[pct-l] Vermilion Valley needs your help

[reynolds@iLAN.com (Reynolds, WT)]

Bear Canister Requirements.

As of my understanding NOW [things change] the bear canister requirements
are NORTH of VVR Resort. VVR in fact is the IDEAL location to pick up your
bear canister. You will need to send it back once you are out of Yosemite. 

The confusion exists because of the Forrester Pass to Woods Creek zone in
Kings Canyon National Park. Thruhikers are required to use bear boxs in this
area if they don't have a canister but are not required to have a canister. 


The best place to mail it back would be Kennedy Meadows Resort, about 8
miles from Sonora Pass and on an interesting variation to the PCT called the
Tahoe-Yosemite Trail. However I have no idea if KMR, a horse place, would do
this. They were very friendly to us when we were there but we were paying
customers. 


Unfortunately, renting a canister is not going to be cheap. Expect a deposit
at least equal to the purchase price. Also expect the postage from Kennedy
Meadows to VVR, plus the handling to get the canister up, down, down and up
the mountain will be significant. These high sierra resorts, like VVR, are
not usually a big moneymaker. The proprieters run them more for the love of
the mountain than for love of money.

-----Original Message-----
From: ROYROBIN@aol.com [mailto:ROYROBIN@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 7:32 PM
To: edisonlake@psnw.com; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Vermilion Valley needs your help


<< I have a dilemma with the bear cannisters....  Since I have
 never had to rent these things on a regular basis I would like the
 hikers input on how they prefer things to go, whats fair, whats not,
 deposits on the cannisters..... How do the other resorts rent these
 things and do you agree with their policies....  I have options that I 
 am looking at but I would really like the preferred way to go since 
 I am almost required to have these things from the USFS. >>

First, the best of luck to you this year!  You're a "must stop there" spot
on 
the PCT.  Anyone in the Class of '02 who had other plans, please reconsider.

VVR is a beautiful place with really friendly people, and they feed you
good. 
 What more could you ask?  (Okay, no, it isn't free.  Gimme a break.)

Re the bear can question:  You should be very concerned about the possible 
loss of a large up-front investment.  Do you really have to rent bear cans?

If the USFS requires it, maybe they should provide them.  (Yeah, I know how 
far that'll fly.)  I suggest you rent them to the "out-and-back" hikers with

a large deposit that is returned when they return the can.  Or sell them to 
those who want them with a markup sufficient to cover your fuss and keep the

sales volume down.  The USFS may require you to offer the cans but they
can't 
dictate your sales volume.  

Thruhikers should be discouraged from renting a bear can at VVR because it's

too complicated to get it back.  Those who want a bear can at VVR should
mail 
their resupply there, in a bear can of their choice.  

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there are areas of the 
PCT both north and south of VVR where bear cans are required.  If that's 
true, the demand for other than local hikers should be very small.  
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