[at-l] Bears bags, fires, and leaving the trail

[wb4pan at mindspring.com (Chase Davidson)]

Kelly,

	I like to hang my bearbag where I can see it from my tent door. Don't 
put it any closer than you would like to watch a bear trying to get 
it. In the 100 mile wilderness squirrels where really hitting food  bags.
	Usually "no fires" signs like the permanent signs at some shelters 
means no camp fires but stoves are ok. Twice I remember in extremely 
dry seasons there was a complete ban on fire in the Jefferson National 
Forest. Temporary paper signs were posted all over. No fires no 
exceptions, no cigarettes, candles, no cooking, NO!
	When you have to leave the trail try to walk on the large rocks 
instead of the fragile vegetation. Even when on the trail in Alpine 
Zones its a good idea to try and walk on the rocks.

chase
	

Kelly Whitman wrote:
> I just received my 03 AT companion and was reading through it (yes, I 
> actually read the whole thing) and I have some questions:
> 
> 1.  If you bear bag your food, what prevents 
> squirrels/raccoons/mice/etc. and just from just climbing down the rope, 
> chewing into the bag and eating your food (or dumping it all over the 
> ground, attracting bears)?
> 
> 2.  When it says, "no fires," that means you can't make a campfire but 
> you can still use a stove (I hope)?
> 
> 3.  When it says "don't leave the trail, one bootprint can kill a 
> fragile plant," you're still supposed to go bushwacking to make a 
> cathole, right?  Does that mean no stealth hammock camping and you're 
> supposed to hang your hammock right at the edge of a tent site?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Kelly Whitman