HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke;S10000)
Subject: Re: Frequency of Bear Encounters on Hiking Trails
Keywords: bears encounters hiking
Organization: Washington State University
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 92 22:46:12 GMT

Personal experience in 22 years of hiking/camping:

My dog chased a young cub in the Porcupine Mt's of the Michigan Upper Pennisula
in 1979.  That scared the sh** out of me.  I was sure the dog was going to
chase the thing right to mama, and mama was going to destroy both dog and me.
I hiked away like crazy, calling dog.  Dog finally came along, and no harm
was done to anyone.

Another older cub encountered while hiking Mt. Tom in Olympics in 1985.  Cub ran
up a slope.

Most interesting encounter was in the Olympics on a bridge.  We had stopped on
a lonely bridge over a river (in a car).  I think it was the Moclips R. or
something like that.  Anyway, it was a cold, rainy winter day and about 150
yards upstream a herd of elk were crossing the river.  We
stopped and killed the engine.  Watched the elk cross single file for about
a half hour.  We were quite transfixed by this progression.  On deciding to
get going again, I looked in the rear view mirror to find a big black bear
coming up behind us, presumably using the bridge to cross the stream, or
perhaps to check out the car.  Boy did he fly down the road when I started the
car.  I don't think he knew there were humans in the car.

All of these were black bear encounters.

-Jeff
-------------------
jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu ...uunet!wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu!jeffp
jeffp@WSUVM1.bitnet CIS: 71511,1512  AOL: JeffParke
a.k.a. Jeff Parke,  Washington State University College of Vet. Medicine
From: ajs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Alan Silverstein)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Replacing metal Thermarest valves
Date: 12 Aug 92 16:57:17 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA

If you own an older Thermarest mattress with a metal valve...  Write to:

    Cascade Designs
    4000 1st Avenue S.
    Seattle, WA  98134

    206-583-0583

and request a plastic replacement.

Sometimes the Net is great -- it makes all the "noise" worthwhile.  I
heard something here a while back about replacement valves being
available.  I had to get the address from long distance information
since only the company name, city, and zip code appears on the
mattresses (how silly, that causes an "insufficient address" dead
letter).  Anyway, on the second try inquiring about replacement valves,
I received a couple in the mail free, with bonding cement and clear
directions.  The replacement works great.

Good job, Cascade Designs!  I guess buying quality pays dividends.
From: johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: light weight coffee makers - (was: totally obnoxious camper w/o my espresso)
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:41:26 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.

In article <88328@rphroy.ph.gmr.com> rhaar@albert.cs.gmr.com writes:
|In article 1691c8INNmtv@darkstar.UCSC.EDU, james@cats.ucsc.edu (James C. Bohem) writes:
||>
||>crsg9887@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Chad R. Sandstrom) writes:
||>>Hey, on my last trip (4 days in the Blue Ridge Mtns, 6 days on Cape Lookout)
||>>Every morning and every late afternoon we enjoyed a splendid french roast 
||>>brew made in my Italian style espresso maker. More compact and more efficient
||>>than any other coffee brewing method, this device is a die cast metal, two
||>>chambers that screw together, water begins in the bottom part and is forced
||>>up through the grounds contained in a "basket" held between the chambers.
||>
||>Ack! I uhave been using a 1-cup gold filter for several years now
||>(they last a long, long time). They are swiss-made, and should be
||>available in the same yuppie-gourmet places as espresso makers. 
||>Mine nests in a 1 qt. pan, or anything else slightly larger than 
||>a mug. In addition, you can nest stuff inside it, too. It's plastic,
||>and therefore weighs very little.
 
I've got one of those screw-together espresso makers at home as well.  As you
said, their a bit too bulky and heavy for a pack.  With the the lighter
1-cup filters you have more room in your pack for beer.  With the 1-cup filters
you can stuff your coffee inside the filter and it fits nicely into a corner
of the pack.

|Even lighter: - use the Coffee Singles product (from Maxwell House, I
|believe). These are like tea bags, but contain coffee grounds. I have 
|no trouble getting 2 cups of coffee from each bag and they weigh almsot
|nothing more than the coffee itself.
 
