[pct-l] Bear Safety Devices BSDs (was "Using the Ursack without thealuminum")

[Ken Powers]

No,  I can't cite any legal documents. I haven't gotten cited because I 
always carry a bear canister in the high sierra. I have a personal friend 
who is a back country ranger. When I see him I'll ask.

Try calling the Yosemite Rangers Office.

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matt Thyer" <matt_thyer at hotmail.com>
To: "'Ken Powers'" <ken at gottawalk.com>; "'PCT MailingList'" 
<pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 5:29 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Bear Safety Devices BSDs (was "Using the Ursack without 
thealuminum")


Thanks Ken,

Do you know what CFR the backcountry guard will use if he writes a ticket?
Having been a BCG in Colorado for years I know that this is a requirement to
write a ticket.  I've spent my spare time today thumbing through regulations
trying to locate the correct one, but can't find anything in the CFR for the
NPS or NFS that could be used to site someone.

I recall the thread last year, but didn't really have the time to
investigate it further.  Judging from the history I've turned over today I'd
bet that there's some pretty hurt feelings out there because of the way this
has been handled.  The fact that there are bears out there which are
habituated means that attempts at regulation have failed.  There isn't an
Intra Domain Bear Knowledge Sharing Network passing on the secret of human
food exploitation at work here.  That knowledge is refreshed in the bear
population regularly.  The knowledge is the product of human behavior which
must also not be changing regardless of regulation.

MT

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Powers [mailto:ken at gottawalk.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 4:38 PM
To: Matt Thyer; 'PCT MailingList'
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bear Safety Devices BSDs (was "Using the Ursack without
thealuminum")

I am amazed at the lack of answers you have gotten on this hot subject. I
guess everyone is on their way to KickOff.

Google "SIBBG bear canisters". SIBBG is an inter-agency committee that sets
requirements for food storage in the high sierra. It includes Yosemite,
Kings Canyon, and Sequoia Nat'l Parks, Devil's Post Pile Nat'l Monument, and
several Nat'l Forest. I think the PCT crosses all of them. There used to be
one page that listed approved bear canisters. Now it looks like each
jurisdiction has it own web page. The test for approval involves an
experienced, smart black bear trying to get into canisters looking for
approval.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/containers.htm is a webpage that lists
approved bear canisters for Yosemite Nat'l Park. I didn't look, but I'll bet
the other jurisdictions are the same.

Hanging of food is absolutely not effective in these areas. California bears
long ago figured out how to defeat the hanging of food. I saw one web page
that described several observed techniques the bears use.

Every year there is a long, heated thread on the PCT-L about required bear
canisters. The short answer is you have a good chance of being stopped by a
back country ranger and issued a ticket if you are not carrying an approved
canister. If a bear gets your food you will likely get a ticket as well as
being hungry for many trail miles.

Good Luck on your hike.

Ken
www GottaWalk com