[pct-l] bear bagging

Sun Jan 2 03:10:08 CST 2011

Kevin,

I have a feeling I may not be the only one to reply to your post-- but I suppose 
I will be the first. I was one of those "pesky" rangers asking about bear cans. 
From what you wrote, I can tell that perhaps you have not had the experience 
with bears that many Rangers, including myself have had. At heart, Rangers, and 
all these food storage regulations are there to save bears. Bears are absolutely 
beautiful creatures with personality and a zest for life. When I worked in the 
parks, I was not just hiking through the mountains-- I lived there. I got to 
know the bears- their personalities, the quirks, their cubs, parents and 
grandparents-- and gained a very different perspective. If you watch them and 
pay attention they very much remind us of ourselves. I have a brief clip of a 
video I took of a bear doing bear things here: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwOTMfnFuc4  Its a little over halfway through 
the video. 

 Ursacks were revoked because they have failed in real world situations in the 
backcountry. I have had a visitor come out of the backcountry with a torn 
Ursack-- then weeks later at the same location (on the PCT) get the report that 
someone had to be helicoptered out because they were clawed by a bear-- then 
hear the heart breaking story of the bear having to be hunted down and killed. I 
have looked into the eyes of a mother bear in a trap, her cub crying next to 
her, knowing she had to be killed because of the stupid decisions of visitors 
before- who also came and went and did not care enough about the well being of 
the bears to properly store their food. The point is: there is a direct 
correlation between a bear getting human food for the first time- the bear 
quickly becoming addicted to human food- the bear loosing their natural fear of 
humans- then the bear becoming bolder and more aggressive in its efforts to 
continue its addiction to human food-- this pattern continues until someone gets 
hurt-- or have to be killed. Night after night, I have chased the same bear away 
from food that people have left out-- to eventually learn that it too had to be 
killed-- its three cubs shipped out to a Zoo. It is with a sense of compassion 
and responsibility that we should be properly storing our food. In my opinion, 
its not worth risking the life of a bear to save a few ounces, nor, IMHO is my 
food important enough to me that it outweighs the life of a bear. Yes, we do 
need containers with 100% impenetrability. 

About defending your food from a bear: well, that's just simply a very, very bad 
idea. That does seem to be a common denominator with many of the bear maulings I 
am familiar with in the Sierra-- that and using your food as a pillow, which is 
also a very, very bad idea. Know that not all bears are intemidated by rocks, 
particularly the ones who have repeatedly gained food from careless 
backpackers-- again, if you had more experience with bears I don't think you 
would claim that they retreat when you throw stones, because many don't. Also, 
be mindful of throwing those stones- years ago, in Yosemite, a boy scout killed 
a bear when he threw a rock at the bear to protect his food. If your food was 
properly stored to begin with then there would be no need to "protect" your 
food.

For the Bears,

ProDeal

www.bristleconemedia.com

----- Original Message ----
From: Kevin <hikelite at gmail.com>
To: Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>
Cc: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sun, January 2, 2011 12:10:34 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] bear bagging

Hi Melanie

Here is the latest update from Ursack. I wish they would approve them. The 
weight difference is huge. I think the agencies managing the backcountry are not 
taking into account the hikers when making their decisions about what is 
acceptable food protection. Yes, a bear could probably get into an Ursack 
eventually. Do we need the 100% impenetrability of a rigid container? I don't 
think so, but it's not up to me. I hung my food for many years without trouble. 
Ill probably have a canister between KM and Echo Lakes, but it's not by choice. 

http://www.ursack.com/ursack-update.htm

I haven't yet decided to borrow, rent, or buy. I'm still hoping the Ursack will 
be approved for the small sections it's not yet allowed. What they aren't taking 
into consideration is how important my food is to me! They base their tests on 
allowing a bear unlimited attempts to get the food. When I hear the bear trying 
to get my food, you can be sure I will defend it! When I used to hang my food, I 
would put a pile of "bear rocks" next to me at night. I have yet to meet a bear 
that thinks my food is worth getting pelted with rocks. They will just move on 
to an easier reward. Bears are big, but they still retreat when you throw 
stones. Now that I think about it, I bet that would work for pesky rangers 
asking about me bear can. ;) I'm kidding about that last part, but it does make 
a point. HEHE

I will reluctantly comply with the regulations, even if I don't like them. 

Misspellings and typos brought to you by iPhone.

On Jan 1, 2011, at 8:00 PM, Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear PCT, or Chuck,
> 
> Why is the Ursack illegal?  I loved the Ursack.
> 
> Melanie
> 
> On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 6:24 PM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:
> 
>> Good evening, Mike,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> It is very rare to see any PCT hiker bag/hang food – anywhere.  Doing so is
>> not allowed as a substitute for using an approved bear ‘can in designated
>> areas.  The last time I bagged/hung food was on an Ontario canoe trip many
>> years ago.  Usually I ditch the ‘can at Echo Summit south of Lake Tahoe,
>> but
>> once I did carry a non-approved Ursack for a while north of there because
>> there were some curious bears in that general area.  Even then I didn't
>> hoist it up; I just tethered it at ground level to a small tree.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On the remainder of the PCT north there are lots of bears but they keep
>> their heads down and a hiker will be lucky to see one.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Steel-Eye
>> 
>> Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
>> 
>> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>> 
>> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09
>> 
>> 
>> On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 5:16 PM, Michael Pinkus <mikepinkus at hotmail.com
>>> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> Hi All,
>>> So, bear cannisters are required on some parts of the trail, I'm assuming
>>> that you bear bag it on the rest of the trail? I only ask this as I've
>> never
>>> read anything about it anywhere. We bear bag everywhere here in Canada
>>> unless you are camping when they're hibernating.
>>> 
>>> anyone?
>>> 
>>> cheers,
>>> Mike
>>> 
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