Double Ack!!  The whole point about bringing the filters is that you don't
have to drink something like Maxwell House (I'll admit though that even
Maxwell house tastes good in the backcountry).  Now if they'd just make these
filters "resealable" I'd be able to put some fresh ground Kenya AA in it.

-- 
+============================================================================++
| John Fereira            "Is that all you ever think about?"                |
| johnf@auspex.com                                                           |
+============================================================================++
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: 93asw@williams.edu (Andrew Wright)
Subject: Re: Wanted, good 4-5 day East Coast hike
Followup-To: rec.backcountry
Organization: Williams College
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 18:14:11 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.125823.14205@crd.ge.com>,
martink@homer.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (kenneth m martin) wrote:
> 
> I'm doing a 4-5 day hike in late August and would like suggestions on
> nice places to go.  I'm limiting myself to N.C. up to N.H./Canada.
> 
> I've heard that the Pisca (spelling) National Forest in N.C. is nice. 
> Any comments ?

 - Thanks a bunch
> - Ken Martin

	The Pisgah forest is a great place for rock climbing, but I don't know
much about long trips there.  I led a three day in the Pisgah Forest going
to a place called Otter Hole.  Very pretty, but the trails were _not_ well
marked.  There are plenty of great swimming holes throughout the Forest, as
Pisgah is one of the few temperate rain forests in America. There is also a
well travelled, but beautifull area about halfway between Brevard and
Bryson City N.C. that isn't too difficult and has some loop trails that are
convenient.  I can't remember the name off hand, but I could find out if
you wanted me to.

	Other good East coast trips can be found all along the Appalachian Trail. 
I especially like the region through the Nantahala Forest and up over Cheoh
bald.  There are plenty of balds all through that area, which make the hike
absolutely gorgeous, but it has some very steep sections.  One excellent
advantage of that area is the Nantahala river.  I highly reccomend taking
an extra day off and going rafting.  South of there is a huge dam, which a
good place to start/stop a hike.  (Starts with an "F")  The Great Smoky
Mountain Nat. Park is often crowded, especially close to the road, but it
offers some nice loop trails.
	
A little farther north both Mt. Rodgers and Roan Mt. are good hikes, but
they may be crowded on weekends.  One of the two ( I forget which) has wild
horses.  In general, I like the AT because it is well marked and has plenty
of water in most sections.  I lead kids on extended trips on the AT all
last summer and never had any problems.  
	
If you want more info on these hikes feel free to e-mail me.  If you decide
on Pisgah -- there are two entrances to the Pisgah forest, from I-40 north
of Asheville and from Brevard N.C.  The ranger station is on the Brevard
side, and should have some information. Alternatively, you could stop at,
or call, Black Dome in Asheville.  Black Dome is a pretty good outdoor
store, and runs a mail order business that should have ads in Climbing and
camping magazines.  E-mail me for the address/# if you can't find it. 
There is also a camping store in Brevard just across the street from the
Pisgah entrance, they should have some info, but I forget the name.

Andrew 

93asw@williams.edu
Jellybirdbigbangboom
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: lswab@x400gate.bnr.ca (Lyndon Swab)
Subject: Destinations in NY or VT?
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.,
Distribution: rec
Date: 20 Aug 92 14:45:04 GMT


I'm planning on a 4-5 day trip around labour day. Since I don't have much
time to travel, I'm thinking about either the Adirondack's in New York, or
the Stowe area in Vermont.

The problem is that I can't easily get trail info up here (Ottawa, Canada).

Does anyone have any recommendations for a decent, relatively secluded,
trail.  Scenery is important, because I intend to do a fair bit of 
photography.

Any info would be appreciated.  Locations of the trail heads would be 
really great. 

Thanks in advance,
--
Lyndon Swab     lswab@bnr.ca, (613) 763-7165, ESN 393-7165
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: blagdon@engin.umich.edu (Kenneth James Clark )
Subject: Re: Comments on Yellowstone
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 16:55:31 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

Stupid Elk?  Not.  People are the same way.  When you hear a car coming
as you walk on the sidewalk, do you get scared?  Now, if you are 
walking along and you hear a bikes gears, you're likely to freak.  Why?
Because you probably didn't hear it coming, you aren't sure what it is,,
you don't know how fast it's going, you don't know if you're about to
get plastered.  

