>What about carrying a regular emergency flare?
>
>Last summer in the Lamar Valley of northern Yellowstone National Park, I
ran >into a back country hiker (who also has worked as a forester for the
USFS
>for many years) and he carried the standard emergency flare. The idea, he
>told me, is to light it and hold onto it, if ever charged by a griz. In
>fact, he said that once when hiking in Glacier it actually stopped a griz
>that was heading fast towards him. R/Steve


First logical non-weapon defence I've read - they aren't stupid, they
recognize a strange thing that could be dangerous - and an upright,
non-fleeing figure may signal a lack of fear of them as well. Since they
are predators, they won't chance getting harmed in the finding out whether
the danger is real - unless they are sick and/or starving, when logic no
longer applies .....

Toni