Two recent reports of attacks on hiking trails are disturbing, but one is even more frightening than the other. On June 17, a man was attacked and killed by a grizzly bear near the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park.  The area is known for its grizzly activity and park rangers say written warnings were posted and the man was warned verbally, but he didn’t carry any pepper spray or other bear defense gear.

On Sunday, a woman hiking on a trail in north Boulder was attacked, but this time, the attacker wasn’t a wild animal. It was a man – a short thin man who was carrying a knife.  This one ended better – the woman punched her attacker and escaped, and he was later arrested near the trailhead.

The Boulder attack and a similar one last September on Signal Mountain Trail near Fort Collins are reminders that animals aren’t the only dangers on the trail.  Literature about trail safety often talks about what to do if you meet a bear, or a mountain lion, but rarely mentions human encounters.  I know many women who hike alone.  Most of them don’t carry a weapon that could be used against animal or human. 

I carry a folding knife in my backpack, but I don’t know if I could or would ever use it to defend myself.  I’ve had a few unusual encounters in the outdoors – once at night, when a man dressed as a Ninja ran through our backcountry campsite and another time when deputies were called in after campers in a Forest Service campground started playing with their pistols at night, shooting into a raging bonfire they had built. 

The latest attack, in Boulder, got me thinking about trail safety again.  What do you think? Should we be more aware of potential human danger on our hiking trails and in our forests?  Or are these isolated events that could have just as easily happened on a city street?  Have you ever had such an encounter?  Have you thought about what you would do if your attacker wasn’t a black bear or a mountain lion but was a person?

– Deb Acord

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One of the tips for staying safe while hiking in bear country is to wear bells. Unless they’re startled, protecting young or guarding food, most bears prefer to avoid humans. The bells give the bears time to move out of the way without feeling threatened. Fortunately every time I’ve seen a bear on the trail they’ve been in a hurry to get away from me.

Now there’s a high tech way to alert bears. The ScareBear Trail Companion iPhone app gives the option of bear bells, rocks in a tin can or hands clapping to alert bears that you’re coming. If you do encounter a bear, mountain lion or other wildlife you can tap to use an air horn sound to scare them. The app costs 99 cents.

I was curious about the app so I paid my 99 cents and downloaded it. I don’t know if the app really requires it but it won’t install without the 3.1.2 software update. I hadn’t updated from 3.1 so I had to do the update first.

The volume of the sound is determined by the iPhone’s volume control. With the volume all the way up, it is loud enough to be bothersome for bear bells, rocks in a tin can or hand clapping. The air horn doesn’t really sound much louder than the other sounds. My dog lying in my office didn’t even bother opening his eyes. My kids can certainly scream a lot louder.

The ScareBear Trail Companion iPhone app comes with a very long disclaimer list. It includes agreeing that the app is sold as a novelty item.

I have concerns about carrying my iPhone out where it could be heard in wet or dusty conditions. Although I didn’t test how long the battery lasts with it playing, the sound does keep playing when the screen is off so I would guess it is too big of a battery strain.

My recommendation is to stick to the low tech bear bell fastened to your pack or shoes. It’ll be more reliable and easier on the ears. I guess if you do forget your bear bell, you could use the app as a backup.

– UltraRob

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