Yosemite Bear Cannisters
jhon
avilable for rent in Yosemite Valley? I know this will
likely be a range, but what is the min/max? What does the can actually
weigh? Are bears still denning the third week of May in
Yosemite? Or are they out stealing food already? Do they venture above
snowline? Does the Merced River trail have particularly bad bear
problems (betweenYos. Valley & Merced Lake)?
thanx
Stephane Boucher
> I believe they use the Garcia canister. Weighs almost 3
> lbs.. Garcia claims it holds 6 man-days of food, and it might if you
> were determined and motivated to fit it in. Realistically it's
> about half that capacity with normal packaging.
Well, I've used one for the first time last weekend. food filled it up
to the half (4days). The other half contained my pot, stove, cup,
utensils, tootbrush. So, I think 6 man-days of food is realistic if you
stay mostly with dehydrated food.
I was hopping that my brand new cannister would see some bear action, but
it didn't :-(
--
Woody Schlom
> it didn't :-(
I've been using one for years and not a single bear has ever paid it any
attention. But I've watched pissed off bears trying to get at my hanging
food. My opinion is that bears are really smart and they know there's no
point in wasting their time with the canisters, so they don't. And since
that's the whole point, I continue to carry the brute. It makes a fine camp
stool also.
Bruce W.1
claims it holds 6 man-days of food, and it might if you were
determined and motivated to fit it in. Realistically it's about half
that capacity with normal packaging.
=======================================
Rick Ellis
>Are bears still denning the third week of May in
>Yosemite? Or are they out stealing food already?
They are definately out:
Bear Incidents in Yosemite: April 23 - 29 April 25 - May 1
Vehicles broken into in parking lots: 7 3
Bear damage reports in campgrounds: 10 2
Year to date bear incidents: 81 74
Year to date property damage: $26,685 $47,293
Bear Activity Update: Bear #1153 (White 33) has been active in
Housekeeping Camp, obtaining food from ice chests left out on several
occasions. This bear has also obtained food from a bear box that was
not securely latched.
A large bear with an orange tag in its left ear has been seen breaking
into vehicles containing improperly stored food in the Wilderness Lot,
Curry Village and Upper Pines. The bear is very skittish making it
difficult to obtain a positive identification from the ear tag.
Bear #2052 (White 32) and her two yearlings have been seen in the Curry
Village area and were spotted eating food from an ice chest left out in
North Pines.
A radio telemetry signal from bear #2297 has been detected in the west
end of the Valley. (Christine Cowles)
--
http://www.fnet.net/~ellis/photo/yosemite.html
Scott
You know, 6 days for one person, 3 days for 2 people, etc.
The inside is suppose to be 8" dia x 12" long.
----------
----------
In article <3911BFF4...@at.home>, jhon <n...@at.home> wrote:
Stephane Boucher
> The monster weighs 2 lbs 14 oz
I'm amazed at how people blow this out of proportion. People will
cary a 6-7lbs tent, 2lbs camp shoes, tarp, one of those inflatable
sleeping pad and plenty of other things not always necessary.
Yet, it is a big deal to carry the cannister.
I carried one a weekend ago, and frankly, between the weight penalty
and the hassle of hanging the food - which isn't 100% safe - I'll
choose the cannister.
I've yet to see those canisters being sold in Canada. I'm sure
I'm the only one who's going to be using this in Algonquin. Likewise
in the Adirondak. But hey, in the morning, my food will be there, and
I will not have had to chase the bears. Not to mention that I wouldn't
want to have to chase a grizzly bear if I was in grizzly land. And
when I go for a day hike, I won't have to pack my food. It's just going
to stay safe back at the camp.
--
Bill Havanas
as a chair and plopping my 260 pounds on one wouldn't collapse it. Also
that they would be good against mice. I do my backpacking in the East
and have more trouble with mice then bears and I'm thinking that it
would be easier to put the food in a bear canister and just leave it
sitting on the ground or in a shelter then try to hang it.
I hike on the AT and stay at the shelters where mice are a big problem.
