[pct-l] bears, tents, and Tuolumne

[Slyatpct@aol.com (Slyatpct@aol.com)]

That's the story, but it happened in '99, a couple miles past Glen Alen, 
after a night in Toulemne Meadows.  I'm not sure if it was the food or the 
beer that got to the hiker that night.  After the incident, they had to 
retreat back to TM in order to get a new tent as the bear had damaged it.  
Additionally, the bear wasn't easily chased off, and after a couple attempts, 
it was one large rock that "sparked" off another when the bear finally 
dropped the tent, and looked back before heading into the woods.  By the way, 
he didn't keep his food in his tent that night. 

Essentially, you got the right story and as told to me by both the hikers 
involved.

Sly


In a message dated 1/21/2001 1:25:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
mardav@intlaccess.com writes:

<< While hiking into Vidette Meadow this summer I heard the following bear
 story from other hikers.  It supposedly happened to some PCT hikers
 during the 2000 hike season.
    A group of thru-hikers hiked into Tuolumne Meadows and decided to
 spend the night at Tuolumne Backpacker's Camp for some resupply time and
 R & R.  They had dinner at the fast food place next to the grocery
 store.  The food was bad and all of them got sick to some degree.  One
 of the guys upchucked in his tent.  He tried to clean it up, but didn't
 do too well, apparently.  During the night a bear showed up and dragged
 off the whole tent with the guy inside.  He was zipped into his bag,
 being dragged off, screaming his head off, essentially helpless!  His
 buddies got up and drove off the bear by screaming and throwing rocks.
      This is the story I got.  Did anyone else hear this one, or
 variations on it, and does anyone have any verification of its
 authenticity? Or is this perhaps the wilderness equivalent of an urban
 legend? >>