Yes, bear repellant is real stuff. It's commonly called "Bear Spray", or more correctly "Bear Mace", or just "Pepper Spray".
http://www.udap.com/images/bear_spray_wholster.gif
UDAP Bear Deterrent Pepper Spray

It's just like common pepper spray mace used on humans; except somewhat stronger, and in a pressurized can with enough kick to spray the cloud out 10 meters. And it's illegal to use it against humans. (Though if you come at me with a weapon and all I've got is bear spray; you're getting a dose.)

It's a purely defensive (and of course non-lethal) weapon. And the smell of the spray itself is an attractant, so you want to clean up and de-con after you've used it ASAP. Often a situation requiring bear spray is a trip ender anyway.

And there's no guarantee that it'll work; it's a last resort defense.


Also, there's a common misconception with Grizzlies. A Grizzly bear is a type of brown bear (Ursus arctos). (The other primary type of Brown bear being to Coastal Brown bear, the Grizzlies are mostly inland.) So the difference between a Grizzly and a Brown bear? There is none. Black bears however are a different species (Ursus americanus).

For the purposes of the joke, it's important to remember that ALL brown bears will shake you out of the tree. It's the black ones that will very happily climb the tree after you. Black bears are much smaller.

You can tell the type of a bear from it's scat also; brown bear scat has these little bells in it...
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...pL._AA300_.jpg

;)

- Mikko

GOOD ONE MIKKO, especially the "Bear Bell" laced Brown Bear scat.

hrh :D

well, I hope we don't see any bears :P

I think Raiden said he saw a mountain lion around there once :shock: though I may be mistaken.

I hope we do...but from a safe distance! ;)

Is that like a palulukan? :).... Here kitty, kitty...*ROARRRRR!

Me thinks it might be worth enquiring with the local ranger folk some time to find out what we need to be careful of out there and stuff. Some of us will not have a clue as we come from countries where the wildlife is not so...wild!:hmm:

But that is for next year....

Alan

In all seriousness, I don't think any predators will approach us since we're in such a large group.

Seems unlikely that they would, especially since I doubt there's a lack of prey for them.

(Trying to catch up on this thread, though I likely won't make the trip out to Sol Duc...)

I camped at Sol Duc many times as a kid, and my family and I drive past it almost every summer on our way out to Kalaloch on the coast--my favorite resort. The Sol Duc campground is pretty well maintained. The Sol Duc lodge has changed hands a few times in recent years. Its prior owners didn't take particularly good care of it, and the pools needed repair (my wife and I stopped there for a dip about 8 years ago). I gather things have improved since. If you've never bathed in hot springs before (and smelled like rotten eggs! :)), it's worth a visit. Those who like a hike might prefer the nearby Olympic hot springs, which feed rocky pools in a more natural setting. It's been 20+ years since I last visited the Olympic hot springs, but I recall one pool that was surrounded by hundreds of candles that had been placed by nighttime hikers. Remember: Smokey Bear says, "Only *you* can prevent forest fires!" :)

While at Sol Duc, we never saw bears or mountain lions in the campgrounds. The squirrels and chipmunks will be by for handouts, however. :)

EDIT: If I'm not able to make it out, I'll be happy to lend tents and other gear. I have access to two dome tents, one which *comfortably* sleep two, another which sleeps one. Back when I regularly hunted deer in Washington, my dad had an enormous 20-person canvas tent (U.S. army surplus) which had a wood-burning stove that sat in the middle--damn, I wish we still had that! Our whole hunting party would sleep in it, sometimes in the snow. It was awesome. Maybe I should watch craigslist for one. It could always be resold. :)

Irayo Aaron for the low down on Sol Duc. I've never bathed in hot springs before...although I have smelt like rotten eggs before, but that was because of something I ate! Anyway.....

That would be soo cool to get a massive tent for everyone to sleep in! I wonder if they hire them out?

Good to know that the bears and mountain lions keep their distance. Win-win.

Alan

I'll check around and also keep an eye or two on craigslist. It's also possible that my father knows who has the old tent and can borrow it back. The only thing that sucked about it was, as you might imagine: Setting it up! :facepalm:

Of course, "Home-tent" would require an enormous toruk skull, so... Best get the clan artisans spun up on that! :xD:

Does anyone have the dimensions of the original one in the movie? I have a full blown wood shop.
NiriTe

As long as you store your food safely overnight you won't have bear trouble. Don't know what the regulations are there; might be anywhere from bear bagging it (hanging from a tree branch using a rope; I always found that process to be a PITA) to using bear proof containers (must be advertised as such; a regular container that you think is bear proof probably ain't).

Black bears are otherwise not a problem. Across the water, we have a resident black bear in our neighborhood. I've only spotted her three times in person but seen her, er, detritus, a great many more times. Mountain lions are rarer but more dangerous. You may never see one in your life in this area, but if you do, it may be the last thing you see.

A huge tent might be cool to have...dunno.

All this bear talk got me thinking so I thought I would go to the horse's mouth, as it were to find out a bit more by asking some neutral tourist questions. I mean there is nothing worse than a bear behind...:shock:..:facepalm:...:xD::xD:

So I asked about the wildlife, conditions in July and info on minimising our impact on the country side around Sol Duc and this was the reply I got:

"We have never had a problem with bears in this park, and the most important rule for keeping it that way is to never leave food out for them (or for any wildlife, no matter how cute).


Generally the weather in July is sunny, and insects are not a huge problem, though there may be mosquitos.


For more information on "Leave No Trace" ethics while camping, please visit our website:
http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-leave-no-trace.htm"

Hope that helps put people's minds at rest and provide a bit of further info.

Alan

Good to know. Speaking of food, we should work out what we're doing...

If someone's willing to get that together, go for it, but I think some people might still want their own - I know I will.