[pct-l] Illegal food storage fines

[Steel-Eye]

Good morning, Eric,

 

I am pleased to say that I can't knowledgably comment on either of your questions, however I can offer a few observations.  I was fairly early through the Sierras last June, and I met only one ranger, and that was on the climb north out of Agnew Meadows.  She, and a pack-horse string, were just going in to open a camp(s) and do some trail maintenance.  She hiked behind me for about a half-mile and only chatted without asking anything about bear cans or permits.  

 

Except for the usual talk among other known PCT hikers, I met only one person who expressed any interest at all in food protection or permits.  A few miles south of Crabtree Meadow I met a young man who strolled up from a side trail to meet me on the PC.  He was dressed "tourist-causal" in tan pants, a windbreaker, and low trail sneakers. He had a small daypack because he was "peak-bagging" in the area.  We chatted for a while, with him expressing interest in details of a long PCT hike, like:  "How do you get permits for all these different places?"(PCTA),  "Are you going to climb Whitney?"(maybe), "How do you get a permit for that?" (PCTA), "How do you like that Garcia bear can?" as he pointed to a distinctive shape in the bottom of my GVP-4 (fine).  I have no idea who he was, nor do I care.

 

Being an "ultra-lite" I'm never fond of adding an ounce, let alone a pound, but carrying the 'can did have some up-side:  I could spend more time hiking because I didn't have to spend an hour or so each day jacking-around trying to suspend food.  I slept better because didn't have to wonder if the residue on my fingers from that last Snickers Bar had scented the outside of the "odor-proof" bag.  I didn't have to keep glancing over my shoulder on the look-out for bears .. Smokey or Yogi.

 

At places like the Kick-Off and at the Saufleys, there were usually several "experts" who had the inside dope:   "They don't even ask PCT hikers."  "They just give warnings." "They can't look in your pack, so ignore them."  "Stealth-camping is fine." "All you need is an odor-proof sack." etc.  With the amount of confidence they have I fully expect they will be right there to stroke a big check if you get a citation, or share their food for 80 miles after you get cleaned-out.  Probably, huh?

Steel-Eye

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Eric Payne 
  To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 7:58 AM
  Subject: [pct-l] Illegal food storage fines


  After doing some research on the Yosemite site about bear storage, I was surprised to see that you can get fined for up to $5,000 for storing food illegally.  I'm having a bit of trouble deciding what to do with my food thru the Sierra, and up until now had planned on using Odor-proof Watchful Eye sacks and stealth-camping.  With a ticket that could penalize me this much, I may have to rethink that.  Reading info along the web, it seemed to me that rangers often give warnings, or cut slack to PCT hikers who show that they have a strategy to deal with the problem.  So, my questions are:  1) What are the typical amounts for fines given to thru-hikers and 2) What were the reactions of rangers in 2007 when they found out hikers weren't carrying bear canisters?  I get the vibe that in the past rangers were more lenient, but the past few years the bears problem has been getting much worse and they are unwilling to cut any slack. 



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