Trail Safety

Maybe just carry Mace or Pepper Spray that is intended for people if you are worried about people?

A few cautions on carrying bear spray or pepper spray:

• Get training or at least practice a few times. You want to know how to use it properly. A surprising number of people manage to spray themselves.
• Know your local laws about buying or carrying spray. Check out the laws of other cities and states if you travel with the spray.
• TSA says no bear spray on planes, one small canister of pepper spray in checked baggage only.
• Bear spray or pepper spray in the bottom of your pack is virtually useless. You need to carry it on a quick-release shoulder strap or hip belt mount.
• Bear spray is not bear repellent. Yes, someone sprayed their kid. Dosing the bushes with bear spray attracts bears – caught on video!

And bear spray isn’t that effective on humans:

Although pepper spray and bear spray contain the same active chemical, they are not the same thing. Bear spray has a much lower concentration of oleoresin capsicum, and should only be used as a bear deterrent.

If you are serious about self defense, go purchase some pepper spray.

— Rex

I carry the 4 oz Fox FIVE point THREE pepper spray attached to the left shoulder strap of my pack. It’s the gold standard in law enforcement. The Five point Three is also more than effective against dogs, which I’ve found to be the number one threat out on the trail (I’ve been bitten once and attacked a couple more times). The formula is also far strong enough for black bear too. I prefer the cone spray which will reach out over 10 feet.

I think people who live in “nicer” parts of the country and hike on trails where threats are minimal, might see carrying pepper spray as being paranoid. But for those like me who hike on a lot of less glamorous trails all over the US, you never know what you might run into. Many long distance trails includes sections where you may have to walk on back roads for miles, passing by houses and people who can be pretty scary. The pepper spray won’t stand up to a gun, but it will stop about anything else.

The southern East Side Sierra trails are looking more attractive with every post.  There is something about hot, 6000+ foot ascents that seems to sort out the scumbags you folks have to worry about.  So far……

The southern East Side Sierra trails are looking more attractive with every post.  There is something about hot, 6000+ foot ascents that seems to sort out the scumbags you folks have to worry about.  So far……

not always unfortunately… https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/67366/

“not always unfortunately… https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/67366/”

You seem to be unaware of the difference, both geographically and qualitatively, between the JMT and the southern East Side Passes, specifically Shepherd, Baxter, Sawmill, and Taboose.  Hike any of them and the JMT, the order is not important, and report back.  I think you’ll see my point.  ;0))