[pct-l] Bear Cannisters

[dsaufley at sprynet.com]

Jeff, Just Jeff,

Is it really an exception? I think it's a reiteration that JMT and PCT hikers have to have the cannisters.  The regulation states:

"Through hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail with a valid wilderness permit must use portable, park approved, bear-proof food storage containers _*or camp at sites with food storage lockers and use the lockers.*"

So, you have to have one or the other -- and since there are stretches without bear boxes, by default you would have to have the bear can.  

If we could just convince the Inyo National Forest to put in bear boxes, it might be possible to get through without the cannisers.  I know I slept so much better when my food and toiletry items were in the bear boxes. 

L-Rod


-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeffrey Olson <jolson at olc.edu>
>Sent: Jan 31, 2007 4:11 PM
>To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>Subject: [pct-l] Bear Cannisters
>
>
>I posted this a month or so ago.  It should be clear.  The quotes below 
>were taken from
>
>http://www.nps.gov/archive/seki/snrm/wildlife/food_storage.htm
>
>Note the exception for thru-hikers in the last paragraph below...
>
>
>        Special Backcountry Restrictions
>
>SEKI-approved bear-resistant food storage containers with the capacity 
>to store all food are required from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend 
>through October 31 at the following locations:
>
>    * Rae Lakes Loop through Paradise Valley to Woods Creek crossing,
>      through the Rae Lakes Basin and the 60 Lakes Basin into the
>      Charlotte Lake area, and south along the Pacific Crest Trail to
>      Forester Pass. Also included are the Bubbs Creek drainage and
>      associated trails and cross-country areas from Kearsarge Lakes and
>      Center Basin to Cedar Grove, and all other drainages feeding Bubbs
>      Creek east of, and including East Creek. This also extends south
>      to the Kings-Kern Divide.
>    * Dusy Basin which includes all camp areas from Bishop Pass to the
>      junction with the John Muir Trail in LeConte Canyon and all
>      cross-country areas in Dusy Basin and Palisades Basin.
>    * Rock Creek drainage west of Cottonwood and New Army Passes, south
>      of Crabtree Pass, south of Goyot Pass, and north-northwest of the
>      Sequoia National Park boundary and Siberian Pass, including
>      Soldier Lake,Miter Basin, along Rock Creek, and Siberian Outpost.
>      All trail corridors and cross-country routes within the area are
>      included in the restriction.
>
>These  regulations apply to *all* groups. Through hikers along the 
>Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail with a valid wilderness 
>permit must use portable, park approved, bear-proof food storage 
>containers _*or camp at sites with food storage lockers and use the 
>lockers.*_ Hanging food (e.g. counterbalancing) in restricted areas is 
>prohibited until snow prevents access to food storage lockers.
>> All food storage lockers in the Sierra:
>>
>> http://www.climber.org/data/BearBoxes.html
>>
>>   
>
>_______________________________________________
>pct-l mailing list
>pct-l at backcountry.net
>unsubscribe or change options:
>http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l