Bear Canisters!

“Hi guys, I hiked this trail last year and pretty much did the same itinerary. Thought you'd like to know that there are bear boxes at Nine Mile, Big Hamilton Lake, Big Arroyo Junction and Kern Hot Springs, they all had plenty of room when we were there.
Basically you dont need a canister for your first four nights. Wallace Creek had some too but not sure where you're camping along there, if you're camping at the crossing then that's where the boxes are. There are none at Guitar lake, probably because the bears don't tend to go that high.
My husband and I were able to fit all of our food except for the first nights in one Garcia canister between the two of us.
I know that canisters are required for this hike, but you guys could share them, even three to four people to a canister for the last night or two. Or one of the new mini Bearvaults would do it. :)
Anyway, just trying to lighten your loads. Hope this helps.”

“thanks for the update, paige....”

“paige - I cannot imagine two people getting that much food into one canister! What did you take that could pack that dense?”

“Phil,
Our meals consisted of oatmeal, coffee and fruit flat for breakfast. Cheese, salami, beef jerky, tortillas, tuna, nuts for lunches/snacks and freezedried dinners, chai tea and a mini candy bar like snickers etc for dinner. We probably eat lighter than some, my husbands 6'1", 145 pounds and I'm 5'6", 115. Plus I repackage everything into ziplocs and all my smellables are in their smallest containers for any given length of trip.”

“REI has the Garcia cannister on sale 5 24 05. Save $15.00 of the normal price which I think was $69.9x.

Moz”

“Bear Vault is a better cannister.”

“wild ideas bearikade is the best”

“Do you think it's the most cost effective? I did the calculations last Fall and went with the Vault.

You can see your stuff, too....


Then again, we don't have to deal with Griz in this neck of the woods...”

“The new BearVaults are Grizzly approved.”

“coolness.


Different somehow? I haven't seen them.”

“defineitely not the most cost effective, because they are the most expensive. but they are the lightest”