[pct-l] Food Cache

[Jeffrey Olson]

I've cached food numerous times on the PCT for section hikes.  I hung 
food from a tree at Sonora Pass one year between the picnic area and 
road.  I hung three caches from trees on the Castle Crags to Seiad 
section.  I hung food south of parking lot on Hwy 50 before near the 
worker housing, and near Donner Pass.    I hung food at the McCloud 
River.  I put a food bag in the bear boxes at Horseshoe Meadows down 
from Trail Pass.  I used caches on the Tahoe Rim Trail, both food and 
water. 

There are a bunch of bear boxes at the Onion Valley Parking lot and the 
signs insist you use the bear boxes rather than leave food in cars - so 
there's another cache spot. 

I'm going to hang food this summer on a section hike.  I always thought 
if I were to hike the JMT again I'd cache food in LeConte Canyon and use 
the 24 miles round trip over Bishop Pass as part of getting used to 
hiking.  

I humped in a week's worth of food to Weminuche Pass out of Rio Grande 
Reservoir for three people and hung it in a tree that was visble for 
hundreds of yards in all directions.  We met numerous hikers who'd 
noticed it. 

I've used metal screen to keep rodents out, and not used screen.  Only 
once did a squirrel or something gnaw a hole and get into one of the 
gorp bags.  If you use a screen, the bad part is carrying it out. 

It's worth it to take an extra day to drive and cache food and only 
carry two or three days of food at a time...  I'm a convert!!! 

Jeff, just Jeff...