[pct-l] Failed canister was Fire Permit

[jgus at sunbow.org (Gustafson)]

> The bear ... turned his attention to the
> clear cannister. ... He kept pumping on the container until he was
> finally able to pop off the lid!

The "clear" canister is a Bear Vault.  I believe the failures reported=20=

in Sly's post are from '03 or very early in '04.  ??? The incident=20
resulted in a "recall" of the lid then in use and it was replaced with=20=

a free upgrade to a lid that solves the problem.  See www.bearvault.com=20=

for further information.  Under "product notices" is the following=20
information:

> FREE LID UPGRADE FOR BV100 OWNERS
>
> =C5 BEARVAULT
>  5663 Balboa Ave #354
>  San Diego, CA 92111
>  E-mail: sales@bearvault.com
>  TEL: (866) 301-3442 or (858) 204-6164
>  FAX: (866) 301-3442
>
> FREE LID UPGRADE FOR BV100 OWNERS:
>  BearVault is aware of several instances where BV100s (the two piece=20=

> lid with the white inner ring) have failed. We no longer make this lid=20=

> and the BV100 with this two piece lid has not been offered for sale=20
> since April.
>
> As a result of these failures the SIBBG no longer allows the BV100=20
> model to be used in its areas. The SIBBG has still granted conditional=20=

> approval for the BV110B and the BV200 models as these use the updated,=20=

> one piece lid.
>
> We are sending out free lid upgrades for anyone who has purchased the=20=

> original BV100. If you have the two piece lid please contact us so we=20=

> can send you the upgraded lid which will convert your model into the=20=

> BV110B (original housing with the free upgraded lid).
>
> BearVault stands by its products and its customers which is why we are=20=

> providing free upgraded lids for all BV100 owners.

There are other problems associated with Bear Vaults, which are noted=20
under "product notices," and which I experienced last summer hiking in=20=

the Harrison Pass area.  The lid on my hiking partner's Bear Vault=20
jammed shut (it's one of the upgraded lids) and we could not access her=20=

share of our food until we met up with other hikers.  One wonderful=20
fellow with a massive upper body (apparently size sometimes does=20
matter), wearing a tank top (sigh), wrenched it open for us.  No bear=20
would ever have popped that top off!

Happy trails,

Two Legs