[pct-l] Bear 'Can Usage

[River Malcolm]

As among the greenest of the green, I am so grateful to hear so many points of view 
from so many experienced hikers and have the opportunity to sort out which
wisdom applies to me, which doesn't, which values I embrace, and what are
my highest priorities.

Thanks to all for the honesty and experience you are sharing.

River

On Wed, Feb 6, at Feb 6  4:52, CHUCK CHELIN wrote:

> Good evening,
> 
> I have difficulty understanding how someone on this List – a List with lots
> of new and inexperienced hikers -- can brag about, and tacitly advocate,
> violating both the law and the morality of wilderness hiking in regard to
> securing food against bears.
> 
> The Park Ranger who gives bear talks at the KickOff has a long, sad story
> which I sort-of remember.  When new to the Park she left a piece of cake
> out at her campsite and a sow bear that was new to the area found and ate
> it.  Hence, that sow and her two cubs became a problem in the campsites.  The
> sow was subsequently shot, but one or both of the cubs escaped to continue
> their camper-robbing.  They were also eventually shot but not before their
> cubs -- a third generation -- had also become habituated to people-food so
> they, too, had to be shot.  I don’t remember the exact body count of dead
> bears as a result of this, but it was maybe 6 or 7.
> 
> Another problem should strike much closer to home:  Hikers not using a bear
> ‘can as required in the SIBBG area are subject to being fined and ejected
> from the trail.  Is the threat of a fine and the disruption of a complete
> thru-hike worth the savings of about 2.5-3 pounds of weight in the control
> area?
> 
> Steel-Eye
> 
> -Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
> 
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/
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