Some Canadian National Parks are now requiring hikers to carry bear spray. They’ve also banned cycling and dogs during peak bear activity months. The law falls under their National Park Act, and fines could be as much as $25k for not carrying spray, though it’s hard to imagine them actually charging someone that much for not being properly equipped. Hopefully people don’t start buying Halt! and spraying on themselves like mosquito repellent.

Is bear spray required in any U.S. National Parks? I did a quick search online and couldn’t find requirements listed for any parks.

A camper in Canada woke up in the middle of the night to a bear peeing in the woods next to his tent. He did what anyone in a dead panic who happened to be holding a gun and had no firearms training would do - he shot at the noise. Turned out just to be a woman peeing. He hit her in the torso. She survived, and he was arrested but later released. The woman has said she won’t press charges, though Canadian police have said they’ll investigate anyway. She’s a pretty forgiving person, eh?

via Wend

The most useful equipment in your first aid kit? A cell phone. A 45-year-old Canadian man managed to scramble onto a ledge after getting off trail and then realizing he could no longer go up or down. He was in shorts and a T-shirt, but the ridge must not have been too small since he was able to build a fire. After getting cozy he rang up the Mounties who were nice enough to come in and save him and his two dogs.

It’s one thing if you’re awaiting the opening of a lift while avalanche work is done, it’s another if they have to delay opening the avalanche work because skiers are in the blast zone. That’s not safe for anyone. This season Whistler-Blackcomb has had a bit of an issue this year with backcountry skiers skinning their way into zones that require avalanche work. The offending skiers get up for dawn patrol and make their way uphill before the resort opens. So what does Whistler do when they catch the skiers? They yank their season pass and bar them from buying one the next season. Seems harsh for Canadians. Especially since some of them didn’t even take the lift up in the first place. Though I guess it’s not as extreme as shooting Howitzers and doing their avalanche work even though skiers are in the area.

Those long, dark, cold winters really take a toll on the Canadian psyche. Ice canoe racing is growing in popularity in Quebec. What used to be the only way across the river is now a team event in which crews run, paddle, and hopefully avoid swimming from one side of the river to the other. The winner in this year’s race finished in about 48 minutes.

via Up Northica