It’s been seven years since I’ve been up in the mountains, outside of Canmore and the Banff townsite, so I’ve forgotten the distance for bear spray. Even at 30 feet, there is little time. There are several other things that I forgot to mention about hiking in K-Country and the National Parks. That is to always wear bells, or something that makes noise as you hike. Unless the bear is ravenous or rabid, they want to meet us even less than we want to meet them. Bells give them a warning to clear the area. Dogs, off leash, unless they are bear dogs, are not a good idea. They are more likely to provoke a bear than scare one off.
Bears can move pretty fast, and in the woods one often doesn’t get 30 feet of notice anyways. I’ve never come across one. Smelled them, and had others see them (”Yeah - he was heading your way and then turned to get on the other side of the hill”) The “hill” being 10’ tall and 50’ wide. I never knew he was there - grizzly.
“Dogs, off leash, unless they are bear dogs, are not a good idea. They are more likely to provoke a bear than scare one off.”
I’ve heard that, where the dogs are off in the woods come across the bear, the dog runs back to the owner - with the bear following! I noticed in the photo the dog, but no mention of it it the excerpts.
Also, I guess that black bears will kill you because they are mean and/or hungry. And once they attack they won’t stop unless you are dead (so fight back). Grizzlys usually just attack as they think you are a threat, so if you can’t stop them at first just cover your head and play dead.
With cougars I hear that you are supposed to fight back as they really just want an easy meal.