In article ,
Bob McKellar wrote:

Harry Andreas wrote:

In article ,
(SteveM8597) wrote:

I have carried a firearm a time or two while backpacking in grizzly
country but
not in state and national parks where they are illegal. I hear the
situation
in some of the CA parks is pretty bad, though. Not what I would consider
a
survival situation, just common sense.

Best bet for bear and cougar defense is actually pepper spray, although
I've
also carried a .357, especially when hiking with kids.

So, pepper spray doesn't work well on kids?

If it improves the taste of their food enough that they'll eat it
without complaining, then it works just fine.