[pct-l] Sierra Food Storage Regs '09 - Sorry about the links!

[enyapjr at comcast.net]

Sorry about some of the links!! They were fine in email program, but changed somehow when posted...
Trying again via webmail... Hope they all work this time!!  :-P
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FYI, FWIW........................

Without any fanfare it appears that SIBBG and the respective agencies have made their decisions (or "nondecisions" might be 
more appropriate in some cases) for the '09 season...
However, there is still some contradictory information on some web pages, especially in regards to Seki...

The "Sierra Nevada Wilderness Food Storage Requirements" map is the same as last year, but the URL has changed (yet again!) to 
reflect the 'update' (though 'no change') of 4/16/09, see http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/map041609.pdf... 
The map can also be seen at http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/foodstoragemap.htm with 'Zoomify'...
The map still says "Effective March 2008" (might have been 'nice' if it had been changed to "2009"?)... 
The map also still has two major errors regarding "Food Storage Locker (Bear Box)" locations:
1. Map does NOT show bear box symbol at Woods Creek crossing (PCT mile ~801) - there are 2, one on each side of the trail...
2. Map has a bear box symbol in Le Conte Canyon near Bishop Pass Trail junction (PCT mile ~831) - there is NO "public" bear box 
at that location per Seki...

Seki has removed the statement "...likely that a formal requirement to use these containers (i.e., bear canisters) throughout all of the 
park wilderness area...as early as 2009" from its backcountry food storage page, http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm.
But the SIBBG page for Seki, http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/sekiwilderness.htm, still states canisters "...will be required
throughout both parks starting in 2009." 
Seki has also apparently backtracked slightly on the BearVault canister restrictions in the "Rae Lakes" area, too... In 2008, only the 
'newer' models (at that time), BV-350 & BV-400, were allowed in that area, but for 2009 only the BV-110B & BV-200 are not approved 
for the Rae Lakes Loop area... See http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/2009%20Allowed%20Canisters.pdf.

FYI, FWIW... ;-)

Happy trails!!!
Jim / PITA