Links Regarding Sierra Bear Food Storage On/Near the PCT®
enyapjr at comcast.net
enyapjr at comcast.net
Sat Feb 2 11:22:11 CST 2008
FYI, FWIW... If you have questions regarding Sierra bears and/or food storage, see links below...
...these are just 'some' of the links I've gathered the last few years regarding Sierra bears, bear canisters, regulations, etc. ...
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Links Regarding Sierra Bear Food Storage On/Near the PCT®
Sierra Wild Bear (SIBBG entry site): <http://www.sierrawildbear.gov>
SIBBG (Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group): <http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/whatissibbwg.htm>
SIBBG approved storage containers: <http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/approvedcontainers.htm>
(Note: last updated December 5, 2007)
SIBBG 2007* Sierra map: <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/SierraNevadaFoodStorage.pdf>
* Note: this link is NOT currently on the SIBBG entry site; assuming SIBBG is updating map for 2008 season (??)®
Do NOT rely on this map for 2008 (see Yosemite below, a known change for 2008 – specifically N of Tuolumne Meadows)!!!
Inyo NF bear/food storage page: <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/bear.shtml> (Note: last modified May 1, 2006)
Seki wilderness food storage: <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm> (Note: last updated June 20, 2007)
Seki/Inyo “Canister Requirement Areas” map: <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/food_storage_restrictions_SEKI_20070410.pdf>
(Note: 4/10/2007)
Note: upper left, “All wilderness users must carry and use bear-proof storage containers®” In a phone call to Seki's Wilderness
Office (559-565-3766), I was assured the "PCT thru-hiker exemption" still exists - a thru without a bear canister MUST have a valid
permit and MUST use the bear boxes to store "food" when 'camping' in the “canister required areas” ("Rock Creek” and "Rae Lakes”)
on the PCT®
Seki food storage lockers (‘bear boxes’): <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_box.htm> (Note: last updated February 9, 2007)
Sierra food storage lockers (‘bear boxes’) interactive ‘clickable’ map: <http://climber.org/data/BearBoxes/map.html>
(Note: updated December 3, 2007)
Yosemite “Bears & Food Storage”: <http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm> (Note: last updated January 9, 2008)
Note: under “While backpacking in the Wilderness” paragraph – “®("bear canisters") are required for overnight hikers
throughout the Wilderness (counterbalance food hangs are no longer legal).”
Yosemite “Bears & Food Storage While Backpacking”: <http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bearcanisters.htm>
(Note: last updated January 10, 2008)
Note: “You must have your food stored unless it's within arm's reach®” and also “”Food” must be stored in either an approved
bear-resistant food canister or food locker. Hanging food is illegal throughout Yosemite.”
Note: My 2 links from last year both go to this single page now – there is no longer a ‘map’ showing where bear canisters are
required®
Note: ““Food” includes food, trash, recyclables, toiletries, candles, first-aid kits, window cleaner, pet food, dirty dishes, dirty diapers, baby
wipes, scented tissue, air freshener, bottled and canned beverages, canned food, coolers (full or empty), mosquito repellent, lipstick,
tobacco products, and any other items with a scent.” - As per SIBBG (other agencies ‘similar’)®
[ ;-) "any item with a scent"? - don’t forget to cram yourself in there, too! ;-) ]
Packing a canister: <http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/packingabearcanister.htm>
Packing a canister: <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/canisters.rtf>
Packing a canister: <http://www.pcta.org/planning/before_trip/health/canistercare.doc> by Tom Reynolds - or how to get 9 or 10 days food into
a 6 or 7 day canister® Selection, selection, selection - think dense, think low volume, think high weight (and calories) per unit volume®
BearVault PCT Purchase (formerly a rental program): <http://www.bearvault.com/bearvault_pct.php> - a good buy, shipping to PCT included...
BearVault: <http://www.bearvault.com/>
Bearikade rental: <https://id262.securedata.net/wild-ideas/rent.html> - kind of pricey, but for a pricey, 'lighter weight' canister®
Bearikade: <http://www.wild-ideas.net/index2.html>
Garcia: <http://www.backpackerscache.com/> - the standard federal agency rental, but rates vary® 2 years ago, none of the agencies had
any relevant rental info online – now through some of the agency links above one can get some rental info, though not always correct/up to
date®
Inyo NF bear canister rentals: <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/bear.shtml> (bottom of web page; rates vary by location!)®
Seki NP bear canister rentals: <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/SNHA%20bear%20canister%20rental%20info.doc>
Devil’s Postpile NM bear canister rentals (?): <http://www.nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/permits.htm> “®limited number®$3/day.”
Yosemite NP bear canister rentals: <http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bearcanrentals.htm>
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If you had any Sierra bear or food storage questions - hope the links above help you out!
Happy trails!!!
Jim
“Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise, to balance it.” - George Santayana
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