I have been pepper sprayed; I was a slobbering, crying idiot for 45 minutes before I was able to get enough water on me to clear the stuff. That was 11 years ago and I remember it like it was this morning, very hot stuff and even worse if you are contaminated in the presence of a large aggressive predator.

I was in the Canadian Rockies this summer and noticed many hikers carrying pepper spray. What concerned me was that they were not very careful where or how they carried it. If the can ever discharged in an enclosed space or while operating a vehicle the results could be far worse than the threat of wildlife attack.

I carry pepper spray daily because it is effective, but like all dangerous tools you just need to respect it.

Mike