SAK to the rescue...

Marty, I couldn't agree more. And luckily, the scenery does not end at the National Park boundaries.

Ravaillac,
Depending on the type of bear, I would agree that the .44 magnum is the best handgun load. OOOOPS-- WAS the best hangun load for self-defense against large animals. Ever hear about .454 Casull? :D They now even come in short barrel lengths. That, admittedly, is over the top for most places.

Of course, everything is based on weight. For a serious hike through large bear country, nothing beats a rifle.
 
Wow.....how "light" of a load are you folks used to that less than three pounds makes that big a deal?
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I would ask how much stuff you have to take that makes it necessary to carry 130 pounds of gear. I'm not an ultra-lightweight backpacker, but you could find some lighter weight items or leave something behind.

If in grizzly country, I would carry pepper spray, and perhaps a very large caliber pistol (thinking 4" .500S&W). Anywhere else, I wouldn't add the weight.
 
Geraldo said:
I would ask how much stuff you have to take that makes it necessary to carry 130 pounds of gear. I'm not an ultra-lightweight backpacker, but you could find some lighter weight items or leave something behind.
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Lemme see what I could have left behind for a few weeks in the field:
Kevlar-nope
Load Bearing Vest-nope
Interceptor vest or flack jacket(sometimes)-nope
Pro Mask-nope
Big freaken rucksack-nope
240 Bravo-nope
spare ammo for said 240-nope
Beretta M9-nope
USN MK2 Kabar-yes because it was mine
Benchmade/Emerson CQC7-yes, same reason
Boots-nope
and all the little things that makes an Army grunts life complete-nope
Sure, I could have left some stuff out.......if I wanted my life to end as I knew it when my platoon SGT found out! ;)
Later in my enlistment I transfered to another unit who provided the OPFOR for JRTC. Then my field load dropped to about 55-60lbs. Man was I happy. And keep in mind, I walked all over, in, through and around the worst Louisiana and Ft. Irwin CA have to offer in Jungle boots, or basic issue boots. No super comfy/trendy REI bought boots for me. And I am no one special....ALL grunts do much of the same. Yall are just a little soft I think. :p ;) :D
 
"According to various sources, an ideal backpack weight is 1/5 of body weight and a maximum comfortable pack weight is 1/3 of body weight."

http://www.magiccookie.com/outdoors/gear-text.html

Marty,

Hiking for fun is very different from military duty.

Just because modern bergens make it possible to carry >100lbs doesn't make it sensible. I think I could forego the pleasure of carrying a GPMG & ammo on my next multi-day hike!

Love your knees & back: carry less.

maximus otter
 
Max-
I understand hiking for fun is a totaly different game. When I did back country stuff, I still carried around 45 pounds or so. The added weight of a S&W 629 4 inch and Kabar never bothered me. Small price in weight if it offers any added measure of security. IMHO.
 
Agree with Marty here. Did many hikes for fun carrying 50+ pounds. Many times, the weight included handgun. A number of the friends along on the hikes would always think I was nuts. Well, like I said--I don't ask anyone else to carry it for me.

Does my back hurt now? Yep. Probably just as much from humping books and papers to the University library and back (in the days when we actually had to go to the library).

Anyway, folks, good news. S&W now makes these great new Scandium revolvers, including one in .44 Magnum. Don't weigh hardly nuthin a tall.
All you need is mucho dinero to purchase one, and a hand and wrist that will handle one bugger of a recoil.
 
Remember, guys, that not everybody _owns_ guns, and not everybody lives in a place where that's easy to rectify. It's not just a matter of take-the-gun vs. don't-take-the-gun... Guns are expensive, require care, require practice for effective use (especially big-bore short-barreled magnums), are bulky, and often require a guy to jump through legal hoops to buy/carry one. I should know; I'm in NJ! :D
 
I always thought that black bears were generally non-agressive? My POODLE has barked at them (from inside my fenced-in yard) and ran them off. What would provoke one to attack a human? :confused: (I live kinda out in the woods.)

Out here they are only a problem if you leave garbage outside. Basically they just make a mess. I've never known one to attack a person.

~ashes
 
Black bears are generally non-aggressive. Even a sow with cubs will run away sometimes, unlike grizzly bears. But unfortunately, "generally" doesn't mean "always". Every few years, there is a black bear mauling somewhere around the upper midwest. When this happens, it is because that individual bear is predatory - it views humans as food, and treats them as such. Rare with black bears, but it can happen.
 
Marty,

You didn't say you were carrying battle gear. Your post left me with the impression that you carried 130# in the mountains around where you live. I think I can safely say that you can leave the Interceptor and 240B at home, unless the wildlife is better armed there than here. ;)
 
Geraldo said:
Marty,

You didn't say you were carrying battle gear. Your post left me with the impression that you carried 130# in the mountains around where you live. I think I can safely say that you can leave the Interceptor and 240B at home, unless the wildlife is better armed there than here. ;)
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My mistake. Why the heck would I carry that stuff if I didn't have to? :D
I carry about 45-50lbs said and done when backpacking. My point was, 3lbs or so is a very small amount of weight to carry if it adds any measure of protection. I can't for the life of me see why someone (who had the option of course) would leave behind a pistol weighing less than 5lbs because it was too heavy. Two guys in my squad weigh less than 150lbs and carry near as much as I do. And walk a long ways to boot. Just baffles me is all. Sorry for the mix up.
'Sides, a 240 and Interceptor rig would really tilt the odds in my favor vs a bear, don't ya think? :D
 
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