[pct-l] Re: Failed Bear Hang

[john@frozenpoodle.com (John Brennan)]

Hi,
I know you were joking, but for future hikers, here's my thinking.

The debates on bear canisters will never end.  My reading of the regulations
in the Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia NP, is that they are required.
I was the only one of two people I knew of who had a bear canister on a 2002
thru-hike.  When I met a NPS Ranger in North Yosemite, she asked if I had a
canister.  I said yes.  She was floored.  She said no one she'd talked to
this season had one.  Ancient Brit, who was there too, admitted he didn't
have one.  No ticket or fine.
I put my most stinky food in the canister when I had it (which was from
Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass), but always had food and toiletries outside
of the canister.

From:
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 12:01:01 EST
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Failed Bear Hang
To: pct-l@backcountry.net


In a message dated 10/27/02, CMountainDave@aol.com writes:

<< My only PCT rock bear hang failed because of suspension: Human error, not
bear success.  I had 10 days worth of food, 4 days of it in a canister.   >>

So this is to be the pattern caused by regulations requiring bear canisters
in the Sierras? Not much of a fix. Looks like full pack/camp searches are
the
only way to ensure enforcement -- and how about odorless toothpaste? There's
no real reason for peppermint or whatever artificial flavor Crest uses to
make their product more palatable. Its lure could make a good bear go bad.
So, I think there's still room for a regulation on the permit tag to require
the use of baking soda (odor free) for brushing and all cleaning.
 And now, thanks to unabashed long distance hikers like Frozen Poodle here,
who swear under oath that they will cram 50,000 calories worth of food into
one bear canister (+toiletries) and then freely admit that they don't,
they'll have to up the ante and require 1 canister for every four days.
Sorry, John, you'll now need three for your 10 day hike (rent 3 for the
price
of 2)?

John B./Cupcake
415 626-5646 voicemail
http://www.cupcakewalk.com

"There comes a time in every ... boy's life that he has a raging desire to
go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure." -Mark Twain