Podcast appearances and mentions of bear canister

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Niki DiGaetano, known on trail as Phoenix. In addition to being a long distance backpacker, the bulk of today's conversation centers around Niki's work as a death doula. We learn, of course, what that work entails, how her experiences working with those at the end of their lives have reframed how she lives hers, advice for those currently processing the death of a loved one, dealing with anxieties around death, and much more. We wrap the show with how the Appalachian Trail has changed over the last 10 years, ridiculous features we'd like to see added to a backpack, and the triple crown of last meal orders. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  Burgeon Outdoor: Use code “BACKPACKER15” for 15% off at burgeonoutdoor.com. Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 50% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Interview with Niki DiGaetano Niki's Website Niki's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:10 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:08:40 - Introducing Niki 00:10:19 - What is a death doula? 00:12:07 - How did you get into this field? 00:15:10 - How do you not get weighed down by the work? 00:17:05 - What does the training look like? 00:21:10 - What is the top piece of advice you have for preparing for a loved one's passing? 00:23:10 - How do you help people cope with death anxiety? 00:25:30 - How often are people prepared for death? 00:29:42 - How does religion and spirituality play into your work? 00:31:30 - What do you think comes next? 00:35:50 - What advice do you have for people in the grieving process? 00:38:50 - What do you think about the 5 Stages of Grief? 00:41:30 - What are the common regrets of people who are dying? 00:45:30 - How has your work intersected with hiking long trails? 00:47:47 - Tell us about your past relationship 00:55:20 - How did the trail help you grow? 00:56:00 - How did you meet your current partner? 01:00:30 - What are your plans for the future in terms of your career and hiking? 01:02:57 - How do you balance offering advice to your friends and family? 01:05:00 - Discussion about death anxiety 01:07:10 - Do you have any advice for someone debating about doing a thru-hike? 01:09:20 - Tell us about the book you're working on 01:10:37 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking - or death? 01:12:23 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda Where Do You Need a Bear Canister on the PCT? By Katie Jackson 10 Ways the Appalachian Trail Has Changed in the Last 10 Years by Kelly Floro QOTD:  If you could add one ridiculous feature to a backpack—purely for entertainment—what would it be? Triple Crown of last meal orders Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Lauren F, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

Hiking in Bear Country NOTE:  The Adventure Travel Show podcast is part of the Active Travel Adventures podcast community. Learn how to hike safely in bear country plus how to determine whether a bear is a black bear or a brown (grizzly), and what to do if attacked by a bear.  You'll learn about proper food storage and how to hang a bear bag, and why bear spray is best.   Former NPS biologist, Tom Smith, stated in a wonderful Backpacker mag article:  “Don’t go into bear country without a deterrent.  I mean ALL bear country, density be ‘insert the D-word’.  You can’t outrun them, you can’t outwit them, you can’t out anything them.  You need a way to say to the bear, “This far, no farther”.   You’ll Learn   How to tell the difference between a black and a brown (or grizzly) bear and how to react What to do if you are attacked by a bear Grizzly ‘Bluff Charges” - what to do Best Practices for hiking safely in bear country Why bear spray is the best deterrent How to store your food How to hang a bear bag (Scroll down for a detailed recap)   Webpage for more details, diagrams of how to tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear (Brown bear): http://adventuretravelshowpodcast.com/safety-tips-for-hiking-in-bear-country/ Links mentioned in this episode: Backpacker magazine article  9 Bear Safety Tips Active Travel Adventures podcast and website     Available wherever you listen to podcasts or directly on the website     Bear country episodes:  Glacier National Park, Pisgah National Forest, Banff (Canada) Center For WIldlife Information - (the cool bear graphic) TRAINING:  Make sure you’ve got your body ready for your adventure!  You can get a FREE Training Consultation to see if Fit For Trips, an affiliate of ATA, is a good fit for you.  They offer affordable custom training regimens to make help ensure success of your trip.   Click for a FREE Consult plus an ATA Discount   TRAVEL INSURANCE:  Be careful as not all travel insurance companies covers adventure activities!  I use World Nomads. They are affordable and cover just about any adventure you can dream up!  Plus you can get coverage for lost bags and delays, emergency medical and evacuations. Use this link to get a quick quote and at no additional cost to you, you help support ATA - thanks!   