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You might want to keep them and mail back home for use in BW/Q ?
With more and more people using the park, at least the BW, and the black bear population on the rise, it might come in handy someday.


Real bear spray is formulated much stronger that military grade pepper spray made for use on us weak little humans.
When you go to Canada and have pepper spray with you, it better be labeled for Bear/Animal defense ONLY, not personal defense.
Check out the different chemical formulations on the sites that sell bear spray and you can see there not all the same.
I mentioned UDAP, because that product is used by US forest crews/rangers, so you know it's good.

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Hoepfully you can overcome that handicap by being a faster tree climber

solotripper wrote on May 30^th, 2013 at 12:58pm:


Let me know when you are ready to go. I usually like going to new places but I would be game to go back into the Belly River Valley.

Ha!  good one!

The guy I wouldn't go with is the one who wouldn't take the potential dangers seriously. > "I like having a snickers bar handy for that midnight snack"......."Hey, lets free climb that rock facing"......"what do ya mean we can't pitch the tent here, that tree only looks like it is ready to fall, it's been there for 100 years what are the chances of it falling anytime soon"?

solotripper wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2013 at 1:24pm:


Tis human nature is it not? It has been my experience that the more inexperienced the folks you take care of are the more likely they are to look at your "preparations" (or perceived lack thereof) with a jaundiced eye.

It is likely and probable that they have really no clue the amount of time, effort and expense that went into their behalf. All they basically understand is how could you be so inept as to forget or not anticipate X,Y or Z.

I frequently invite inexperienced anglers on the overnight boats. For the most part they are people I carefully screen and they are typically appreciative of the equipment, tackle and expertise I provide. Even so.......I don't think they fully comprehend the preparations that go into trying to show them a good time. I understand this going in and if they go enough they gather a fuller understanding. I guess the point I am making is to try not and take it personally when the novice is critical.

solotripper wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2013 at 6:07pm:


Now we are really getting to the nub of it aren't we? As in any relationship we can choose wether or not to be irritated. Easier said than done that is for sure but that is the truth of the matter.

Time also has a way of smoothing over the rough parts as in your 20+ year experience. Of course  fresh irritations have a way of opening old wounds (now I remember why I didn't want to go with this bunch    )

I gave my best shot to garner a selective compadre on this summers trip. But when it fell through I thought "Oh well, probably just as well".......Positives and negatives on both sides of the equation and the secret to satisfaction IMO is to focus on the positive aspects.