[pct-l] Real Bear Trouble in '04 -- Attacks and Raids

[mardav at charter.net (Marion Davison)]

Karen Borski wrote:

>I have actually been holding my breath waiting for
>this topic to pop back up again.  If you don't already
>know, it is a much-discussed topic in the history of
>the PCT-L.
>
>Why have I been waiting for it?
>
>Because this last year,on my thru-hike, I actually had
>REAL experiences with bears ON THE PCT.  They ARE more
>troublesome now as compared to only a few years ago --
>rangers I spoke to say there has been a big increase
>in problem bear activity in the national parks of the
>High Sierra.  My experiences do not seem to be
>isolated.
>
>  
>
My experience concurs with yours.  From 1996 to 2002, we saw a total of 
5 bears in the backcountry, in some 800 nights.  But in 2003, in 40 
trail nights in Yosemite and Sequoia Kings, we had 8 bears visit our 
camp.  We had llamas and bear cans but we still had bears visit.  While 
we were in Se-Ki, a predator killed a llama and a bear consumed it.  
(Not one of our llamas!) 
After that summer I got a wristrocket slingshot and I won't enter the 
Sierras without it.
I have the blessing of the Yosemite backcountry wildlife ranger to use 
it to defend the lives of my llamas. 
Last summer we hiked outside NP's  (Mammoth and Sonora Pass areas) and 
had no bear encounters, but used the slingshot to scare off some 
aggressive horses that visited camp at 3 a.m.  A horse can easily kill a 
llama.
llamalady