[pct-l] bears

[reynolds@iLAN.com (Reynolds, WT)]

I will reply as evenly handed as I can from the point of view of a thruhiker
[which I am not].

Thruhikers need to travel VERY light in order to make the necessary miles
per day to finsih the trail in one season. Also, thruhikers need to traverse
the California Sierra earlier in the year than the typical hiking season. As
a result of these two facts thruhikers generally don't carry a bear canister
because it a canister is relatively heavy and because bear activity in early
season is at a minimum.

However, as a result of significant problems with bears who have lost their
fear of humans thru raiding of backpackers food supplys, several government
agencies have MANDATED the use of bear canisters between after 5/31
[Typically thruhikers traverse the sierra in June]. Another government
agency requires thruhikers to use bear boxs [steel boxs placed at certain
locations along the trail] thus requiring thruhikers to camp near one of
these boxs.

All this will make thruhiking the trail next year harder unless you want to
disregard the law and risk a big fine. 

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Baggett [mailto:butterfreefl@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 9:11 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] bears


Hi, all.  I just joined the list.  It feels like I
just walked into a bar room brawl over this bear
thing.  What exactly are you arguing about?  Something
about mandatory bear cannisters.  Would someone mind
filling me in on the who, what, when, and where? 
Hopefully, I'll be thruhiking the trail next year and
it sounds like something I need to know about.

Sara

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