What do you call a bear with no teeth?

A gummy bear!

 

One of the common questions I'm asked is about the dangers of backpacking. For someone who has been robbed at gunpoint in my own driveway, I can tell you I feel safer on the trail than I do in a mall parking lot after dark. Cumulatively, I have spent almost a year in the wilderness. Yes I have seen a few snakes and bears, but the emphasis is on the word few. I am reminded of a quote by John Muir, “In my first interview with a Sierra bear we were frightened and embarrassed, both of us, but the bear's behavior was better than mine." Yes there are risks associated with backpacking, but most can be minimized with the right equipment, knowledge, and experience. When I hike alone I try to stay on maintained trails so if something happened, it wouldn't be too long before someone found me. I am careful when crossing rivers and use a bear canister to store my food safely from animals. And no...I don’t carry a gun.