Bear cannisters required?

“Sucks a person has to buy or rent these now or face fines in some areas.I wont allow them to look in my pack.”

“5 miles of AT added to the list:

http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=245591”

“Seems really late to implement this rule. I imagine there will be a lot of thrus starting this year without one of these.”

“I think it takes effect in June.will not be a huge deal,but some will be effected.i just don't like rules like these.”

“This is just a way to get everyone to hump the 5 miles. If you get a quarter mile off the trail in this section you don't have to have one so this is just a prime example of bureaucratic BS.

When I have hiked in areas requiring a canister the rangers come into your camp and do a sweep. I was never asked for proof on the trail.”

“Will this then be the rule on that section of AT forevermore, or just this year?”

“the way the Access North GA reads the rule lasts _until_ June which strikes me as rather odd - its like its targeted at the thrus”

“Just don't overnight in that stretch of trail....

'32oz”

“wonder what Winton is going to charge to rent a canister”

“I have some really nice chew marks on my bear can...yes put there by a bear. Personally I'd rather carry the can, have it chewed on, and still have breakfast in the morning and snacks on the trail. Bureaucratic BS? I'll take that over the other option.”

“Never mind the Californian - we're used to having too many rules.

Sound ill-conceived. If the trouble is only a short stretch and a couple of shelters, why not put bear-resistant lockers at the shelters?”

“And what if i have no food with me.Do i still have to have a canister to spend the night in this area?lol California”

“Sandyann it is bureaucratic BS when it only required on the trail but once you are a quarter mile off the trail they are not required...would you or would you not agree?

The rule is mandatory for all dispersed camping in the Blood Mountain Wilderness Area within a quarter mile of the trail, as well as camping at Blood Mountain Shelter and Woods Hole Shelter.

Personally I feel bear canister regs are long overdue in GSMNP and SNP. They are the solution to bear/human conflicts, especially for GSMNP where campsites are closed for an entire season because of stupid human tricks.
last edited: 2/09/12 6:12:49 AM”

“I've never heard of a human/bear conflict in the SNP and I have been backpacking up there for well over a decade. There's lots of bears though.”

“Whats next? I dont see a bullet proof vest required to enter Compton,south central..or hip waders to get through the waste in Washington.
Freedom for me and the bear.just put up a sign saying no sissies allowed.if your so scared of bear just stay home and hike in your city park”

“This is my first hike in the state of Virginia, its so pretty and the folks and the food have been amazing. I did hike Rogers a few times.i hope to be close to finishing this state bye March.”

“I stand by my can. The only time a can is required in certain areas in CA is if you are overnighting and where bears have been know to steal food. I'm not afraid of bears....but I do plan my food carefully and I want to be the one to enjoy.

I hope I'm not the 'sissy' who should hike in my city park. If so perhaps I should tell you in what city and location I spend my days in.”

“I live in the moutains 24/7.I want you to feel safe sandyann.some of us are poor mtn folk and cant afford cans.and we live with the bears and can handle ourselves around camp.”

“I assure you I feel safe. I believe I've stressed my love for food and want to eat it myself. I can also assure you I have had more bear experiences than many mountain people would want. Having said that, I am sorry that you are being forced to carry a can for only certain sections. HYOH. I'll leave quietly now.

ToeJam - I resemble that remark by the way. =o)”

“Sorry if i offended you sandy ann.i can be a D sometimes”

“Using a bear cannister out west, where I think SandyAnn lives, is probably a good idea because there are grizzly bears and brown bears. On the east coast, we have black bears, which are generally shy and not very aggresive or predatory, which is why you see very few people using cannisters. They are simply not necessary.

Unfortunately, on this section of the AT, the bears have also become rather tame and comfortable around people. I do wonder what other methods the authorities have tried to discourage the tameness. It will be interesting to see if this new rule makes any difference. I personally don't like the rule either.”

“There have been a few 'small problems' in Shenandoah. Down at the Black Rock Hut a couple years ago, also at DONDO picnic grounds, and last year there was an active bear at Pinefield Hut I believe... Also a few years back near the RockSpring Hut..

It never escalated to them having to kill the bears, but there where warnings posted in some of the areas...

It is amazing how many people are so comfortable that they hang there food in the huts...

More and more Trail Clubs are installing bear poles and cables..

'32oz”

“What's your general location now.. How much longer until you hit SNP?

'32oz”

“Whut? Those black bears back east don't travel over a quarter mile from trails? Sissy bears. :) Hi Sandyann. Whens the next trip? Maybe I can go, not much snow anywhere, off for a trip close to home this weekend.
Duane”

“In the Daleville area 32oz”

“Awesome.. keep on trekkin'


'32oz”

“True story about the bears in the Sierra and Little Yosemite Backpackers camp specifically:

Many years ago, you could hang your food, from a tree. The bears learned how to slash the rope with their sharp claws.

