Hey OS,
How do you like the sitbacker? I like a seat especially when I fish or when I need a break for 5 minutes paddling. Right now I have a crazy creek. It's only OK. Been thinking about the sitbacker.

I suppose we could go round and round all day on bear spray. I am reminded of a story I just made up . Mrs. Lincoln really enjoyed going to plays until one day.............

I didn't take it in last trip. There were 4 of us. Whole different ball game than going solo. I have been chased once by a moose and laid siege by a bear twice. When one is snuffling inches from your arm and you just have some nylon between you and big strong jaws and pointy teeth the perspective changes. If I hadn't read that blasted bear book everything would of been great. But to have read the absolute horror of what some people have gone through and then toss in that Mr. Blackie is much more likely to be predatory upon people than a Grizzly..................well, the spray stays. And if it stays I had better well have it in reach if I need it. I wonder how it would work on a moose? I was running to fast to even think about the stuff .

I have always run a belt. It is automatic for any adjustment to be made in my canoe seat if need be. After that I don't even know the stuff is there. When that picture presents itself I can whip out my camera. I know I would never stop to go and get a camera if it was stashed away. Plus I drink TONS of water. I usually do this on the way back on a portage. It's handy if it is right there. The knife is probably the only iffy thing. But I'm in love and starry eyed right now. It'll probably end up staying cause I like it! Oh, and did I mention finally always having bug spray with me now! Usually I have to slug my way back to a bag.......where the heck did I put that stuff,.........swat, smack, swat.  

Lots of talk about where your insect repellent is carried.  I came across one of these on a portage last year.
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I was just going to carry it out then I needed spray and my bottle was at the other end of the portage and I tried it.  It went into my shirt pocket and I used it for the rest of the summer. They have a clip like a pencil that keeps it from falling out of your pocket. I will buy another one for next year.

Old Salt wrote on Dec 10^th, 2010 at 8:55pm:


"You could tell the story".........another holdout! One day around the fire perhaps. I guess if your going to whack one, across the nose is about the only place.

I read a story where a Grizzly was mauling a woman's husband and she had the courage to confront the bear. It turned on her and she swung a pair of binoculars and whapped it on the nose twice and it left. I would do whatever it took to help someone but it sure would be nice to have some spray in my hand when I get into the middle of it.

In Glacier at Mokawanis lake I had 4 guys that I had met earlier in the day from Wisconsin come running into my campsite saying that a bear had come up to them in the eating area while they were cooking. I asked them what kind of bear and when they said a black I chastised them pretty good about not letting it get their food and then I ran the thing off. The next day they all wanted my picture. I think I might of looked rather peculiar on that trip. Later on my way out I had not 1 but 2 people ask me if I worked for National Geographic. I was so puzzled I missed the opportunity to have some fun with them and instead shot them that "who, me" :question look..

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sorry the pic is fuzzy......how do you like my groovy walking stick? It's been with me many a mile. Down below is Elizabeth lake where the dopey grayling live.

Surely you don't think MT would shop at Wally World...

I don't care for having to much stuff hanging off my person in the field.
I carry a small fanny pack like dd with some Bullfrog bug spray/sunscreen combo lotion and my big knife, fire starter/ LED flashlight and some other "ditch type items". I carry it either with the pack in the front or clipped around sternum strap if I'm carrying a big pack. I've fallen plenty of times but rarely face first, and when I did, I could use my hands/arms to soften the fall.

I modified my bear spray holster from a belt type, to a clip on one.
I clip it to the sternum strap/shoulder strap of my pack, and then just hand carry it on return trip for second load.

I carry a very small personal knife either around my neck, or clipped into side cargo pockets of my pants.

The reason I don't like things hanging off my person is because I've seen people take falls and really bruise themselves up landing on gear they had on. Wearing a pack, most experienced people know to "turtle" if they can, but sometimes they end up on their sides with all that extra weight bearing on them. Anything that's protruding off your pack/waist belt will be putting a hurt on you if you land wrong.

Years ago a backpacking buddy was fond of wearing a metal GI type water canteen around camp or for day hikes. He fell on it one year and bruised his hip bone so bad that we had to abort the trip and carry his gear out while he limped along

More than one hunter/ camper has fallen awkwardly while wearing a sheath type knife in leather/nylon holster and found themselves on the business end of it
Kydex holsters might bruise you, but generally speaking they won't cut thru as easy if you find yourself taking that odd fall.
  Just something to take in consideration when planning your gear selections/carry methods