Was super skeptical of bear spray until a 400 lb black bear strolled through my site

Ngl I used to think bear spray was just a gimmick to sell overpriced cans to paranoid hikers. Then last August at Glacier National Park a black bear wandered into my campsite around dusk and I froze up. I fumbled for the canister I only brought because a ranger basically yelled at me to carry one and sprayed a burst toward its face. That bear turned and ran off in under 3 seconds and I knew right then I was wrong. Has anyone else had a moment where gear they doubted ended up proving them totally wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_thompson6213d ago

Forgot I even had mine until a moose charged me in Maine and it saved my face.

ivangrant13d ago

That moose encounter in Maine must have been terrifying - I hear they're way more unpredictable than bears. Did you have to aim for the face specifically or did just firing it off in the general direction do the trick? I'm curious if the wind or distance played a factor in how fast that moose backed down.