If you are concerned about protection on the Trail I understand that a can of nwasp/hornet spray is very effective. It is more effective than pepper or bear spray and it is more accurate. It will shoot a stream of 20 to 30 feet. It will kill a snake or a mouse and will stop a bear in its tracks. And unlike a gun it is legal in national parks as it is not considered a weapon. You can just say that you are allergic to wasp bites. A can will weigh a little more than a pound. X-man
X-Man
You are misinformed! Please stop spreading this horrible myth. Wasp spray will NOT stop a BEAR or a human. Bear Spray fires 35 FEET and will has a much wider diameter so you don’t have to be as accurate. Wasp spray deploys a thin stream. Regarless, IT WON’T STOP A BEAR! Don’t believe me, call the EPA or ask for a written statement from a WASP spray manufacturer. This stupid myth is going to seriously injure someone!!!
David
I thought the wasp spray was for protection against ground hornets. Yeah, I don’t know where people come up with this stuff. Wasp spray would probably annoy a human or bear, but it certainly wouldn’t stop them.
Besides, people who through hike have to be pretty fearless, or they won’t last, mentally anyway. To hike 2500 miles, clutching a can of bear spray (or wasp spray) the whole way is a pretty sad picture.
Besides, how many through hikers on the PCT have been a) eaten by a bear or b) assaulted by a human? Seriously, I’d like to know. As a long-time regular hikers, these things are rare enough with the hundreds of thousands of hikers each year on the west coast, much less with the tiny subset of the population represented by through-hikers.
daniel smith
Sorry guys did not mean to ruffle any feathers but it seemed to make sense to me when I read about it that a deterrent that was capable killing wasps and hornets would seriously injure the delicate membranes that make up an eye be it human or animal. I guess we really won’t know for sure until somebody tries it. Sorry again, I love this forum and do want to offend it in any way. X-Man
X-Man
Go look up the two main ingredients in the wasp spray. I do agree with David about the stream of spray. I do keep a can in the door of my truck for wasp and such. And yes if someone were to mess with me I would give them a nice shot in a sec. thanks to all who write here, thats what its all about.
Train
If wasp spray is made of pesticides like organophosphates or something, then it could do some major harm; especially if some of em are lost down a cliff & degrade into the streams & springs… pepper spray sounds harmless to the environment…if it’s made from jalapenos & hatches.
gingerbreadman