[pct-l] 2011 PCT Bear Canister Loan Program

[enyapjr at comcast.net]

Attention: 2011 nobo PCT thru-hikers...
Announcing the fifth season of the PCT Perpetual Bear Canister Loan Program...

2011 nobo PCT thrus - are you on a tight budget or have limited finances, or are you
coming from outside the USA or from an area of the country in which you won't have ANY 
use whatsoever for a bear canister after your PCT thru-hike?
You may be able to borrow a bear canister for your PCT thru-hike for 'free' (except
return shipping & insurance)...
The loan program is currently NOT done on a 'first come - first served basis', but
rather on a show of 'some' need, however small...
Sorry, but the loan program is not currently set up to serve sobo thrus, nor JMT hikers.
 
If you think you might qualify for a 'free' bear canister loan for your 2011 nobo PCT 
thru-hike, please contact me off-list via email (subject: PCT Bear Can Loan) - and 
briefly explain your reason or need to borrow a bear canister for your PCT thru-hike...  
I'll be glad to answer most of your questions regarding the loan program...
Please don't delay until the last moment to request a canister; we would like to arrange 
and finalize all canister loans by early to mid March at the latest...  
  
For those that can easily afford to purchase a bear canister, BearVault has an excellent
buy program (formerly a rental program): a BV500 for $65 including shipping to Kennedy
Meadows or Echo Lake (or Tuolumne Meadows) - that's the lowest price on the internet
when shipping is included, plus they send it to you right on the PCT...  
See <http://www.bearvault.com/bearvault_pct.php> for full info...

Thank you.

Happy trails!!!
Jim "PITA" Payne 
(email: enyapjr at comcast dot net)