You get used to the drone of an engine.  You hear it coming a long ways
away and you can tell where it is and where it's going from the noise.  
Bikes (and esp. X-C skis) are far more quiet.  

Ken
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Moose & Elk & caribou & reindeer
From: moynes_r@qis.dofasco.ca
Date: 20 Aug 92 14:17:30 GMT
Organization: Dofasco Inc, Hamilton, Ont. Can.
Nntp-Posting-User: moynes_r

Another difference between moose and elk is that moose are generally members of
a lodge, while elk belong to a club :)

OK, now that everybody is totally confused about moose and elk, where do
caribou and reindeer fit into the picture?  I always thought that a moose
looked like Rocky's friend Bullwinkle, while elk, caribou and reindeer
(Rudolph) were all names for a different critter (wapiti).

Richard Moynes
moynes_r@qis.dofasco.ca

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: JB <jbl@mesaadm.cre.nt.com>
Subject: Backcountry Coffee:  Heresy!!!!!!
Organization: Censored
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1b3
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:59:48 GMT

Am I to infer from all the previous furor that I am the only trekker to
use (oh God, do I dare say the word.....shudder) INSTANT coffee?????
From: ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Wanted, good 4-5 day East Coast hike
Date: 13 Aug 92 19:23:03 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston VA

In article <93asw-130892141326@biology-mac01.williams.edu> 93asw@williams.edu (Andrew Wright) writes:
>[stuff about Pisgah National Forest and other places]
>
>an extra day off and going rafting.  South of there is a huge dam, which a
>good place to start/stop a hike.  (Starts with an "F")  The Great Smoky
>Mountain Nat. Park is often crowded, especially close to the road, but it
>offers some nice loop trails.
>	
I believe you're referring to Fontana Lake (and Dam).
Has anyone mentioned Linville Gorge yet? 
All this discussion about these places in NC and GA really reminds
me how much stuff we have here in the east that is easily overlooked.

Steve     Please do not fold, spindle or mutilate this disclaimer.
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: ag807@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Steve Wolf)
Subject: Re: No dogs in Natl Parks
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 20:38:37 GMT


A fine group of answers.

Too bad there is no question.

We were up in Algonquin for a couple weeks and listened in on their
radio channels.  It is interesting how they manage that park.  Any
problem that does not go away in a day or so deserves their full
attention.  You would be surprised at how many non-problems find
non-solutions to make the non-problem go away.

Was there an answer in there that was based on both (1) actual fact
other than what-if, maybe, in my learned opinion, perhaps, possibly
or could be and, (2) that did not try to tell user A how to act when
in the company of user B?  Other than the part about them going to
the bathroom (snicker, chortle) it seems like all the problems went
away when user B parted company with user A and the dog made no never
mind to anyone other than A or B.

Steve
NO8M@NO8M.#NEOH.OH.USA.NA <-without wires
-- 
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: houle@nmt.edu (Paul Houle)
Subject: Re: Oregon Wallowas...pack animals
Organization: New Mexico Tech
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 23:42:35 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.225011.11731@morrow.stanford.edu> AS.MSW@forsythe.stanford.edu (Marc Whitney) writes:

>>>After spending several days many years ago repairing trails damaged
>>>by horses, I have to agree with Wayne and David. The erosion caused
>>>by pack animals on trail is rediculous. I talked to a ranger one
>>>time about this and he said that many eastern senators think that
>>>pack animals are natural so they should be allowed in the back
>>>country. Pack animals were introduced to this part of the world by
>>>European explorers, and the wilderness here is just not designed
>>>to handle the destuction caused by them. Tells you how much our
>>>federal government know :).
>>>
>I vote for limiting the pack animals to at least a few trails.  Next
>I would suggest limiting them to carying only individuals with
>non-self-inflicted physical limitations.  I.e., couch potato(e)s
>need not apply.  Most people I see ridding or walking and having the
>stock do the work are just overweight and out of shape.
>(considering the octegenarians and children I've seen carrying their
>own stuff, you've got to pretty infirm to to have an excuse!)  At
>the same time I would hate to see the Sierra crest made inaccessable
>to persons who have a legitamate disability.

