Personal protection?

While browsing around at Sport Chalet a couple of days ago, I came across the product pictured above. It is a bear attack repellant spray for use by campers, hikers, bicyclists, fishermen, etc. when threatened by a bear.

I'm no expert on bears, but if you're being chased by a 1,000 lb grizzly, I don't know how effective a spray can of "bear repellant" will be on it (especially if it is already within the maximum range of the spray, which is 35 feet according to the package). It doesn't contain anything very harmful; it is simply very strong pepper spray. I imagine if you shoot a half-ton charging bear in the face with pepper spray, more often than not the only thing you'll do is piss it off even more. If you ever encounter a bear in the woods, you'd better have a loaded shotgun or a really good pair of running shoes on.

I actually knew a guy that was camping out in the wilderness and was chased by a bear. He said that your best chance to escape a bear is to run uphill. Bears are pretty fast, but are much faster running downhill when their immense weight is more of an advantage. Run uphill, and the bear is more likely to tire before it gets you. Of course, this guy had a shotgun and shot the bear before it stopped chasing him, so who knows if that whole uphill thing really works.

On a different note, in that same aisle at Sport Chalet I also saw a can of mace for joggers. It was specially designed to be held in a runner's grip. The package said that the can had enough mace to be sprayed 37 times, just in case you are "attacked by multiple assailants". Okay now, if there is such a high probability of being "attacked by multiple assailants" in the area that you are running that it becomes necessary to buy a can of 37-spray runner's mace, my advice is save your money and FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO RUN. Otherwise, it may be time to find a new hobby or join a gym.