[pct-l] Area closed because of bears!

[csiechert@hotmail.com (Carl Siechert)]

Oddly, bear canisters are required in Yosemite NP only above 9600 feet.
(Back in the days before bears considered Mountain House to be their primary
food source, we never even worried about bears above 8-9000'; they were
always a low-elevation-only consideration.) I don't understand why canisters
are not required in all park backcountry. Rancheria Falls, btw, is ~4500.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Reynolds, WT" <reynolds@ilan.com>
To: "'Carl Siechert'" <csiechert@hotmail.com>; <pct-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 2:52 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Area closed because of bears!


> Are bear canisters required? Is the problem non-compliance or overflow?
>
> Tom
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Carl Siechert [mailto:csiechert@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 2:19 PM
> To: pct-l@backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Area closed because of bears!
>
> Dude:
>
> The PCT crossing of Rancheria is several miles (sorry, don't have my topos
> here at the office) above Rancheria Falls, so you weren't in the most
> bear-infested area, which is now closed to overnight camping. Rancheria
> Falls is a very popular destination for 2-4 day trips out of O'Shaughnessy
> Dam (Hetch Hetchy Reservoir). Many weekenders are not doing a decent job
of
> protecting their food, and the bears know it.
>
> Field of Ursines: Feed them, and they will come.