Even hanging the food doesn't always work since they will launch themselves
at the bags.
Other questions.
Are the canister waterproof, or will they leak at the opening?
How do you carry yours? In the pack or strap outside? Do they fit
inside an average pack?
Bill Havanas
Stephane Boucher
> I assume that if they can "resist" a bear attack that they would
> work as a chair and plopping my 260 pounds on one wouldn't collapse
> it.
I'd assume that too. On the other hand, make sure you don't dirty
your shorts with food odor of something you might have spilled on the
canister.
> Also that they would be good against mice.
Yep. And even if you hang your food, chipmunks will be kind enough to
go to your food and try hard to ruin your weekend.
> Are the canister waterproof, or will they leak at the opening?
I think it could leak. But you should put your food inside of a plastic
bag anyways, and if you put the cannister on its side, I don't think
you'll get any water inside. But it is a fairly snug fit, so I doubt it
would ever leak much... unless you throw it in the lake :-)
Speaking of lake, make sure you place the canister in a place such
that a bear can't throw it in the lake, river or off a cliff...
> How do you carry yours? In the pack or strap outside? Do they fit
> inside an average pack?
I have a Arc'Teryx Bora 65 (size long which supposedly is 71L). My
clothes and sleeping bag go in the bottom compartment. My tent rainfly
goes at the bottom of the upper compartment. Then the cannister goes
on top of the rainfly, and the tent is stuffed around the canister (to
keep the canister in the center). I use a MSR dromedary bag (another
recent aquisition) that goes on top of the canister, and have a .5L
bottle in one of the wand pocket. My tent wands go in the other wand
pocket. I tie up my sleeping pad (zrest green foam folded thingy) to
the pack. The stove, pot, cup, utensils ride in the canister.
Well, that's probably more than you wanted to know, but that's how
I pack :-) It's actually quick and easy to pack it this way. I still
have some room left in the upper compartment.
--
Chuck Worth
Bill Havanas <bhav...@lucent.com> wrote
> I assume that if they can "resist" a bear attack that they would work
> that they would be good against mice. <deletia>
> Other questions.
> Are the canister waterproof, or will they leak at the opening?
> inside an average pack?
I'm in your weight range, Bill, and I use a large aluminum bear cannister
and it will *definitely* support our weight (in fact, you could probably use
it as a car-stand--definitely overbuilt.) It is definitely mouse-proof as
well (unless the mouse has acetylene cutting equipment.)
My aluminum model is NOT waterproof. It will leak at the opening (I
could/should probably jury rig a gasket that might improve water tightness).
It doesn't leak much; I wouldn't worry about it in a light rain, but, it
wouldn't handle immersion in a creek. Note, most stuff inside the cannister
is also pretty well sealed in baggies, foil, etc.
We carry it inside the packs. It fits easily on end in the central
compartment of my pack (a huge Kelty Expedition). It also fits my wife's
far smaller pack (extenal frame JanSport--in the central part, but not much
else fits.) Strapping it on to a pack's exterior might take a little
forethought. The cannister is smooth aluminum so just strapping it on may
not work real well (will slide out between the straps). It might be a good
idea to get some rubberized (high friction) straps to strap it on with.
It's heavy (well OK, only a few pounds, but they count), but well worth it
for peace of mind in bear (and mice) country. We use it in areas with known
bear problems. We don't use it in other areas where bear marauding is
uncommon (e.g. Trinity Alps, Marble Mountains); here we simply hang food
(and have gotten away without incident for many years.)
Bill, you should probably read "The Care and Feeding of Your Bear Canister,
Or, Care for Your Canister and You'll Eat Better Than the Bears" by Tom
Reynolds at: http://www.pcta.org/plan/canistercare.shtml He has some
great advice about how to cram the maximum contents into a bear cannister.
Regards, Chuck
Jim Fuller
> > work as a chair and plopping my 260 pounds on one wouldn't collapse
> > it.
>
> your shorts with food odor of something you might have spilled on the
> canister.
I think that I would worry more about vice-versa.
