When I think bear protection, I think of grizzlies/brown bears, I agree most black bears will just run the other way, have hunted the NW for black beras, and had black bears just sit there and look at me, eventually we went the other way. I think black bears the big problem is getting between mama and her cubs, otherwise not much of a worry, but stuff does happen, bears won't always act "normal", least you can't count on them to. Course I had the big rifle in hand, either way I think that .44mag or .480 ruger would be my choices and pepper spray.