[pct-l] bear boxes for thru hikers

[CWillett at pierce.ctc.edu (Chris Willett)]

Note that a large section of the Kearsarge to Tuolumne section passes through the John Muir and Ansel Adams wildernesses. These are, I think, administered by Inyo NF.  I am fairly certain that the only legal way to transport food on your back in the AA wilderness is in a bear cannister.  The signs at the trailheads were very, very explicit about this.  It is possible to cover all the AA wilderness and get into Yosemite in a day. A long day.  And, then, you are too high in Yosemite to be legal by hanging food.  I would not spend the night in Lyell Valley below Benson pass without a bear box or cannister. 

Suge

---------------------------
Christopher Willett
cwillett@pierce.ctc.edu
www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett
Pierce College
9401 Farwest Drive SW.
Lakewood, WA. 98498-1999

> ----------
> From: 	pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net on behalf of Monty Tam
> Reply To: 	metam01@earthlink.net
> Sent: 	Thursday, February 10, 2005 1:07 PM
> To: 	pct list
> Subject: 	re: [pct-l] bear boxes for thru hikers
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > > I've heard this stated on this list many times, but what's the source
> > > of the rumor that long-distance hikers get preferential access to bear
> > > boxes? There's nothing on the official SEKI Web site
> > > <http://www.nps.gov/seki/snrm/wildlife/food_storage.htm> that hints at
> > > this. Nor do I recall ever seeing that on a permit or in a ranger
> > > station or hearing it from a ranger.
> 
> YES.  ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS ON THE PCT!!
> 
> I never heard it either until Roxanne, a very friendly Ranger stationed in
> Kings Canyon we hiked with a couple hours, told us that in Kings Canyon
> thru hikers (with a permit) are not required to carry a bear canister, bear
> boxes are for thru hikers only, and not even she could use the bear boxes
> for that reason.  She said she didn't know what the rules were for other
> sections.  She pretty much told us the left hand didn't know what the hands
> on the other bodies were doing.  The Forest Service is very good at keeping
> secrets.
> 
> I need a map of bear boxes between Kersarge Pass and Tuolumne....especially
> close to Tuolumne.
> 
> Warner Springs Monty
> 
> 
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