Welcome to Adventure Travel Show  podcast, I’m your host Kit Parks. On this podcast we dig into the skills and tips you need to maximize your enjoyment of your outdoor adventures.   Today we are talking about hiking in bear country.  You’ll learn how to identify whether you’re looking at a black or a grizzly bear - and hint - it’s not about color, you’ll learn how to minimize any unpleasant encounters with bears and what to do in an unfortunate bear attack.   Bear attacks are very rare, and rarer still if you are hiking in a group of three or more, so this show is not meant to scare you.  In fact bear encounters are a treat!   Let’s first learn how to determine what kind of bear you are looking at as the response is different: Black bear Most common Range is from Canada down in to some parts of central Mexico, and in the lower 48, in both the east and the west Usually just black, but can be blue-black, brown, cinnamon or even white Taller ears Straight roman face profile Smaller claws good for digging in logs looking for bugs, or for climbing trees   Grizzly Bear (sometimes called a brown bear) Can’t determine by the color.  Colors range from honey to Black.  Often brown. Instead look for the distinct humped shoulders and a head that looks like someone took a bowl and scooped out a part of the lower snout. Small rounded ears - I find these hard to distinguish , usually furrier Range from Alaska, Canada, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and possibly in the Cascades of Washington, and in Russia Larger claws - can be as large as a finger in mature adult   How to Determine what kind of bear from tracks:If you see tracks, you can tell by drawing an imaginary line horizontally across the top of the paw pad.  If the baby toe is below the line, it’s a black bear. Also, black bear paws are more rounded. Grizzly paws pads are more oblong, so the line is predominantly below the toe imprints.     Bears sense of smell: Bear brains are a third of the size of humans, but their olfactory is 5x larger.  They say that a bear can smell a rotting carcass 20 miles away, and think ‘din din’!   Having a nine inch nose helps, too!  It’s it’s full of A LOT more receptors.   How to Hike Safely in Bear Country   Find out whether and what kind of bears are in your hiking area. Check with rangers about current sightings.  In parks, rangers will close trails that have bear activity - usually berries are ripe, or another popular food is ready for them. Avoid wearing or using scented products.  Think shampoo, toothpaste, lotions, etc. Remember that big nose!  Scents attract bears. Like Dr. Smith advises, bring a deterrent:  Bear Spray. And don’t leave it in your pack.  Put it in a holster on your belt for quick access.  And super important: read the directions before you hit the trail.  If the spray is necessary, you won’t have time.   WHAT IS BEAR SPRAY?   Bear Spray is a pepper spray that is truly effective:  more effective than a gun! Dr. Smith did a study in 2012 and found of the 133 bear encounters using Bear Spray, only three were injured, all mild.  However, of the 269 bear encounters using a gun, there were 17 dead people and a couple hundred dead bears. Bear spray works up to 30’ away but only lasts ten seconds.  If you need to use it, make sure you are NOT spraying upwind, or it’ll go in your eyes.  Aim low so the spray doesn’t go over the bear’s head. The spray works by temporarily burning the eyes.  It does no good to “pre-emptively” spray your tent. That creates a scent that may actually ATTRACT bears! Plus:  if you shoot a grizzly in the lower 48, YOU are required to carry out the carcass.  Good luck strapping him on your backpack: a grizzly can weigh up to 1300 pounds. Black bears don’t exceed 660 lbs. Check with rangers about regulations of the park you are visiting.  For example, Bear Spray is NOT allowed in Yosemite as they only have black bears.  However in some parks, you are required to bring bear spray and if a ranger stops and you don’t have any, it can land you a hefty fine. Don’t hike SOLO.  Rangers recommend at least a group of three.  According to the NPS, 91% of attacks are of groups of 1-2, and most times folks were OFF TRAIL. Therefore, stay on trail and mind posted signs warning of trail closings due to bear activity.  Listen to the rangers. Make noise, such as “Hey Bear”, clap or sing.  The idea is not to startle or surprise a bear. This is especially important as you are coming to a bend where a bear could be around the corner, or in tall grass areas where a bear could be resting unseen.  Forget about “Bear Bells”...sometimes these actually attract curious bears and are no longer recommended. If you aren’t hiking in a park, then use good judgement and avoid berry patches and other bear food favorites.  Pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t bring your dog.  Bears and pets don’t mix well.  If you insist, keep it on a leash. Keep your kids close by and in sight. Bears are most active at night, and early morning and late afternoon, so hike during solid daylight hours is best. Store your food properly!!!  If you are car camping, food should be in a cooler in your car or hung from a tree.  