[pct-l] Sleeping with food except Sierras

[Rick Ostheimer]

Brett,

Your plan was my plan.  I slept with my food for the entire PCT in 08 
except in the Sierras, I had a BV500 that I picked up at KM and kept 
until S. Lake Tahoe.  In that section the food was in the bear can and 
the bear can was about 100 yds from me in a place where a playful bear 
wouldn't be likely to roll it away.  Otherwise, the food was right next 
to me, whether I was in my tent (about 50%) or under the stars. 

The only problem I had was a persistent mouse at the "developed" and 
"heavily used" Hemlock Camp about 7 miles south
of the bus stop for the ride into Stehekin.  There I heard the rustling 
of a mouse just after I doused my headlight and zipped up for the 
night.  No amount of shouting seemed to shoo it away and I finally 
hooked a 'biner on the bag and clipped it to the line that was just over 
my head drying my clothes.  Even then I was entertained by the rascal 
tightrope-walking to try to get at the food.  I finally just went to 
sleep figuring I'd be in town for resupply by noon the following day.  I 
don't think the critter did get into the food bag, but it sure did try 
hard.  The moral of that story: if your in a developed or heavily used 
location hang your food to keep the varmints at bay.

Handlebar