[pct-l] JMT Happy Isles to Tuolumne - Solo Advice

[mardav at charter.net (Marion Davison)]

>The Inyo NF Ranger out of Bishop tells me that, though bear cans are not required in this area, he HIGHLY recommends them. He says there's a bear who's been "trained from a cub" to take down ANYTHING hung...
>
>Really....
>
>I'm inclined to think this is ranger hyperbole. ANYTHING hung? That's an impressive bear!
>
>  
>
Good places to camp on this route, if you want to be around lots of 
people:  Lower Cathedral Lakes, Sunrise Hi Sierra Camp (backpackers 
section) Clouds Rest Junction, Little Yosemite Valley.  This is by far 
the most crowded trail in the Sierras,  its closest rival being Lyell 
Canyon.  I would not expect any of the old cables or poles to be 
provided or operational anymore, as this whole area is now a bear-can 
mandatory area.
We once camped at Cloud's Rest junction, summited Half Dome in the 
morning, and did Cloud's Rest in the late afternoon.  Both were 
superlative experiences. 
The last time we ever hung our food in a tree was at Lower Cathedral 
Lakes.  We did it all correctly as far as height and distance  out from 
tree and so forth.  A really large cinnamon bear just climbed the tree 
and tore the limb off and feasted on our bags all night.  The next night 
our remaining food went on the poles at Sunrise camp;  a bear took all 
our water bottles out of the open pockets of our packs and bit every one 
that had ever held koolaid or gatorade.  On the third night at Clouds 
Rest junction,  a bear pulled out one of the day packs that had been 
mauled the first night and sucked on it and shredded it for hours.  Then 
there were the air horns, the screaming and the pot banging.  The 
scenery is just amazing, but you will be lucky to get a decent night's 
sleep. 
For several years after that we stealth camped with great success.  For 
the last few years we have used bear cans, and this year we are adding a 
slingshot to the arsenal.  A rather assertive bear last summer seemed to 
want to dine on our llamas.  Also,  a llama was killed by a bear (or 
lion) in Sequoia NP last year.  So we will be prepared to defend our stock.
I no longer doubt that the persistent and experienced bear will do 
whatever it takes to get anything you hang out of a tree. If they can't 
bring down the bags, they will just bring down the whole tree limb.  
Never underestimate an animal that can learn to ride a bicycle. 
Marion