Thread: Outdoor Gear

Originally Posted by Hawkeye5

Will you be in bear country?

Sometimes, yes.

I had already considered the soap, but a very good point on the brush idea from you and JL.

Originally Posted by Berticus

In bear country you try to have things unscented. Bears have very good olfactories and can smell anything! Even the peanut oil from film cameras. That's why those have to go in bear bags and bear lines.

When I went backpacking (2 weeks) in the outbacks, the bears and mountain lions have almost no human contact. So they're not afraid of humans and when the smell something strange, they'll check it out. If the scent is on you, they'll attack.

So I've been through the same thing Toddo goes through. For those two weeks I completely skipped out on shaving. Two weeks with no civilization and you had to carry absolutely everything with you including food and water (water had to be purified). At those times even razor, shaving soap, and brush became too onerous to carry around. Gotta cut those out since they weren't necessary. A lot of things, though small would build up weight, had to be cut out. A deck of cards for example. Too much weight. Either get rid of it completely, or just carry the pips in the corner from the corners of the cards.

For a something short less than two weeks or if you're somewhat tangible to civilization, I'd say if it's something you absolutely need, an all stainless steel razor, and unscented shaving soap. For the brush, I think you can get either boar, synthetic, or semi-sythentic. If you are in bear country, synthetic would definitely be the best choice. Boar hair or any animal hair in semi-synthetics might produce too much smell.

If you're going to be hiking in bear country, don't forget your bear-bells. This is pretty serious bear country up here, and no-one goes into the woods without 'em.


-whatever

-Lou

The National Forestry service has posted a warning for all travelers entering areas where bears are active to take precautions. They advise carrying pepper spray and wearing bells to alert the bears to your presence without startling them. They also advise being able to identify what type of bears are active in the area by recognizing the difference between brown bear and black bear droppings. Brown bear droppings contain berries and squirrel fur, black bear droppings have bells and smell like pepper.

Originally Posted by fredvs79

The National Forestry service has posted a warning for all travelers entering areas where bears are active to take precautions. They advise carrying pepper spray and wearing bells to alert the bears to your presence without startling them. They also advise being able to identify what type of bears are active in the area by recognizing the difference between brown bear and black bear droppings. Brown bear droppings contain berries and squirrel fur, black bear droppings have bells and smell like pepper.

Thanks for the laugh.

In that case I would be very careful about what you take for shaving, and everything else.
Even water bottles that may have had a drink mix in them must go in the bear bag and be hung out of reach at night. Frankly, if I was going to backpack into bear country I doubt I would take shaving gear. First there is the added weight. When I was into backpacking I weighed everything on postal scales. It adds up, and shaving is really a luxury in the backcountry where your house is on your back. Secondly, you might leave used lather around the campsite, or on a towel in your pack. Controlling the scent is almost as bad as controlling cooking scent (there are no left-overs). Consider the people that may use the site the day after.

I would just skip the shave. I know, blasphame, but that's what I would do. You are in the woods, being men, doing manly things. I don't think you will have to worry too much about appearances.

Also, just think about how nice that shave will be once you get back, and can do a proper prep, after a nice hot shower. that was always my favorite part of coming home after an extended back country trip. The shower and shave, and I was using disposable razors at the time. I can only imagine how nice it would be to have a proper shave after an extended back country trip.

Originally Posted by mhailey

I would just skip the shave. I know, blasphame, but that's what I would do. You are in the woods, being men, doing manly things. I don't think you will have to worry too much about appearances.

But think of the experience of shaving beside a rippling brook or the lapping waves of the lake. Another canoe paddles by and they stop to discover a little bit of the 'old school'. That'd be cool, even without the audience.

X

Originally Posted by xman

But think of the experience of shaving beside a rippling brook or the lapping waves of the lake. Another canoe paddles by and they stop to discover a little bit of the 'old school'. That'd be cool, even without the audience.

X

...As you look down into the water to rinse your blade you see the reflection of a big Black bear lunging for his next meal...

Originally Posted by JMS

...As you look down into the water to rinse your blade you see the reflection of a big Black bear lunging for his next meal...

And quickly spin 'round to defend yourself, conveniently armed with a device which will sever any tendon which might clamp on.

X