[pct-l] bear canisters Complex problem... please help

[montypct]

I meant to send this to the list on a recent topic:
Forwarded late but I need help here.
----- Original Message ----- 

> Bear Canister Requirements:
>
> I think there's something wrong with my Topo or maybe the John Muir 
> Wilderness, the Ansel Adams Wilderness and/or the Sierra National Forest 
> from Kings Canyon to Donahue Pass are the within Inyo???  My Topo does not 
> show any of that as Inyo???????????????  Something is screwy here.
>
> Does anyone have that same problem or is my Topo right and Inyo is a few 
> miles to the northwest, at closest, to the PCT???
>
> Regulations per each area's site.
>
> Sierra National Forest- Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness "Bear Hang" 
> Requirements
>
> Which stretches from Kings Canyon to Donahue Pass.
>
> " 'Proper food storage is required to avoid having bears and wildlife eat
> your food. Use bear canisters, bear resistant panniers, or the 'bear hang'
> method to properly store your food and refuse. "
>  http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/recreation/wilderness/wildregs.shtml
>
>
> And Yosemite per their site:
> Don't camp close too Donahue Pass (above 9600 feet).
> Canisters required within seven miles of the road at Tuolumne Meadows.
> There's bear boxes near the store in the campground and North at Glen 
> Aulen.
>
> There are no requirements 7 miles north of 120. 
> http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/wilderness/bfoodstorage.htm
>
> "This requirement does not apply to food that's being transported or 
> eaten.":
>
> And also per the Yosemite's site:
>
> Requirements for the 13 miles from Donahue pass to Tuolumne Meadows (120) 
> then north 7 miles per Yosemite's shaded map
>
> http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/wilderness/bfoodstoragem.htm
>

> Seven miles north of Tuolumne there are no requirements.

> Another confusing question:
>
> How many miles do you travel OFF the Pacific Crest Trail before dropping 
> into the Dusy Basin.  Is it normal for thru hikers to go there?
>
> Next??
>
> If all the above is correct, what wilderness areas requiring canisters do 
> not have a legal substitute of a bear box within a few miles, and how many 
> miles from legality is that?
>
> Another:
>
> Who has had a government employee lie (or see things different from actual 
> regulations) to them about these requirements?
> (I have)

>
> I'm for the use of canisters here but I think something more important is 
> missing.
>
> Warner Springs Monty
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> The answer depends on which portion of the JMT you're asking about, but
>> in general a canister will be required to travel the JMT without putting
>> in some long days.  There are no exceptions or special considerations
>> for thru-hikers in terms of food storage requirements in the Sierra
>> parks and wilderness areas.
>>
>> Canisters are reqired for virtually all of the JMT within Yosemite:
>>
>> http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/wilderness/bfoodstoragem.htm
>>
>> There are food lockers at Little Yosemite Valley, Sunrise High Sierra
>> Camp, and Tuolumne Meadows.
>>
>> However, canisters are also required along the JMT within Inyo National
>> Forest, which is from Donohue Pass to roughly 1 mile north of Silver
>> Pass (this includes the portion of Sierra NF that is administered by
>> Inyo and presumably follows the same reguations), except for the Agnew
>> Meadow/Reds Meadow area that's not in the Ansel Adams Wilderness:
>>
>> http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/bear.shtml
>>
>> A strong hiker could make it from Tuolumne to Reds Meadow in a day,
>> "racing" through one of the most scenic stretches of the JMT.
>>
>> Sierra NF does not appear to require canisters anywhere, so the next
>> canister-required areas (heading south) are in Kings Canyon-Sequoia:
>>
>> http://www.nps.gov/archive/seki/snrm/wildlife/food_storage.htm
>>
>> Specifically, canisters are required in the Rae Lakes and Dusy Basin
>> areas, even for thru-hikers:
>>
>> "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."
>>
>> Canisters are also required in the Mt. Whitney Zone east of Trail Crest,
>> should one be able to get an overnight permit for this area:
>>
>> http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/bearmaps/Whitney_bear_canis
>> ter_map_revised.jpg
>>
>> Finally, the list of approved canisters:
>>
>> http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/approvedcontainers.htm
>>
>> Note that some Bearvaults (the older, lighter ones, of course...) are
>> not approved for the Rae Lakes area.  The Ursack Hybrid is no longer
>> conditionally approved due to several failures in '06.
>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Len Roughgarden" <lrough at nwlink.com>
>>> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:23 PM
>>> Subject: [pct-l] bear canisters
>>>
>>>
>>> Last year I did the John Muir Trail and was required to use
>>> Bear Canisters.
>>> I heard theat thru hikers weren't required to use them. Is thatat so?
>>
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>