[pct-l] PCT Bear Canister Loan Program - Request for Donations

[enyapjr at comcast.net]

The PCT Perpetual Bear Canister Loan Program provides canisters to nobo PCT thrus on a
tight budget or having limited finances, or coming from outside the USA or from an area
in which they won't have ANY use whatsoever for a bear canister after their PCT trek -
for 'free' except for return shipping costs...
The program was started in 2007 with 13 bear canisters and has grown to over 30, but the
annual quantity of PCT thru-hikers has also grown - and, unfortunately, one or two 
canisters are 'lost' each year...
Looking to increase the bear canister loan program's inventory for the 2011 season and beyond...
More bear canister donations would be greatly appreciated for & by future PCT thrus...

Mike Brand of Moontrail, <http://www.moontrail.com/>, who has supported the loan program
since its start in 2007, is once again generously offering discount pricing for canister
donations sent directly to the bear canister loan program - a new BearVault BV500 for $50...
Sorry, but this pricing is only for donations for the loan program, not personal purchases.
If you would like to donate a new BV500 to the loan program, please contact me off-list
(subject: PCT Bear Can donation) for ordering instructions (will ask that individual orders
be placed the first two weeks of March).

- or -

Do you have a seldom used bear canister gathering dust in your basement/garage/closet that
could be put to better use every season to be loaned out to a nobo PCT thru-hiker?
If you would like to consider donating a used bear canister to the program, please contact me
off-list (subject: PCT Bear Can donation) for the shipping address...

If needed, I will explain the 'program' further and answer most questions if requested...

Thank you!!  Happy hiking and...

Happy trails!!!
Jim (PITA)