If you are in a park where there are back country lockers - USE THEM! If they have poles or hooks, use them.  If you are on your own, use a Bear Canister, which are pretty effective and often mandatory in parks, but bulky and heavy.  Or get a lightweight, bear bag AND preferably, a OPSACK 100% odor-proof and waterproof plastic bag that goes inside the bear bag.  These you hang from a tree branch. You want to hand you bear bag on a tree at least 100 yards downwind of your campsite.  To hang a bear bag, tie a rock to a rope 50-100’ long. I use parachute cord. Toss the rock over a solid branch 10’ and preferably at least 15’, and then lower rock to the ground.  Remove the rock and tie your food bag to the rope and then pull it up. You want the rope to be at least four feet from the trunk. Remember to put all scented things in your container:  food, food scraps and trash - including strained food particles from your dish water that you add to your trash zip bag, toothpaste, lotions, shampoos, etc.  Some even go so far as to store their stove and kitchen equipment. Clean your pots with minimal soap or just use boiling water to sanitize like I do. When we are careless and a bear tastes and learns to crave human foods, we are often giving that beautiful bear a death sentence. Black bears and grizzly bears are not attracted to menstrual periods.  Polar bears are, though! Whenever possible, cook your meals at least 100 yards downwind from your campsite. If you see a carcass, move out of the area as bears are attracted.  Rangers also request that you report a carcass sighting. Be on the lookout for bear indicators… mud prints, claw marks on trees, upturned logs, rolled over rocks, and bear poop, otherwise known as ‘scat’.   What to do when you see a bear: Most of the time, seeing a bear is a treat!  But keep your distance: recommendations are 75 yds/70 m for a black bear and 100 yards/90m for a grizzly. So just give a wide berth.     Generally bears are afraid of humans and will run away, particularly if you are in an area where bears are hunted.  Your goal is to NOT SURPRISE A BEAR!   How you react if you encounter a bear depends on the kind of bear.  Remember the markers we discussed. To me the shoulder - humped on a grizzly, and the snout, super straight on a black bear, are the easiest markers from a distance.   Most of the times, a bear will simply be checking you out to see if you are a threat or not.  Bears attack for three reasons:  Predatory, territory or protective reasons.   NEVER GET BETWEEN A MAMA BEAR AND HER CUBS!!!  This is the most dangerous situation. If you see cubs, don’t approach them, even if you can’t see the SOW or mother bear.  She is close by. If you see cubs, slowly back away.   If you see a bear, and you are too close, you want to remember three things: Stand your ground.  Running might bring out a predatory response.  FOr this reason, never trail run in bear territory. Get your deterrent ready, ideally bear spray. Slowly wave your hands to look larger, yell “Hey Bear” to let it know you are human, bang pots and pans, throw rocks.  Usually this will do the trick.   Most people fear grizzlies more than black bears, but if you are attacked, it is the black bear that is trying to get you.  A grizzly will more often just do a bluff charge.   If a black bear attacks you, it is being predatory.  Fight back: punch him in the eyes and nose. GRIZZLY BLUFF CHARGE VERSUS GRIZZLY ATTACK   If a grizzly sees you, it is likely to stand up to check you out. Speak calmly and back up slowly.  Don’t appear like a threat.   A grizzly may do a “Bluff Charge”.  When a grizzly is bluffing, it’s ears are UP and it will HUFF and make noise.  As terrifying as it will be, STAND YOUR GROUND.  Usually that’s the end of it, and after the bluff charge you can slowly back up again, and have a cool story to tell your friends.   However, if the grizzly has its ears DOWN, its head LOW and is QUIET, be prepared to spray your bear spray.  You are about to be attacked.     CONTROL YOUR PANIC so you don’t spray too soon.  Wait until the bear is about 30’ away, and then aim LOW so you don’t shoot the spray over his head.  REMEMBER, bear spray is super effective.   If you are ignoring my advice and don’t bring bear spray, then unlike the black bear attack where you fight, with a grizzly, you play dead.  Ideally, you lie face down on the ground with your backpack on, spread your legs, and then place your hands on your head with your elbows out to make it harder to turn you over.  Your pack will get the brunt of it. If you roll up into a cannonball, you’ll probably get one bite before he leaves.   I want to remind you that this is an EXTREMELY RARE situation.   On my two week section hike of the Appalachian Trail with Jane and Gerry, we were really  beat one evening. Generally we started looking for a camping area around 4pm. On this section, we weren’t having any luck finding a suitable place for all three tents and ended up more scattered than normal in a subpar location.   Even though I was pooped, I couldn’t fall asleep right away, and around 11pm, I heard what I thought was Gerry, who was tented closest to me, outside my tent.  