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What is the consensus on attaching bells to one's pack? As a local who has grown up literally in the forest, I find it ridiculous and amateurish. Every time I hike in the high peaks I see at least three or four people jingle on by. One knucklehead even had bells on his boots. I can empathize if some of those people were camping where bears are a real problem, but I think it's unneccessary when on the trail. If someone had a bad bear encounter, than I guess I would understand that. However, I can't get over the fact that I have never seen a bear in the woods, and have only seen two bears in the Adirondacks in my entire life--one was at the dump eating garbage, and the other crossed the road in front of me. I'm not trying to be insensitive; I just want to know what everyone thinks. -GG
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Does it really work on the bears that would cross your path? I mean, if he's gonna bluff charge for food I doubt he's in a very festive mood. -
I think it's good to make some noise. I don't think one needs bells though. Besides, in the Dacks, Bears do not fear humans, they look to them as a possible food source, therefore the bells tell the bears where to look.
It's like hanging a bear canister. In the dacks the bears look to anything thats hung up as a food source, so hanging the canister becomes a stupid thing to do. Best to lay it at the bottom of a tree in the roots or in a hollow.Last edited by redhawk; 08-19-2005, 05:27 PM."If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Lyndon B. JohnsonComment
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I'm glad you guys are on the same page as me. Great point with the bear canisters, Hawk.Comment
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Kevin, do you think this thread should be moved to the general or trail section? I think it would get more of a response there....it was the wee hours of the morning when I posted and I wasn't thinking. Thanks. -GGComment
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Bells used as bear deterents is technically "Gear", so we'll put it there
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Or we could start a "Stupid" section......Originally posted by KevinBells used as bear deterents is technically "Gear", so we'll put it there."If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Lyndon B. JohnsonComment
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If I was to hear bells in the woods Id expect to see Donner and Blitzen,although some of the old timers put bells on thier horses when they packed in and out of thier hunting camps I suspect it was more to alert humans of thier presence than bears.I have had 2 actual in the woods bear encounters in my 35 years of ridge running,1 on Schroon River when one came down the opposite bank while I was fishing,he saw me I saw him he wasnt impressed but left anyway, the other time I was fishing a no name brook in the Moose River Plains and again one came down to the brook not 20 feet from where I was fishing ,he popped his head out of the brush saw me whirled around and was gone before I could even take a breath,I was impressed and left anyway.The point I would like to make is that even tho they are the top predator in our woods if there left with an out theyll take it rather than tangle with people,I have camped solo and in small groups all over the Park in some of the highest bear population densities in the Park and without taking any heroic precautions and have never had a problem with bears,coons on the other hand,well them little b******s just dont care.my 02 HughComment
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Originally posted by Hugh
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Bear bells are for kids! Try this...
I saw this on a Canadian site and thought since you guys are stooping to wearing bells why not try this...
and if you are still on bear cans...
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Uh, the whole point to the thread is that wearing bells is ridiculous. None of us have stooped to wearing bells. I have much greater fear of electricity than bears, so you can have bear shock.Comment
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As far as the cans are concerned, I have no desire to eat them, in vain hope that the feeling will somehow be mutual.Comment
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Oh lighten up, it's a joke, sheesh.
Back in the days of camping with kids, I did have bells on my pack to make the kids feel comfortable. They knew I was around and that gave em some assurance they were safe. It has a psychological value to us humans but tests have proven bells have no effect on bears. Making noise, any noise is good, it alerts animals although they heard you miles away whne the chipmonks started screaming.Comment
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Well, you were the one who said we were stooping to wearing bells. I just wanted to clarify since it is a little tough to determine context sometimes when you're simply reading!!
You should lighten up too--the electricity comment was a joke as well!Comment
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