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[pct-l] Bear Cannisters in the North Cascades



Two years ago my buddy and I section hiked the Washington portion of the
PCT.  BEARS ARE NOT A PROBLEM.  I would never carry one of those freakin
bear cannisters unless I was in the National Park Section of the Sierras.
The bears in that area seemed to have developed skills for getting at
people's food.  Their ability to break into cars is spooky.   Never under
estimate an animal that can be trained to drive a motorcycle....

I have backpacked for over 30 years.  I live in Alberta, Canada and in many
areas we hike in places just stuffed with grizzlies.  We have always hung
our food without incident.  When we were in Washington we also hung our
food.  Me, I wouldn't sleep with my food but I have talked with several
dozen thru hikers who do.  The black bears in the north cascades are timid
and have not been habituated to people.  They haven't had the training of
the Sierra Park bears (if you move away from the popular hiking areas in the
Sierras you don't have the same problems).   The few camp bears in the
Cascades have not yet learned the skill of getting food properly hung.  You
don't need to use any fancy counterbalancing act.  Just get it (your food
bag) at least 15 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from the main stalk of
the tree.  We did not start hanging our food until we got past Steven's
Pass.  We saw almost no evidence of a bear.  When we finally saw a bear near
Stehekin it could not get away from us fast enough.  It was literally
falling over itself to get away from us.

I never lost one second of sleep thinking about bears.   This advise does
not apply to JMT portions of the PCT.  In those places we carry a bear
cannister and gripe and complain

See you up the trail

Brian