[pct-l] Canisters , Sling shots and Rangers

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

 O K, yes you need to pack your plastic band -aid in the Sierra's!! ( But you 
can still take a wristrocket)  And yes Tom , it is just plain fun to mess 
with thug bears. You can also play William Tell and ask a ranger to put a 
Canister  on his head ( like an apple) and see if you can shoot it off at 20 
paces. TIC   So far, catering to the bears has not worked yet. Even if you do 
use a canister, bears have been known to come straight into your camp as you 
cook and bluff you out of your food  .A little kiss from a steelie makes your 
turkey and rice go down yogi's throat alot less tasty!! Of course, I take 
mouse traps hiking with me to cuts my loses to mice as well as they are much 
more difficult to hit at 40 paces with a steelie than Mr. Bruin. Maybe in a 
few more years, the PCT will have a 10 ft' high chain link fence forming a 4 
ft. tunnel which will run the entire length of the JMT.  As long as you have 
these things ( protected bears and people with food) you will always have 
conflicts!! End of Story