikers).

It's not uncommon to see a few bears at the buffet!

In answer to where we are going in Alaska - Anchorage, Denali for 3 nites/2 days, Seward area, and then cruise to Vncouver

For 'casual light hiking' you probably won't need bear spray. Denali is the one area on your list where you're likely to see a bear, and to put this whole thread in perspective there has NEVER been a fatal bear attack in Denali, even though dozens, sometimes hundreds, of tasty touristi are trekking about in the backcountry with backcountry camping permits every day in the summer, plus hundreds of tent campers at Riley Creek, Savage, Wonder Lake and other developed campgrounds. These people are all cooking meals and sleeping in light tents safely.

There have been a few passive-aggressive maulings at Denali, usually when a dumbass photographer approached the bear deliberately, sometimes when a hapless lone hiker stumbled on one asleep in the brush, but there has never even been a mauling of anyone hiking in a group of 4 or more. These happen about once every three years or so.

The advice happycampr gave (make some noise so they hear you and they'll move off) is right-on for Denali. Hike with a small group and the chances of a mauling go to zero (thus far). There are other parts of Alaska where you might find greater need to carry spray, but not where you're going on this trip.

I've spent many days and nights in Denali and never seen anyone carrying bear spray. Arm yourself with knowledge and common sense and you should be fine there.

Bill

FWIW, I just read a study looking at bear spray iand its effectiveness. It found that bear spray was more effective than a gun in a bear attack. Also, however, it should be used that way, not sprayed as a "deterrant" on your tent or around your campsite-it actually attracted them that way!!
Go figure.

Thanks again, esp Bill will the reassuring words. When we were in Yellowstone we were similarly amazed with the dumbass people who acted as if they were at a petting zoo - trying to get photos of their toddlers way to close to moose and bison.

Well, after reading these informative and interesting posts I have decided 2 things. I won't be hopping down the bunny trail too soon and I suggest you take TWO bear sprays when YOU hop down the bunny trail.

Sorry, two corrections to my post ... I wrote "There have been a few passive-aggressive maulings at Denali" ... the correct term is "defensive-aggressive" maulings ... the bear is surprised by humans close by and has to choose between fleeing and vigorously defending him/herself and the ones that go on offense usually knock the person down and bite them a bit until the bear is convinced you are not a threat, then the bear moves off. Most people survive this kind of attack, though you really want to avoid getting bit in the face.

Also I wrote "make some noise so they hear you and they'll move off" ... sometimes they don't move off, they just stand in the trail, typically broadside to show you how big they are, or with head down, waiting for YOU to move off ... but if they hear you well in advance they rarely attack unless you come too close with one or two people.

Respect the bear but don't blindly fear the bear.

Bill

"Respect the bear but don't blindly fear the bear" - so something that outweighs me several times to 1, can run faster than me, climb trees, and has humungous teeth and claws - intellectually I understand why I should not blindly fear it, and I know it has better things to do than eat me for dinner, but I know in the unlikely event I wander into his home, I am not sure I could feel anything other than blind fear.

A couple of good websites about use of bear spray are:

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/br...epperspray.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0325171221.htm

Again, it mostly comes down to using common sense when in bear country. Bears don't usually wake up thinking, "Gee, I wonder if I can find any humans to maul today." If carrying bear spray makes you feel more secure, then get some.

Bill -
LMAO!!! Passive-aggressive bears...
(What do they do? sneer?)