I was wondering why she was going to the bathroom so close to my tent instead of nearer to hers. The next morning, when I stepped outside to go to the bathroom, I saw a fresh pile of bear skat that most definitely wasn’t there the day before.  So it turns out that “Gerry” was in fact a black bear (the only kind in NC).   We had followed procedures and our food was stored far away, and was untouched, as were we.  I just got a funny story out of it.   When my friend, Venti and I were in Glacier National Park, we were lucky to have several grizzly sightings.  Mostly from the safety of our car in what they refer to as BEAR JAMS, where folks stop their cars to watch to the distress of the rangers.  But seeing that grizzly emerge from the woods and wander down to the lake is one of my favorite memories! What a delight to see such a magnificent creature in an equally magnificent setting!   Bears aren’t stupid:  they live in some of the most beautiful places on earth!  So go out and enjoy the scenery, but just be bear smart. If you follow these guidelines, and pack along your common sense as well as your gear, you’re going to be fine.   On the Adventure Travel Show website, adventuretravelshowpodcast dot com, you’ll see more info about hiking in bear country, with photos and diagrams.   And like always, I prepare a PDF on all episodes.  You can get them absolutely FREE if you sign up for my monthly email.  Note that I said monthly! I don’t sell your name or spam you - promise!  In this email, you’ll also find other tips and deals not mentioned on the show.   Visit ActiveTravelAdventures.com to subscribe or just shoot me an email at Kit at Active Travel Adventures dot com.  I’d love to hear from you and what you think of this new show! Links mentioned in this episode: Backpacker magazine article  9 Bear Safety Tips Active Travel Adventures podcast and website     Available wherever you listen to podcasts or directly on the website     Bear country episodes:  Glacier National Park, Pisgah National Forest, Banff (Canada) Center For WIldlife Information - (the cool bear graphic) TRAINING:  Make sure you’ve got your body ready for your adventure!  You can get a FREE Training Consultation to see if Fit For Trips, an affiliate of ATA, is a good fit for you.  They offer affordable custom training regimens to make help ensure success of your trip.   Click for a FREE Consult plus an ATA Discount   TRAVEL INSURANCE:  Be careful as not all travel insurance companies covers adventure activities!  I use World Nomads. They are affordable and cover just about any adventure you can dream up!  Plus you can get coverage for lost bags and delays, emergency medical and evacuations. Use this link to get a quick quote and at no additional cost to you, you help support ATA - thanks!                    

How to properly Choose, Fit and Pack your Backpack   Fitting a Backpack: Torso length is the critical measurement Some tall people have short torsos and some short people have long torsos, so it’s important to actually MEASURE your torso to get the most comfortable backpack for your body.   How to Measure Your Torso You will need a friend and tape measure: Tilt your head and look for the bony knob where your neck meets your back.  This is Point A. Place your hands on your hips with your thumbs towards your back.  Point your two thumbs at each other and draw an imaginary line. Where your spine meets this imaginary line is Point B. Measure the distance between Points A and B.  This is your Torso Length.   Look at the labels on the backpacks for the manufacturer’s sizing for your torso length.   If you are between sizes, check with an experienced outfitter for recommendations.     Compare features, fit, comfort and price to find the best backpack for you and your budget.  Quality pays. If you are going on a long backpacking trip but don’t want to buy a high qualtiy backpack, consider renting one instead.   Before you buy, either bring your own gear or use something at the store to fill up and add weight to the pack and walk around the store with the weighted pack for at least 15-30 minutes to make sure you are happy with your selection.  This is a much better time to find out something rubs you funny!   The Proper Way to Put on Your Backpack   Don’t just hoist it up over your back with the padded shoulder strap.  This causes stress to the seams and can cause future problems - and you don’t need a broken pack when you’re in the wild!   Lift your backpack up as follows:   Loosen all straps so you can easily adjust for a snug fit once the back is on your back. With knees slightly bent and with a wide, stable stance, grab the “Hoist Strap” with one hand.  This is the small loop strap in the upper center of your pack. NOTE: DO NOT hang up your backpack with this strap.  It is intending just for the momentary use to hoist the pack onto your back. Pull the pack upright up onto one knee with the hoist strap. Still holding the hoist trap with one hand for stability, slide one arm between the padded shoulder strap. Slide the other arm under the opposite shoulder strap. Now it’s time to adjust your backpack for the best fit.   