[pct-l] new thru-hiker bear question

[csx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Shawnie)]

http://www.ursack.com/home.htm

URSACK BELIEVES THE FOLLOWING TO BE THE LATEST REGULATIONS FOR BACKCOUNTRY =
USERS
OF THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN SIERRA.
THESE REGULATIONS ARE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE WEB SITES OF THE RESPECTIVE A=
REAS.
(LAST UPDATE BY URSACK: JUNE 27, 2002)

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (last updated 6/03/02)
The National Park Service strongly advises all backpackers to carry and use
bear-resistant food storage canisters.
Use of bear canisters is required above 9,600 feet, in the Rancheria Falls =
area,
and at High Sierra Camps (if a bear box is not used).
Bears are routinely obtaining properly hung food.

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS (last updated 1/07/02)
BACKCOUNTRY
Plan ahead to store your food in one of the following ways, listed in order=
 of
effectiveness.
Be aware that there are areas of the park with more stringent regulations d=
ue to
high levels of human-bear interactions and/ or injuries. Those areas are
described in the next section.

Rent or buy Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) - approved
bear-resistant food storage containers.

Inyo National Forest has developed a canister sheet (downloadable, 28 KB, R=
TF
format) for help on packing a canister effectively.

This is the preferred method of food storage in the backcountry.
A current list (downloadable, 5 KB, RTF format) of approved food storage
containers is available.
Where available, camp in areas with bear-resistant food storage lockers.
Please keep in mind that these are shared with other hikers; locks are not
permitted.
Never leave anything behind - our backcountry rangers remove hundreds of po=
unds
of garbage from lockers every summer.
Be sure to know the locker locations before leaving.
Suspended at least twelve feet above the ground and ten feet horizontally f=
rom a
tree trunk or other vertical support using the counterbalance method.
This method is prone to failure (clever bears, no good trees, etc.) and we
recommend against it
*Don't leave food and containers (ice chests, bags, cans) in cars at the
trailhead.
You must use trailhead food-storage boxes if they are available.
If not, contact a ranger for alternatives.
Bears can break into vehicles if they see or smell signs of food.


SPECIAL BACKCOUNTRY RESTRICTIONS
Parties traveling through the Rae Lakes area on trips not beginning or endi=
ng at
Cedar Grove, Kearsarge Pass, Baxter Pass, or Sawmill Pass must either use
SEKI-approved bear-resistant food storage containers or camp at sites with
lockers.
SEKI-approved bear-resistant food storage containers with the capacity to s=
tore
all food are required from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through Octob=
er 31
at the following locations:

Rae Lakes Loop through Paradise Valley to Woods Creek crossing, through the=
 Rae
Lakes Basin and the 60 Lakes Basin into the Charlotte Lake area, and south =
along
the Pacific Crest Trail to Forester Pass.
Also included are the Bubbs Creek drainage and associated trails and
cross-country areas from Kearsarge Lakes and Center Basin to Cedar Grove, a=
nd
all other drainages feeding Bubbs Creek east of, and including East Creek.
This also extends south to the Kings-Kern Divide.
Dusy Basin which includes all camp areas from Bishop Pass to the junction w=
ith
the John Muir Trail in LeConte Canyon and all cross-country areas in Dusy B=
asin
and Palisades Basin.


INYO NATIONAL FOREST (last updated 6/11/02)
WILDERNESS FOOD STORAGE REGULATIONS If you are starting from, exiting on or
entering areas accessed by the following trails on the Inyo National Forest=
,
bear-resistant canisters for backpackers and bear-resistant panniers for st=
ock
users are required from May 25 through October 31.
Be aware, any trail may lead to areas where a canister is required dependin=
g on
the itinerary of your trip.
Check for food storage requirements before your trip by looking at the maps
below or calling a Forest Service Ranger Station.
On all other trails, and in other areas, the Inyo National Forest strongly
encourages backpackers to carry and use bear-resistant food storage caniste=
rs
and stock users to use bear-resistant panniers.
Portable containers are the most effective way for backpackers to store foo=
d in
wilderness areas.  All other techniques are only delay tactics, as bears ar=
e
clever and able to defeat many backcountry food storage methods.
Bears routinely obtain food properly hung by the counter-balance method.
Canisters fit inside or outside a full-sized backpack, and are capable of
holding 5 to 9 days' worth of food for one person.
Bear canisters are available for rent and sale at many sporting good stores=
.



