[pct-l] Sierra resupply strategy/bears

[Edward Anderson]

Jim,
Too bad bear canisters are now needed. When I hiked the JMT back in the days when bears did not go into the Sierra high country, I never saw one above about 8500'. The year was either 1957 or 1958 - can't recall which. I went from Whitney Portal to Toulomie Meadows. I went solo, took about two weeks, and did not need to resupply. I supplemented the food that I brought with trout and wild plants. I saw very few backpackers compared to today - and there was not yet a PCT. The bears then were either wild or hung around lower elevation campgrounds where they could get food from  humans. They were to learn that the backpackers had food and in the years after about 1965 or so started to follow them into the higher elevations - and became bolder. If it were not for the law requiring canisters I would just use OpSaks and my "bear charms"(mothballs in cotton tobacco sacks) as they work well in keeping bears away from camp - including keeping them away from your
 tent or sleeping bag. 
MendoRider 

 
  

--- On Mon, 4/12/10, Jim Boatwright <jimcboat at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Jim Boatwright <jimcboat at gmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Sierra resupply strategy
> To: Pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Monday, April 12, 2010, 4:04 AM
> I have been trying to decide whether
> it would be better to send my bear
> canister and other Sierra gear to Kennedy Meadows or to the
> Saufleys.  My
> thinking is that if I send everything to the Saufleys, it
> could all be
> combined and the number of boxes forwarded on to Kennedy
> Meadows would be
> reduced.  Does this make sense or would it be an
> imposition on the Saufleys
> to send 3 or more boxes  to them?
> 
> Thanks,
> Jim
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