[pct-l] Bear Cannisters

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Jun 25, 2008, at 8:18 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>
>
> The reason the Urasacks were not approved is because those crafty
> Sequoia/Yosemite bears know how to defeat them.

I only bought a small bear can thinking that would work, but my food  
doesn't fit. I've been using an ursack since day one just in case any  
squirrels or other rodents came along. I've been trying to put  
wrappers and food I can afford to lose or that isn't as smelly in the  
ursack and the rest in the bear can. It's the best I can do. I  
haven't seen a bear or signs of a bear in the Sierras yet, except for  
way back near Tehachapi. I have only gotten as far as Bishop Pass,  
though.

I'm planning to return to the trail this weekend, start at Mammoth  
and take a nice detour on the JMT to Yosemite Valley. My hope is that  
the popular camp sites will have bear boxes and I can use those in  
this trouble area.

I'm not trying to skirt the law. I just made a mistake in the size of  
my can. A big one would have been better since they weigh the same,  
but I didn't think I could fit a big one in my pack so I got the  
small one.

Anyway, after all that time spent hauling tons of water through  
Southern California, a bear can weighs nothing.

Diane