BEAR-RESISTANT CANISTERS OR PANNIERS REQUIRED
 Campgrounds are in parenthesis, requirements are for trail users only:

**FSRA =3D Food Storage Requrement Area June Lake Area:

Mono Basin Visitor Center:
760-647-3044

Rush Creek (Silver Lake)
Map of FSRA
 Mammoth Lakes Area:

Mammoth Ranger Station:
760-924-5500

PCT/John Muir Trail North (Agnew Meadows)
River Trail/ Thousand Island Lake (Agnew Meadows)
Shadow Lake Trail (Agnew Meadows)
Minaret Lake (Minaret Falls)
John Muir Trail North (Devils Postpile)
Beck Lake (Devils Postpile)
Fern Lake (Devils Postpile)
Map of FSRA
Duck Pass/Purple Lake (Coldwater)
Deer Lakes (Lake George)
Map of FSRA
 Bishop Area:

White Mountain Ranger Station:
760-873-2500

Mono Pass, south side of Pass only (Rock Creek)
Little Lakes Valley (Rock Creek)
Map of FSRA
Bishop Pass (South Lake)/Dusy Basin
Map of FSRA
Treasure Lakes (South Lake)
 Lone Pine Area:

Mt. Whitney Ranger Station:
760-876-6200

Kearsarge Pass (Onion Valley)
Map of FSRA
Main Mt. Whitney Trail (Whitney Portal)




Packing a Bear-Resistant Food Canister

With forethought and planning, it's amazing how much food you can fit into =
a
canister. If you choose the right foods and repackage them, you can maximiz=
e
canister space.  It takes a little effort and time but the results are
rewarding.

Remember, when you are using a canister ALL scented items - food, toiletrie=
s and
garbage - must fit inside the canister throughout your entire trip unless y=
ou
are in attendance or actively preparing your food.

How to Do It

=B7=09Choose the right foods.
=B7=09Measure out every meal.
=B7=09Repackage your food and toiletries into baggies or small containers.
=B7=09Carry the first two meals outside of the canister: lunch and dinner.
=B7=09At the trailhead, make sure that ALL food, trash, toiletries and scen=
ted
items will fit inside the canister the first night.
=B7=09Put the canister and your kitchen 50 feet from your sleeping area.
Leave the canister on the ground.  Do not hang the canister from a tree.




Food Choices

Choose foods that are compact, compressible and high in calories.  This inc=
ludes
rice, tortillas, jerky, flat pastas, dehydrated powders, nuts, dried fruits=
,
peanut butter, candy and nutritional bars.  Since you are trying to put as =
much
food in the canister that you can, think about volume when you purchase foo=
d.
For example, instead of bread rolls, buy tortillas.  Instead of macaroni, c=
hoose
spaghetti.  You get the picture - don't waste space on bulky food items.

Plan Your Menu

Carefully count every meal that you will be eating.  By doing this, you wil=
l
save weight and space.  Put all the food on a table and plan each meal, sna=
ck,
drink and condiment.  Pre-measure and pre-mix food.

Repackage Your Food

Take food out of its original package.  This allows you to fit more food in=
side
a canister and reduces the amount of garbage you generate. Repackage food f=
rom
boxes, bottles, jars and cans into resealable plastic bags.  These bags are
flexible and fit into small spaces.  Force air out of packages.  Poke tiny =
holes
in freeze-dried packages to release the air.  Save instructions for cooking=
 and
put inside meal bags.  Write food contents on outside of bags with a perman=
ent
marker.

Toiletries

Pack toiletries similarly to foods.  Put toothpaste, soap, sunscreen, bug
repellent, etc. into small containers.  Stores sell small, lightweight plas=
tic
containers that work well for this.  Don't take more than you need.

Benefits of Using a Canister


=B7=09Less stress, increased peace of mind
=B7=09More time at camp to relax instead of thinking of ways to store food
=B7=09Guaranteed food supply if bears or other animals visit your camp
=B7=09No aborted trips because bears ate your food
=B7=09Freedom to camp anywhere:  above treeline or away from food storage
lockers
=B7=09No need to search for the right tree or carry ropes and food sacs for
counter-balancing
=B7=09More time at camp to relax instead of thinking of ways to store food
=B7=09A small table to use, something to sit on
=B7=09Increased safety for you and protection of wild animals




Suggested Food Items


Cheese
Jerky
Sliced meats
Tortillas, pita bread
Gorp, Trail mix
Raisins, nuts
Dried fruit, candy




Spaghetti, flat pasta
      Rice
Dehydrated beans
  vegetables, soups
  sauces
Nutrition bars
Peanut butter




Freeze dried meals
Packaged food
Condiment packets
Oatmeal
Powdered milk
Instant coffee
Tea




This information was provided by our friends at the Inyo National Forest.




--
"The degree to which we suffer indicates the degree to which we are alive.
When we take drugs to ease our suffering, we stifle our psychological and s=
piritual life."

 - Peter R. Breggin M.D.