How to Adjust Your Backpack Straps You should have already loosened the straps before putting on your backpack. RIght now, the pack is on your back but nothing is strapped yet.  Bend at the waist and first connect the hip belt and tighten so it’s snug.  The hip belt should be resting on your hips so that they bear the bulk of the weight.  Now straighten up. Tighten the two Shoulder Straps.  These are the straps that come down the padded straps.  This should be tight enough so the pack doesn’t sway, but not so tight as to cause neck problems.  You want the weight to remain on your hips. Larger packs have a Load Adjustment strap.  These straps are at the top of the pack. Try to form a 45 degree angle.  As the day goes on, it’s sometimes helpful to loosen and tighten to make yourself more comfortable. Connect the two padded shoulder straps with the chest strap.  Slide the strap up or down for comfort. Check to make sure your hip belt is snug.  Tighten as needed.   How to Properly Pack Your Backpack   Line your pack with a compactor trash bag to help keep things dry.  Save a heavy duty large twist tie. A heavy duty garbage bag works ok, too, but won’t last as long. If you use a water bladder, it’s easier to put that in first. Think of your backpack as having three layers: On the bottom of your pack goes the lighter, squishy items that you won’t need until later.  So here is where you put your sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, your pad if it compacts, and night clothing. In the middle layer of your pack is where you put your heavy things such as your kitchen, tent and food.  Use extra clothes, rope and small items to fill in gaps and balances things so you are tippy on the trail.  Many state and national parks are now requiring that you keep food and toiletries in a Bear Canister. This is where that would go as well. On the top layer, is where you put things you’ll need during your hike, such as your thermal jacket in a waterproof compression sack, first aid kit, rain pants, and lunch.  You can put your rain jacket in here or in the big pouch on the outside back of your pack, depending on the weather and the likelihood of you needing it. Once everything is packed properly, twist the ends of the compactor trash bag and fold the twists over onto itself and then use the twist tie to keep it that way (like an upside down twisted “U”).  This way rain can’t collect in the opening. In the large section that goes on top of your pack go the things you use a lot:  sunglasses, maps, compass, water treatment system, a gallon zip bag labeled “Trash”, a quart zip bag with TP, bandana, hat and/or balaclava and snacks.  I keep my money and keys in a zip bag in my hiking pants, but if you prefer, put them in here. In your hip belt pockets, keep small containers of sunscreen, hand gel, chapstick, one of those ball point pen looking bug sprayers, and a whistle. Try not to put much on the outside of your bag.  Things can snag on trees, especially if you have to play ‘limbo’ under a fallen tree!  You can also lose things, like I lost one of my good hiking sticks when it came loose from the outside strap and pocket and I didn’t know it. I do tie a neon scrap of fabric to alert any hunters that I am not a deer or bear.  I also use a carabiner that I use to hang my food at night. On the carabiner, I hook my camp shoes (I use Crocs).   If I’ve rinsed out my bandana, I tie it on the back to dry.  Usually though, I twist it into a long roll that I wrap twice around my wrist before tying it.  This makes it super convenient to use as a sweat or nose wipe. Links Mentioned in this episode:   Active Travel Adventures podcast Essentials of a Backpack Emergency Kit Choosing a Portable Water Treatment System   For recommendations of gear and tours, visit the Resources page.  Some of the links may be affiliate links which means that at no additional cost to you, I might make a small commission which helps to defray some of the costs of this program.  It’s a great no cost way to support the show - thanks!   Be sure to subscribe to both the Adventure Travel Show Podcast and the Active Travel Adventures podcast and visit the websites for more information, photos and videos to help you to lead a bigger life through adventure travel! Connect with Kit: Kit Parks Host of the Active Travel Adventures and the Adventure Travel Show  podcast Twitter @Kit_Parks https://twitter.com/Kit_Parks Facebook Group:  Active Travel Adventures https://www.facebook.com/groups/ActiveTravelAdventures/ Instagram:  https://instagram.com/parks.kit/

On this episode we discuss the whole Bear Canister deal. How to carry one, where to get one, do you really need one, and who the heck approves them? All questions we delve into. Also, is the Urasack a good alternative? Is it approved my the…bear canister people? We answer that one also. AND finally, […]

On this episode we share our knowledge with the best way to store your food while in the backcountry, how to hang your food bag, and discuss the Bear Canister debate. Is it really necessary to bring one? We also will give you a list of all the National Parks that require a Bear Canister […]