[pct-l] BEAR AVOIDANCE:.....Cans, counter balance & stealth

[hiker97 at aol.com]

Unsupported?JMT Reinhold wrote: As far as the comment......''If you go stealthy, you are just plain lucky if you don't get raided''? If you are referring to getting raided by ''SWITCHBACK'', I agree...nothing will protect you from that marauding scoundrel. But, if you are referring to bears, I'm not so sure.
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Switchback replies: Actually, overall that was a pretty good post by Unsupported about bears.? Not bad.? I also have never had a bear get my food in the Sierras.? Lots of attacks, etc.? I use to only counter-balance and now use a Solo Bear Vault canister.? That is plenty big enough for the Sierras and it weighs only 2 pounds.? Now that I will use the?Dixon Roller Pack, it's effective weight is only one pound to me.? So now I counter-balance a food sack and use a bear canister too.? No problem at all if you have a clean campsite.? I actually set up my campsite, so I can use the bag and canister in combo for bear attack viewing from my tent.? If no bears are around, I try to go out and rustle up some for my nightly entertainment.

As far as Unsupported's malicious and slanderous attack on my reputation about being raided by me --- "marauding scoundrel", it is true.? There is very little protection or warning of an impending attack by a Trail Pirate.? If you have ever seen a campsite after one of these experiences, it looks like a?hurricane had come through.? Debris is everywhere.? All the sleepless hikers have migraine headaches and wonder what hit them.? The authorities have to bring in counselors to prevent life-long after effects.? But still the campers have nightmares for years afterwards.? This is almost as much fun as a bear attack.