Those handy rangers strung steel cables for you to hang your food. The bears learned that if they climbed up and hung from the cable their weight would bring the food bag low enough for others to grab.

Now there are bear boxes at Little Yosemite.

Bears learned that humans are lazy and don't close bear cans (BV's) all the way. If they just threw the can hard enough the top would pop off and presto an easy meal. YNP took BV off the approved list until BV upgraded the lid. But it is still up to humans to tighten the lid.

The bears out west do travel off trail and they are crafty indeed.

Duane - we are trying again for Meiss Meadow next week-end. We'll see if the weather cooperates. No bear cans needed for this trip. =o)”

“Adirondack bears, esp round Marcy exDam and Flowed Lands possess legendary food thieving including canister opening skills.

I had to get a larger pack when canisters became mandatory, but it serves as a seat too.”

“Good luck Moonshine, you picked a great time to do Va, and have great weather too..

When I was a kid, they had a trash dump near Loft mt. in SNP. If you wanted to see a bear you just went there, you could see 20 or more at a time.”

“Bear Vault - not just for food:

Water bucket- fill and pump at your leisure
Bath - fill and use for bathing away from water source
Laundry - same as a above
Chair
Etc, etc”

““ . . . I think SandyAnn lives, is probably a good idea because there are grizzly bears and brown bears.”

FYI griz and brown bears are the same thing, same species. In the contiguous states (meaning not including AK) they are found only in WY, MT and ID. None in CA.”

“Wait, wait, wait sandyann...

You bathe with your food cannister? What do you do with your food while bathing?

...soaking wet, naked, shoes off, pile of food next to you..seems problematic, lol.”

“Well now without giving away too much I do believe I've heard a bear run off growling 'my eyes, my eyes, make it go away!'”

“Thanks 1camp.love this state and the weather. Ive had some damp chilly nights.
Lol.wher i live in NC a black bear ripped off my porch steps..in Alaska on Lake clark i was charged bye a grizzly, alsoe charged bye moose in Maine..all three times i or another in my party fired off there gun and threat was over. With no injuries ..xcept for the large blastto my ears in Alaska. I dunno how a bear resistant canister would have helped.
I mean ive seen bear cans with food dropped on them. Now i will say that electric shocking one fridge had is the only way to go.i think it even had a beacon light on it.”

“No matter how slow you go out here your still lapping those couch potatoes”

“sandyann, let me know by Sunday afternoon so I can bring my pickup and gear then. Just Saturday night? Put me on the permit.
Duane”

“Hikerduane - We will be going up on the 18th and 19th. I will try to let you know for sure by Sunday. The only issue is if a storm rolls in we would change the location. No permit is necessary however you do need a sno park permit to park at the Meiss Meadow Sno Park fo reach vehicle. This is before Caples Lake and is on the right hand side if you are coming up and over 88 towards Jackson.”

“Hikerduane- send me a contact number on email. I'll call if something changes after Sunday.”

“Fridge carries his Bearikade on every trip I go with him...are you guys calling him a sissy?

HOI carries one too. I don't carry but if the bears learn raiding techniques like those in NY and out west I will. And there is something to be said about not having to hang every night.

BTW Glacier does not require canisters they just have a spot for you to throw your rope. Been there done that solo so call me a sissy.”

“Lol im just sayin i dont want/.need one,nor do i want to be forced to ever carry one.especially if i dont have any food on me.May do some good to go a day or 2 without a meal.If food is the whole problem, then im doing my part bye not taking any.”

“Hiker Duane. And sandy ass are running there mouths off topic...so rude and selfish...these old farts wanna hijack a thread thats about the AT only..neither will prolly never step foot on the AT..i could care less about your 2 mi day hikes...make your trip plans on the trips page..then u 2 ladies can hang out bye the car while sitting and bathing with your cans...”

“This turned into a good drinking thread. Which reminds me that sandyann makes some badass homemade wine.”

“Cheers”

“Moonshine, sorry for us experienced bpers setting plans here. We do acutally get out in the snow even. We even survived AK with Fridge, that was a cake walk.
Duane”

“Again,you wanna make it all about you”

“And you keep dragging it on. Sandyann went last year, I went two years ago. Fridge did REAllY well with his heavy pack, impressed with him.
Duane”

“What is this dew wayne dood talking about.”

“You might be headed for some snow tonite!”

“Yes thats what we are hearing.or a mix”