[pct-l] Bear Cannister, (and Ursack?)

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

In a message dated 8/12/01 2:51:51 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
campydog@earthlink.net writes:

<< A large Sequoia bear learned how to crack a cannister by leaning on it
 with its elbow, according to a news article I read long ago. >>

Still another secondhand report about a bear canister failure.  I have never 
seen a firsthand account, but am anxiously awaiting my chance to see if Monte 
is smarter than the average bear, or beer!  Does anyone have an eyeball 
experience of a failure of a Garcia or any other commercially available bear 
canister that wasn't left open or improperly closed?

The Ursack, from reports on this list, may not be quite up to an extended 
assault by a Yosemite Yogi, but I have two of them, one large and one small, 
and am not yet ready to write them off.  

First, in other than our most popular National Parks where WE have trained 
the bears to expect handouts from us, I still believe the Ursack provides 
adequate protection till we can get to the scene and scare them off.

Second, in areas where bears are not a major threat, an Ursack makes a lot of 
sense to carry as a primary protection against mice and other rodents 
(marmots, in particular.)  Bears are not a major problem on the AT because 
you can stay in the shelters.  But the shelters are heaven-on-earth for 
rodents.  

Bears are usually not a problem at high altitude on the PCT or anywhere else. 
 (Okay, Kearsarge Pass is an exception, but WE trained them to expect dinner 
there by camping enmass just over the pass from the trailhead.)  You will not 
have serious bear problems above 11,000 feet in most of the Sierra or 
anywhere else.  Tell me if I'm wrong.  It's just a simple matter of bear 
economics.  There isn't enough food of any kind at high altitude for a bear 
to waste its energy going there.  Bears habituate forests, streams and 
established campgrounds where they can find food, either natural or what WE 
provide.