[pct-l] Fuel and Bears

[mail@attbi.com (Mail)]

>From my experience, the bears are generally not in the high country when
most through hikers are going through - nothing to eat except rocks and
snow. However, they are in the valleys. I stayed high, slept with my food,
and didn't see even one bear in 2000 - and I'm still here. I also did the
same in fall. I probably was lucky.  But, you need to do what you feel
comfortable with. There are those regulations and there are rangers in
Yosemite who may check your permits.  We ran into one, but no question about
canisters. Worst areas will be Lyle Canyon and Tuolome Meadows.

But, bears aren't the only food eaters. Those marmots  (especially around
Crabtree Meadows) and ground squirrels are bold critters. They definitely
got food that some folks left out.

Canisters do work. They give many people a sense of ease and you can camp
anywhere. You don't need to carry much water in the bear area, so your
weight stays the same.

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Reynolds, WT" <reynolds@ilan.com>
To: "'Jason Porto'" <socrboy79@yahoo.com>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 7:07 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Fuel and Bears


> Tough questions:
> 1-How much are you cooking? Many [most?] thruhikers only boil 2-3 cups of
> water for dinner. If you are planning to do that get an alcohol stove.
> Contact Monte or Roy.
>
> 2-Need versus required! Big difference. To obey all laws you need to pick
up
> a canister in Mammoth [don't camp close] and carry it to the end of
> Yosemite. Using this approach you need to use bear boxs between Forrester
> pass and Woods Creek.
>
> Need depends on when you traverse the Sierra. In my NOT humble opinion,
> based on ZERO thruhiker experience, but being undoubtly the most
intelligent
> person on the list, I would not bother with a canister I I planned to
reach
> Tuolumne Meadows before July 1. I would simply toss my food on the ground
or
> hang it low from a bush. If I lost my food I would go hungry. I would NOT
> sleep with my food. You should know this advice is practical but illegial.
>
> "The rogue"
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jason Porto [mailto:socrboy79@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 6:32 PM
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Fuel and Bears
>
>
> Two more questions for everybody out there.
>
> 1.  I will be using an MSR Dragonfly stove on my PCT
> Hike and since Ive heard that White Gas is illegal to
> send through the mail (please confirm that this is
> true) I want to get some ideas, or time tested
> methods, on how to keep myself stocked with fuel.  Is
> it hard to find it at the food drops or will I need to
> use another type of fuel?
>
> 2.  Bear canisters.  Ive been told that hikers must
> use bear canisters in some of the National Parks /
> Forests.  I want to know a)Do I need them?, anf if so
> b)Where exactly do I need them?
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
>               Jason/"Porno"
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Try FREE Yahoo! Mail - the world's greatest free email!
> http://mail.yahoo.com/
> _______________________________________________
> PCT-L mailing list
> PCT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> _______________________________________________
> PCT-L mailing list
> PCT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>