[pct-l] Bear Canisters

[Ken Powers]

I agree with everything you said except that the Glen Aulin bear box is not 
accessible to PCT hikers. I thought that also until we stopped there in 2007 
and stayed at Glen Aulin. The backpackers camp behind the "lodge" had 
several bear boxes and we made use of one even though we were carrying a 
bear canister. It was just easier. And a nice place to camp, even though 
there were many other campers there.

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Bankhead" <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
To: <boss9871 at aol.com>
Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bear Canisters


Just because a canister is not required does NOT mean it is not needed or 
advised.


http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/map040108.pdf

This is the current map of canister-required areas but it is dated March 
2008. Supposedly Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs and the Inyo NF were going to 
expand their requirements to encompass everything in their control, just 
like yosemite NP did last year. I'd wait until at least April 1 to see what 
happens.

It is impossible to camp bear box to bear box throughout the entire 
canister-required area; the distances are too great in spots. Suck it up and 
plan on carrying the darn things. How far depends on how willing you are to 
modify your hiking plan.

Option 1:
Rent a canister at (or ship yours to) Kennedy Meadows

Option 2:
Re-supply at Horseshoe Meadow or in Lone Pine (and then back to the trail at 
HSM). Pick up your canister here at the start of the "canister-required" 
zone. You can avoid carrying the canister from Kennedy Meadows to here. 
Incidentally, there are lots of bear boxes at the HSM campground.

Option 3:
Camp every night at one of the bear boxes between Horseshoe Meadows and 
Bubbs Creek. Make the hike to Onion Valley in one day and re-suppply there 
or in Independence. Get your canister here. From here on, it's not possible 
to reach a bear box each night - just too many miles and very few boxes.


Where to get rid of the @#$% thing?

It's 54 miles from Tuolumne Meadows to the northern boundary of Yosemite NP, 
and the only bear box past TM is at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (and so not 
accessible to PCT hikers). Your first opportunity to ship it home or 
possibly turn in a rental is 11 miles west of Sonora Pass at Kennedy Meadow 
Resort (aka Kennedy Meadow North). Otherwise, you'll have to carry it all 
the way to Echo Lake Resort by South Lake Tahoe.
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