[mylife]

Normal ones head the other way when they get a whiff of ya.

When they get that bold, they are a problem.

[Stonewall Jackson]

It was a pretty vicious attack. Mrs. Scott and her son tried to beat the bear off Mr. Scott, but it kept going after him. Fortunately two other hikers heard the commotion, hurried over, and were able to force it away. They then had to travel almost a mile to the trailhead, with the bear stalking them almost the whole way.

This is why I am going to take my 1911A1 with me next week when some friends and I head over to the Gorge. One of my friends is not much of a gun person (he doesn't mind them, but he doesn't own any) but he always asks me if I have my pistol before we head out. He used to work for the National Park Service and has seen firsthand the damage a bear can do to a person.

[MasterGunner01]

What to carry depends on where you are going and what you're lugging. For short trips where a handgun is more appropriate, then a .44 Mag like a S&W Model 29 or 629 with 8-3/4 inch barrel or Ruger Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk with 7.5 inch barrel.

For a long gun, consider a Winchester 94A or Marlin 1894 carbines in .44 Magnum or a .30-06 rifle with 180 to 220 grain JHP bullets. For a shotgun, the Winchester 1300 Defender pump (extended magazine) with slugs or a semi-auto Saiga 12 or 12S in 12 ga. with an 8 or 10 round magazine with slugs.

A good package would be a combination pistol and rifle/carbine in .44 Mag (commonality of ammunition).