There are several possible key threats here when hiking: bears, cougars, and coyotes. Wolves too if you're in the backcountry. They could be hiding anywhere along the trail, so it's important to have deterrents like pepper spray, bear bangers, etc. So right from the beginning, you have to be thinking about potential dangers and how to deal with them. To fend off a bear, you have to know its colour. A cougar will grab you by the neck, so you might need to Judo it off you. Coyotes will snipe at you from the bushes. And wolves will wait for you at Grandma's house, or so I hear. By the time you make it to the trail, you're all pumped up and ready for a fight. But it's also very relaxing
Absolutely mental. I have no idea why Australia gets such a bad rap. That sounds like my nervous system about to spontaneously combust.
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Specially in the old days prior to the Internet, I think Canadians had an almost superstitious belief about Australia's dangers. It was likely fueled by this gentleman's popularity.