[pct-l] Bears and Food

[Reinhold Metzger]

Sean, you are absolutely right. I also remember the San Bernardino Mt. Boy
Scout incident.
I also remember a bear completely chewing a scout's scalp off at Philmont
because the scout had some hair cream in his hair. You are also right about
the bear presence in the Sierra.
It seems in my 25 years of hiking the Sierra on almost every Sierra trek we
witness at least one bear encounter with bears trying to get some camper's
food.
I also have noticed a reduction in bear boxes or bear cables. It seems they
have removed all the bear cables they had in many locations in the old days.
I think more bear boxes and cables in strategic places would do more to
protect the bears by eliminating the need by many through hikers or ultra
lighters, without canisters, from sleeping with their food due to lack of
bear boxes and cables because because many of them do not carry canisters.
Also many hikers are unable to get all their food in the container on
extended treks and therefore sleep with the surplus food.
Yes, yes, yes, I heard all the stories how so and so got 7 days of food in
the container.
Some folks eat more than others ore like bulky food like freeze dried, caned
tuna, vegies & fruits  besides compacts like beans and oatmeal and don't
want to smash everything to fit it in.
I know one of my hiking partner eats like a horse and can only get 3-4 days
food in.
Stringing has worked fine for us all this time. Most hikers, however, do not
know how to properly string or select a proper branch. More bear
boxes/cables would solve many of those problems.
Many hikers don't understand that in areas that require bear canisters it is
not required for hiking but for proper overnight food storage. So if you can
go from bear box to bear box you do not need a canister.
Also what most hikers don't realize if your hike is for 200+ miles you are
considered a through hiker and are not required to have a canister even in
the areas requiring canisters provided you take proper bear precaution
meaning, you use bear boxes or string where there are no boxes.
Even some Rangers don't seem to be aware of that. At one occasion when I
pulled my JMT permit in Lone Pine the Ranger insisted I need a bear canister
until at my insistence she checked with her supervisor and agreed since I'm
a through hiker and will not stay overnight in the Whitney corridor I do not
need a canister provided I take proper bear precaution.
The only area, that I am aware off, this does not apply is the Whitney
district.
In the Whitney district stringing is not permitted, if you stay overnight
you must have a bear container.

JMT Reinhold