[pct-l] Glacier Peak and mice

[Herb Stroh]

My worst mouse experiences were on the Wonderland Trail. I crossed a bridge, put my pack down to get sunscreen, put the sunscreen on and then replaced my pack. In that amount of time a mouse had eaten a hole through the pocket of my lap belt and stolen my trail snacks.

I used my rain jacket for a pillow at night. Unfortunately, one night I forgot and left snacks in my pocket. Sure enough, mice ate a hole in the pocket while the jacket was under my head, once again stealing my trail snacks.

I continue to use the pack and jacket, holes and all, as a reminder to protect my food 24/7. 

Sent from my iPad

> On May 10, 2017, at 1:55 PM, Scott Diamond <scott.diamond.mail at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I had a hole in the netting of my  tent. Since there were no mosquitoes I
> didn't think it would be a problem but in the Northern Cascades, for a
> week, every night, a mouse would climb up the netting, in through the hole
> and then scamper around my tent searching for my food bag. The worst part
> was how I found out about it. I always woke up because a mouse had walked
> across my face. There is little as eerie as being asleep and feeling these
> small feet on your face.  It got to be a regular thing. I'd turn on my
> light find the mouse, open the tent and shoo it out. The mouse never
> returned the rest of the night but it was uncanny how this same process
> repeated each night I camped at a different site.
> 
> So, I'll buy one of those mouse canisters next time they are available.
> 
> -Rover
> 
> On Wed, May 10, 2017 at 10:42 AM, Barry Teschlog <tokencivilian at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Mice - the "Yosemite Bears" of Washington when it comes to stealing hiker
>> food and ripping up tents.
>> 
>> Best get a "mouse canister" for the grub.  I can see an Glacier Peak Mouse
>> Interagency Working Group (GPMIWG) in our future to certify the acceptable
>> mouse canisters.  Please, think of the mice.  Problem mice will have to be
>> destroyed if they get habituated to human food.
>> 
>> Tongue firmly in cheek on the above.  ;-)
>> 
>> But seriously, yes, mice are a pain in the neck in that area.  They'll
>> chew through zip lock bags, stuff sacks and tents to get at the grub,
>> especially if the food is directly against the netting or edge of a tent.
>> I've not had a problem with mice chewing their way in when "hanging" the
>> food inside the tent.  I've personally never had a mouse get into a hung up
>> food bag, but I use very fine cord in a poorly executed "bear bag" hang job
>> (mouse bag?, LOL) and they may not have been able to climb down that.
>> 
>>      From: sdscpcts <sdscpcts at yahoo.com>
>> To: David Hough reading PCT-L <pctl at oakapple.net>; pct-l at backcountry.net;
>> tokencivilian at yahoo.com
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2017 8:27 PM
>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Glacier Peak and mice
>> 
>> Two years ago I camped in the campsite on the south side of Suiattle River
>> bridge and had a mouse chew through the side of my tent to get to some
>> food. The next night I camped just west of the creek that is west of the
>> junction of the PCT and the Suiattle River Trail. There I hung my food, but
>> the mice climbed the tree and descended the rope to attack my food.
>>      Mataguay Connector
>> 
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