[pct-l] Hanging in the Sierra

[Aaron Wallace]

> FYI:  Hanging food from trees is verboten in the Sierras (one of the
rules on the agency-issued permit).  

Well, not quite...  Hanging is allowed in the areas that don't require
SIBBG-approved containers
(http://www.sierrawildbear.org/foodstorage/approvedcontainers.htm), yet
still require "proper food storage":

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm (Kings Canyon-Sequoia)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/recreation/wilderness/safefood.shtml
(Sierra NF)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/bear.shtml (Inyo NF)
http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/wilderness/bfoodstoragem.htm (Yosemite
NF)

Note that there are generally three categories of food storage
requirements in the Sierra:

o Areas that require SIBBG-approved containers ("canisters").  These
exist mostly bewtween Cottonwood Pass (south of SEKI) and northern
Yosemite.

o Areas that require "proper food storage" (e.g. canisters or
counter-balancing)

o No food storage requirements

Fixed backcountry bear boxes can of course be used where they exist, but
they can fill up on busy weekends during summer, and while a bear may
not get your food, the rodents that can squeeze their way into these
boxes may take a few bites out of everything...

For example, note that in Inyo NF and Sierra NF (and other National
Forests), "proper food storage" is required in all wilderness
areas--this would be almost all of the PCT in these areas.  A subset of
these areas require SIBBG-approved canisters (see the links above)--in
these areas, hanging would not be allowed.  Also note that where hanging
is allowed, you are expected to actively defend your food should a bear
attempt to get it, since it's now recognized that hanging at best is a
delay tactic.  Also, just because hanging is allowed does not let you
off the hook should you fail to find that mythical perfect bear-hanging
tree and have to make due with a substandard hang.  You could in fact be
fined for allowing a bear to get your food even if it was properly hung
in an area that does not require canisters--it is your responsibility to
make sure the bears cannot and do not obtain human food.  This is LNT
101: do not feed the wildlife.