(un)Packing Fears ~ Feeding Bears and Me (cannisters)

[peakbagger]

I did a hike with 3 other experienced backpackers a few months ago on the PCT in Washington. We were out for 6 nights and despite 3 of us having engineering backgrounds getting a successful hang took way longer than we would have liked and in most cases the results were not ideal. Those dense western softwoods are designed to shed lots of snow and that means the branches are in tight and leaning downwards. there is rarely anything goes to a horizontal branch let alone two of them an appropriate distance apart. We were at official campsites 5 nights out of 6 and of all the groups of campers we would encounter, we were the only ones trying. I saw a few solo folks carrying bear cans but the majority of backpackers we encountered did not have them. Unlike the AT where civilization is nearby so having the food raided by bear is an inconvenience, losing food where we were might mean a couple of days with no food. We did camp near PCT thruhikers a couple of times and never saw a sign of anything more than a rodent hang. Prior to the trip we checked recent reports and checked with folks familiar with the area and there was only one campsite that had any reported bear issues and it was a site near a trailhead and probably got more use (it also had a box privy).

My guess is by the time folks have gotten to Washington state and focused on the end to the trail that caution gets thrown to the wind?

[One Half]

Cans are now required in the whites.

really? When did this happen? do you have a link? I don't doubt you but I want more info. Thanks

[One Half]

Attachment 50142

I just went on the USFS website and it does not say what this sign seems to be saying. See for yourself.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/white...TELPRDB5186355

At some point maybe someone can call the ranger station?

[peakbagger]

I just went on the USFS website and it does not say what this sign seems to be saying. See for yourself.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/white...TELPRDB5186355

At some point maybe someone can call the ranger station?

You need to go to the actual order and even that does not agree with the sign posted at trailheads, as the order allows bear bag hanging.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...eprd644822.pdf

The problem with calling the ranger station is rarely do you get an actual ranger and different employees seem to have different interpretations of the orders. In some cases you get a volunteer who maybe someone's grandma or grandpa.