Bears Everywhere
This is where I first decided I needed something to keep bears away from my campsites.
Pictured is a place called Haddow Creek on Arrow Lake in the BC Kootenays. I travelled long and hard on some pretty dodgy trails, and I had the whole place to myself. After I got my camp setup and went for a swim, a couple of guys rode up on their dirt bikes. We traded stories and chatted about our bikes.
The conversation ended up kinda like this:
Two guys: "So ... are you alone?"
Me: "Yes."
Two guys: "Really?"
Me: "Yes."
Two guys: "Seriously?"
Me: "... ummm ..."
Me: "Are there many bears hereabouts?"
Two guys: "Hahahaha! Bwahahahaha!"
Two guys: "Umm. Sorry. Yes. Lots. Loads and Loads."
Two guys: "We'll come back later and check up on you."
Which they did. Once in the evening and once in the morning.
I freaked out. I didn't sleep that night. On my ride back out, I ran into three sizeable bears on the trail I rode in on. Three! That's when I really freaked out. I got home that day and put my hand to creating what became the Bear Sentry prototype.
From that day forward, I don't ride without it.