	I did some backpacking in the Gila wilderness last weekend,  where
we ran into a pack string.  The people who ran the pack string were very
polite and all that,  but one could see horse dung all over the trail,
which was something I didn't like.  I would probably want to get rid of the
pack animals too for the most part on most trails,  but I think we could
make an exception for people who are physically disabled.

	Then again,  when Socorro Search and Rescue had a midnight hike up
South Baldy mountain near here,  one of the people who came along was blind;
an accomplishment that amazed me.  Then again,  between the smokers and the
people who were out of shape and the ranchers,  we were a motley crew.  BTW,
they made backwoods coffee by just putting the grinds in a huge pot and
boiling it.  Myself,  I prefer taking a cone filter and making real coffee.

	So far as what to do with trash,  I came up with a good solution
when we were driving back from the Gila,  where we had to drive maybe 30
miles from the trailhead to dump our trash since the trailhead was served
by a steep and winding road that ~nobody~ would want to haul trash on.  I
saw a car that was parked on the side of the road with all it's windows
open with a bumpersticker that said "I LOVE BEEF" and tried to convince
the driver to slow the car down so I could stuff the trash into the back
seat but cooler heads prevailed.



-- 
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: craig@phenix.cc.uregina.ca (Craig Knelsen)
Subject: Bear Identification
Keywords: bears
Reply-To: craig@phenix.cc.uregina.ca (Craig Knelsen)
Organization: Does it matter?
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 00:04:23 GMT

In my "Frequency of Bear Encounters on Hiking Trails" post, I mentioned that
I had two black bear encounters this year. The second encounter was definitely
with a young black bear (1st/2nd year after leaving his mother I guess). The
first encounter I am not quite sure of. It was raining steadily and he was
walking in the creek beside the trail when I encountered him as I rounded a
bend in the trail. He was a large bear -- cinammon-brown in color so my
initial guess would be grizzly but then I recall watching his face and it
didn't seem to be large like a grizzly's should be. I did manage to snap a
few pictures off as I hid in a nearby bush but by the time I got my camera
out he was up on the other side hidden partially by bushes. The front part
of his body reminded me, in a way, of a polar bear so my guess would be a
"black" bear. I cannot recall seeing any hump but then I was watching his
eyes for the most part. Anybody have any thoughts on how to make a 
positive id?

Secondly, does anyone know how "black" bears become cinammon-brown? Is it
a gene mutation or is it a result of a grizzly mating with a black bear (is
this possible)?
-- 

Craig Knelsen		craig@phenix.cc.uregina.ca
			Craig_Knelsen@f20.n140.z1.fidonet.org
From: drchambe@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Dennis Chamberlin)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Backcountry Coffee:  Heresy!!!!!!
Date: 17 Aug 92 17:48:43 GMT
Reply-To: drchambe@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Dennis Chamberlin)
Distribution: na
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.


We've had good results using standard coffee, without using a special 
appliance to perk it in. We use an old small coffeepot without the interior
accessories. Place 1 tablespoon of coffee on the surface of cold water 
filled just below the spout strainer. Bring just to a boil, so the action 
wets the floating coffee. Cover and let stand about three minutes. Most of
the grounds will sink to the bottom, and the spout strainer catches almost
everything else. 
This pot serves as our all-purpose water-boiler, and doubles
as a coffee-maker. The interior space can be used to pack food items, 
utensils, etc. The net result is that you can use real coffee without 
having to pack a  dedicated coffee pot with all its gadgets.
From: alpope@skids.Eng.Sun.COM (Alan L. Pope)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: light weight coffee makers - (was: totally
Date: 18 Aug 92 16:54:48 GMT
Reply-To: alpope@skids.Eng.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: skids.eng.sun.com


>Even lighter: - use the Coffee Singles product (from Maxwell House, I
>believe). These are like tea bags, but contain coffee grounds. I have 
>no trouble getting 2 cups of coffee from each bag and they weigh almsot
>nothing more than the coffee itself.
>
>Of course you could go without - but some of us are addicted to the stuff.
>
>---
>	Robert Haar               InterNet : rhaar@gmr.com 

