Sierra Bears...

“Well, I just got back from Squaw Valley... Sorry to say, but no Bp'n... just Day-Hikes and Lectures. I was really supprised that every trail we hit had some sign of Bears... At night a mother and her two "tiny" cubs frequented the parking lot trash cans, which drew small crowds from the bar. It was very apparent that the Bears were "Very" use to humans :(
I would think there would be some warnings posted in high traffic areas?

Thoughts?
North Tahoe, Squaw Valley or Truckee experiences?

Ken
BpManiacs”

“That's a handsome bear, right there.”

“Me and wanderer went on a pack trip a couple of years ago in May. The trail goes up between Slide Mountain and Mount Rose, on the east edge of the Sierras, just south of Reno. There was a lot of snow higher up on the trail, near Price Lake. In the snow we seen some huge bear tracks, about 8 to 10 inches in diameter. We did not see the bear that went with the tracks though.”

“A beautiful bear in the fiddleheads. Nice photo, Mike!”

“Hello Ken

Sorry to hear about this! Those trash dumpsters should be bear proof at Squaw. I know Squaw Valley management is very bear friendly and they love the Tahoe bears & they know not to feed them and be very careful on the garbage there. Unfortunately it is the out of town people...some of them do not realize how bad it is to feed them. Yeah im sure the mama and her baby cubs did draw a lot of attention..and I do not blame people for wanting to see them. Did you notice any.. Do not feed the bear posters there? I feel if more people knew that if a bear gets into human garbage, or is fed by humans...there is a very good chance that bear will be trapped and killed! And the worst is any bear that goes into a set & baited trap will die...it does not matter if it is the bear that got into trouble that DFG is trying to trap. Also a lot of people believe that the DFG just traps the bear and then will relocate the bear! That is not the case! DFG does not relocate a trapped bear..they kill it while in the trap..or the hired trapper kills the bear!! It is a horrible thing. The National Parks may be different on that.
Thank you for posting this.

Wind Walker, beautiful big bear! What a neat picture, I love that color the cinnamon nutmeg shade, how lucky you were to see!”

“They're everywhere that people frequent, ditto what madeintahoe said re the consequences of poor food storage, etc.

I've even seen them up at Lake Gilmore in Desolation Wilderness, there's a lot of camping there, I'm sure they're looking for a free meal from an improperly hung bear-bag since cannisters aren't required there (yet!)

I still have a pic I took of that bear track Tahoe referred to, it was the biggest *^#@$ track I've ever seen! I stomped my size 11 boot in the snow next to it to get some perspective for the picture, the bear print was WAY bigger! Needless to say, Tahoe & I hustled out of there!”

“madeintahoe...
Nope, no signs!
Odd!
There were alot of Dog leash law signs...
___________
I will be up at Silver Lake next week. My job should have me there off and on until August. Lots of Campers and bear sightings weekly... I'm not sure if you have been to Plasse Resort, but right above that is Camp Stockton(Silver Lake Resort) and In between is a small(Burn) refuse area that attracts Bears...
Anyhow, I'll send pictures regularly...

Ken”

“Ken, Thanks for letting me know...they should have the do not feed the bear posters up...I will check into it.

I remember you mentioning that you stay at Silver Lake during the summers on another old post. I love that whole area..Carson Pass, Kirkwood. Im going to try to finally do Thunder Mountain this summer. I hike with a few friends usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays..if we do a hike in that area...would you like me to let you know about it? Im looking forward to hiking Scheniders cow camp up that bowl up to the ridge..the flowers in there are really something, and I can just imagine how full they will be this summer

That refuse site...are they burning trash there?

WW..love that latest picture of the bear...im assuming he or she is the same bear??”

“Nope...different bear, I saw 8 bears on my last day trip to Sequoia. All of them were close to human activity (picnic areas, campgrounds,etc.) Took a 5 mile hike out to a waterfall and didn't see any wildlife...go figure.”

“madeintahoe...
I had an Overnight trip planned for Thunder Mountain... But, since the BpManiacs site was Hacked I don't remember the dates. Beginning of August??? I'll be there anyway...
Let me know any time you are over that way, during the week is good!

Still Burning??? As of Last year there were big green dumpsters... but I still think they burn, something? I'll ask...
Plasse's was sold a couple years ago to a Commercial developer and I haven't really got to know the new Management, yet! They are aware of the Bear problem and do give info to campers about bears. Given that a good portion of the campers have horses, the bears tend to stay out of the camp sites.

Ken”