[pct-l] Bear 'Can Loans

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning,

In the past I’ve loaned my bear ‘can to hikers at no charge; mailing it to
them, at my expense, to Kennedy Meadows.  I even included a self-addressed
label that could simply be stuck on the outside of the ‘can for returnmailing.
The understanding was that they would mail it back to me, at their expense,
sometime after they had passed the SIBBG control area.  That ‘can has made
a lot more trips through the Sierra than I have.

The results have been mixed:

It has always been returned; unlike a pair of instep crampons that I loaned
5 seasons ago that have yet to show up.

One 'can recipient complained that they really wanted a BearVault rather
than what I have.

Another recipient objected to paying the return postage because they had to
pay the store holding fee.

One time the ‘can was returned with its inside coated with some really
gross food residue.

I’ve never received a “thank you”.

Overall, it’s not been a very satisfactory experience.

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965"?

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/