[pct-l] Fwd: Re: bear questions

[Phil Baily]

I didn't mean to send this yet. Sorry.

Nevertheless, I do hang food on imperfect branches in neighborhoods 
adjacent to cannister-requirig areas, and  not lost food yet. I do 
tie the rope to a tree trunk even though some bears are supposed to 
be smart enough to rip that rope. The approved method is to use a 
rope that ends in a counterbalance, and then use a stick to get it down.

Bear lockers: In popular areas, they can be crowded or full. Some 
people leave their excess food in them! Some have small holes for 
ventilation. Mice and other small rodents can get through them. Plug them up.

Rodents: Most places, they are not a problem. Even if they are, they 
usually don't get much food unless there are many of them.

An experienced friend of mine sleeps with a handy pile of rocks 
available to chase marauders!

Cannisters: I use tieable plastic liners which hold down the aroma 
and the number of crumbs. Place it in a visible spot where it will 
not easily roll very far at night.

If you think about it and use reasonable precautions, you should not 
have a problem. I walked the JMT in pre-cannister days and ran into 
no bears!  On the other hand, there are no absolutes.

Having gone full circle, I will say "good luck and enjoy your walk!"

Pieces


>To: "David Stewart" <davidalexanderstewart at gmail.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net
>From: Phil Baily <pbaily at webuniverse.net>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] bear questions
>
>Lots of good stuff already written (this year and every other year). 
>Let me give some of my thoughts for newcomers to PCT backpacking.
>
>First of all, nothing is absolute. Bears are as varied as people in 
>their attitudes, skills, etc. In places where there are lots of 
>campers, the bears have become more skilled at stealing food. We 
>should avoid training them.  In pre-cannister days, I lost my food 
>once --- In Lyell Canyon, with lots of campers and skilled bears, 
>but it was my fault; food was improperly hung (too low). A 
>neighboring Boy Scout troop also lost food. I have never lost food 
>again either in a cannister, hanging or on the ground. Anyway, 
>people do lose food where bears are not usually a problem and do get 
>away with improper storage or sleeping with their food.
>
>In pre-cannister days, the permit issuers used to spread 
>instructions about hanging food. Over 10' high, away from the tree 
>trunk, from branches that could not support a bear cub's weight. The 
>mythical suitable branch proved very elusive for me!
>
>
>
>----System Information
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>
>gh
>
>
>
>
>
>At 02:29 AM 11/25/07, David Stewart wrote:
>>Hello all,
>>
>>I am a PCT rookie, planning a thru in '08.
>>
>>I have Yogi's books and she recomends bear canisters/use the 
>>lockers, etc... my questions regarding "bear issues" are:
>>
>>1) although she officially recomends bear canisters, almost all 
>>hikers who contributed comments to the book were very relaxed about 
>>the whole issue saying that they slept with their food, used it as 
>>a pillow, etc... that seemed, well, strange to me. So, what do 
>>people do? Aren't there other little critters who will nibble 
>>through a stuff sack (mice and the like) to get your snickers?
>>
>>2) Even if one does use a bear canister or bear locker, what good 
>>is that if you have it in your tent or sleep next to the locker? 
>>Doesn't Mr. or Mrs. Bear still come a-lookin?
>>
>>3) Trees? Hanging food 300 meters from where you sleep, etc... what 
>>about that? That does not seem possible in the desert, or above 
>>tree line, but on the rest of the trail?
>>
>>I have these question because I am used to the AT and Long Trail, 
>>where trees are a-plenty. Forget bears for a moment, what about 
>>mice/possum/skunk/racoons, etc... i don't want to use my food as a 
>>pillow and then have racoons on my head. I guess the PCT changes so 
>>much...that I just need to roll with what happens and ask all of 
>>you questions along the way?
>>
>>Thanks for reading, helping, being cool.
>>
>>Hope Thanksgiving was good.
>>
>>-dave "moondog" stewart
>>
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