Thanks guys for all the great info. The stories and advice have helped me a great deal. This puts me to great ease.

One more quick question, iffin you guys wouldn't mind: Would bear spray also work on cougars, etc? Understanding the basics of how the spray works (rendering the bear's sense of smell, his main sense of navigation, obsolete), do cougars, etc. rely on their nose as much as bears do?

thanks guys.