These Coffee bags are great!  REI (Cupertino) carries one brand.  Gloria Jean's
Coffee houses carry another brand (multiple flavors, including aromatics, which
I don't like).  Others have them as well.  The bags seem about twice as big as
tea bags but not flow-through.  I can get several cups if I like weak.  The one
drawback is that I typically use my knifetherman blade to squeeze the bag against
my cup side (speed the steeping?) and usually hole the bag in the process.  I
have done this multiple times, each time thinking I'm going to be more careful
and use a gentler touch and, bang, grounds again.  I wouldn't have this problem
if I weren't trying to keep my spoon clean!  ;^)


---
I respect a man who knows how to spell a word more than one way.  -- Mark Twain
					Alan Pope <alan.pope@Eng.Sun.COM>
Twain, unfortunately, had no way to anticipate Dan Quayle.
From: trzyna@CS.ColoState.EDU (wayne trzyna)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: accessible = !wilderness (WAS Re: Oregon Wallowas
Keywords: horseshit erosion crowds trash
Date: 14 Aug 92 19:06:47 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Computer Science Department

In article <e8FX02yd1dbo01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> jjh00@OUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Joel J. Hanes) writes:
>
>Elitist bastard that I am, I'll even say it:
>
>  "Everyone and everything should be banned from the
>   *wilderness* except the small number of people who are
>   willing and able to get there the hard way, and their
>   simple gear.  If impact increases, access should be made
>   more difficult, and more restrictions placed on gear."

This hits the nail on the head.  Conditions might even dictate
allowing NOBODY to visit an area until it recovers.


-- 

-Wayne Trzyna
 trzyna@CS.ColoState.EDU
From: Dan Yurman <dyurman@igc.org>
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Date: 13 Aug 92 06:44 PDT
Subject: Re: Point to Ponder (Wolves in Yellowst
Nf-ID: #R:1992Aug10.172014.8370@colorado.e:-1461921099:cdp:1449600017:000:1031
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!dyurman    Aug 13 06:44:00 1992


THe problem of removing a predator from an ecosystem and thus
condemning the species you are trying to save is well illustrated
by the hunting of great white sharks off the California coast.
This has resulted in the over population of seals ad sea lions,
which are the prey of the sharks.

With regard to my previous comments about the high number of
auto accidents in Yellowstone this year, this week a 
motocyclist - who was NOT wearing a helment - was killed in
a head on collision with a car at the west entrance.

Also, Eastern Idaho is in the grip of a record breaking heat wave.
Timber and rangelands are very dry.  Fire danger is extremely
high.  Please be careful in the back country if you are up this way.
The temperature in Jackson, WY, was 90 yesterday.

*/-------------------------------------------------------------/*
  Dan Yurman            | dyurman@igc.org       | Adopt a trail  
  PO Box 1569           | 43N 112W -7 GMT       | in the Targhee
  Idaho Falls, ID 83403 | dyurman@world.std.com | National Forest

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: henniss@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Kathryn Henniss)
Subject: Re: MSR Stoves - Whisperlite Int'l. vs. X-
Organization: Stanford University CSLI
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 22:41:33 GMT

Robert Haar writes:            

>I have been using a Coleman Peak 1 stove for about three years and have been
>very pleased with it. But I have the MulitFuel version which is somewhat
>lighter with a larger fuel capacity than the standard Peak 1.
>
>Besides being easy to light and having good flame control, it has been
>completely dependable - always works, always lights the first time, never
>leaks (if I release the tank pressure).
>
>Before getting this stove, I managed for 15 years with a SVEA 123. Looking
>back, I wonder why I put up with it - always tempermental about lighting,
>always requiring cleaning and with only two speeds (ROAR and OFF).
>
>

Another factor that will probably lead me to eventually forsake
my Svea for a Peak is that the Peak is MUCH quieter than the 
Svea...the ROAR Robert mentions is not an exaggeration.
Conversation while cooking is difficult with the Svea, as is any
attempt to not broadcast your presence to everyone in the area.

Of course, as the man who I bought my Svea from explained, "as you 
become get used to the association of the purr (i.e., "ROAR") of the 
Svea with warm food when you're hungry, you come to love the sound."  

Well, maybe.  A little too Pavlovian for me, I guess.  

Kathryn Henniss
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry