[pct-l] Canister Gimo Games

[montedodge at msn.com (Monte Dodge)]

 Canisters are to the back country today likewater filters were ten years ago..  They are the next muti-marketed piece of hype to hit the trails... Yes , they are here to stay and but are a Win , Win deal for the Park Service who are on a shoestring budget.  Better would be enforcement of use of bearboxes, bear poles and bear wires. Last time in Glacier Park 2002, there was no need to canisters as all areas had bear boxes or bear poles to hang food. Cook in this area and camp in that was the rule. They had a good grip with their bears. I have heard of stories of bears coming into camp in late evening and taking over while campers are still cooking. Canisters can't help that....  Park hands out tickets for no canister and funds could be put into bear boxes, but they need  the money to fix up old truck as there is no funds to replace it as no funding in their budget.. Bear canisters are a band aid  for poor policies.. ( I don't blame the Park Service employees at the local level as they they know whats's wrong and how to make it better) Bear Box and  Poles for the backcounty would make bear canisters a non issue........