Kananaskis Country Trip Report

2lazy4U wrote:
Oh no, here we go again about the bear spray thing. I always buy my bear spray in the U.S. and show it to customs and they've never had a problem. Just be sure it says bear spray, not mace.

I had just bought new spray at Costco here in Helena MT (2 for 40) and like you said, just told him and showed it still in the package/old one on my hip/pack and he waved us through. We went through Chief Mountain. I looked it up and like you said, it has to explicitly state it is for animal use and not humans. "Mace" is illegal up there.

Oh, we heard the story on the bear attack from the staff at the Engadine lodge. We use our old sprays to "practice" so we don't "fumble" when reaching for it. Shoot low... Oh, had a person at work camping a few weeks ago and a big black bear came up to the screen on her tent while she was backpacking. She fired on him and guess what? Even though most of the tent was screen, it still got her. She said her face burned for two days. Here in the states, I have three layers of defense when we go to certain areas. First is the boat horn, second is the bear spray and third is the gp100. Of course I am not sure if I would use the 357 on the bear or myself when it comes down to it. The latter might just cut to the chase and any bear that makes it through the first two I don't want to meet. My significant other primarily counts on the strategy of always hiking with someone slower than her. That would be me.