Hi all

I'm planning to spend a couple of weeks in the Canadian and American Rockies this August and do some hiking...I've read a lot of stuff about what to do if you meet bears and cougars etc...But I don't want to meet any!!! Can anyone tell me how likely you are to happen across a bear? I should think I'll be doing the pretty well-travelled/popular paths...is this a regular occurence?

Sorry for sounding a bit pathetic!! Just wondering whether to be put off or not!

Thanks a lot
Beowulf

The most important thing to remember about avoiding bears is, if you are camping, to keep your food OUTSIDE your tent in either a bear-proof container (which would probalby be too heavy to carry!!) or to string it in a tree away from the campsite. Food scraps should be throughly burned so that NOTHING is left. Also remember that you don't have to be able to outrun the bear, you just have to be able to outrun your companion;-)