[pct-l] Scary bear story & not hanging food

[jape at nethere.com (Eckert)]

WAG accepted, but I'll bet the figures have been changing in the last 
two years.  As a short trip plodder through the eastern Sierra, I always 
manage to bump into a ranger, usually coming and going.  I would wager 
that the hikers coming out of the west side trailheads are scrutinized 
as well.  Afterall, if the jelly-doughnut eating rangers never stray far 
from their kiosks, they're going to be concentrating on citing the more 
accessible vacation backpackers for Failure To Carry.  It would be 
interesting to learn how many of the short trip hikers can get away 
without the dang can.

Eckert


Brick Robbins wrote:

>
>
> I did a little WAG  (Wild Ass Guess) estimate based on wilderness 
> permits issued for Inyo NF and estimating that 200 thru hiker make it 
> to the Sierra and they hike 20 miles a day: Thru hikers account for 
> about 0.01% of the hiker nights spent in the Sierra. (Wild Ass Guess)
>
> So at most they are only about 0.01% of the problem, but probably less 
> since the typical thru hiker schedule puts them thru ahead of bear 
> season.
>