[pct-l] critter encounters

[mkwart at gci.net]

Elderly Ellen wrote: At the campground near Drakesbad, I dutifully put 
our food and water bladder in the bear locker when we went to bed.  The 
next day, I noticed the bite piece in the drinking tube had 'broken' 
after I used it.  On further inspection, it had been chewed on by a 
rodent, as had our gorp supply...think it would have been safer in the 
tent!

I agree that I think food is sometimes safer in the tent. I have had a 
lot more problem with rodents than I have with bears. Keeping food in 
the tent is anathema to the usual hiking ideas, but I have never had any 
problem. Maybe its also because I usually hike alone. I use a bear 
canister in the Sierras only where it is required by law. I am going on 
a backpack trip to the Red Buttes wilderness south of Ashland, OR in the 
beginning of July and people are talking about how they are taking bear 
canisters! I sure won't. We have a tendancy to judge all bears by the 
Sierra yardstick. Most bears are not acclimatized to the herds of hikers 
like those found in the Sierras and have better things to do with their 
time than bother backpackers.

--Fireweed