--
Jim Fuller
Jeffrey Trust
jhon wrote:
> How many days worth of food can one store in a bear cannister that are
> avilable for rent in Yosemite Valley? I know this will
Couple of days per person.
There are bear boxes in Little Yosemite Valley and at Merced Lake. You
might not need a canister IF you're going to be camping at either of those
two places. (Check to make sure when you get your permit.)
> likely be a range, but what is the min/max? What does the can actually
> weigh? Are bears still denning the third week of May in
Bears are wide awake.
> Yosemite? Or are they out stealing food already? Do they venture above
Yup. Lots of it.
> snowline? Does the Merced River trail have particularly bad bear
> problems (betweenYos. Valley & Merced Lake)?
Some of the worst in the backcountry.
Jeffrey
jhon
area? By the ranger staion?
Ray Daberko
"Jim Fuller" <jefu...@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:39131878...@netscape.net...
Good shot Jim. Presuming the "dirty shorts" occur instantaneous to the bear
taking a bite out of them. Ray
Nancy Block
>>>>>> "Bill" == Bill Havanas <bhav...@lucent.com> writes:
>>
>> inside an average pack?
>
inside.
Nancy
tonu and carol aun
>
> >>>>> "Scott" == Scott <chan...@apexweb.com> writes:
>
> > The monster weighs 2 lbs 14 oz
>
> I'm amazed at how people blow this out of proportion.
>
Total agreement --- considering the amount of hardware I've taken along
in the past to ensure proper hanging under most conditions (you can't
always find 'ideal' trees [but I do enjoy engineering problems]). --- a
single cannister actually ended saving me weight (usually end up taking
two since I normally solo canoe for 10 days at a time).
>
> I carried one a weekend ago, and frankly, between the weight penalty
> and the hassle of hanging the food - which isn't 100% safe - I'll
> choose the cannister.
Operational word is 'hassle' --- and proper hanging usually is a major
hassle. I've seen *soooo* many faulty (marginally better than signage
stating 'free food') that I'm amazed the bears aren't continuously
groggy from over-eating.
>
> I've yet to see those canisters being sold in Canada. I'm sure
> I'm the only one who's going to be using this in Algonquin.
Nah --- been using them there and elsewhere for several years .... were
bought from a _very_ small start-up outlet in Toronto that no longer is
in business. Don't know of anyone currently selling them here.
> --
Neil O'Hara
I camped in that area, but my first night there many years ago they were
thick. We got little sleep as we watched fifteen different bears parade
through all night. A couple of moms with cubs, one big fella who almost
got our food just by standing on his hind legs (if he could have raised
has paws from that position, he would have gotten it) and everything in
between.
My suspicion about it is that this area draws the least experienced
backpackers, who are most likely to store their food unsafely. And the
bears know it. If you store food poorly in this area, you WILL lose it.
Neil
jhon wrote:
>
> How many days worth of food can one store in a bear cannister that are
> avilable for rent in Yosemite Valley? I know this will
> likely be a range, but what is the min/max? What does the can actually
> weigh? Are bears still denning the third week of May in
> Yosemite? Or are they out stealing food already? Do they venture above
> snowline? Does the Merced River trail have particularly bad bear
> problems (betweenYos. Valley & Merced Lake)?
>
> thanx
Bob Gross
in the first two days around the Yosemite High Country, over Red
Peak Pass, etc. We made it to Little Yosemite after dark. We ate
food and stored the rest in a bear box near camp. The bear came
around a couple of hours later, circling around. I watched him
keep his distance from my flashlight. He approached a tent with
three people inside. Then they came out to chase the bear away.
The bear ran with the three chasing him. Suddenly bear #2 popped
up out of nowhere, ran into the vacant tent, snatched the food
from the three, then ran off. A well-coordinated bear attack!
Then some people say that they are stupid animals... not.
---Bob Gross---
PJF
dehydrated food AND remove the food from its packaging. We squish all
like-item foods into zip-locks and pack it all real tight such that there is
very little air space left in the canisters. I will store my toothpaste in
there because its edible, but I keep pots/pans/cups, soap, dish scrapers and
out in the open next to the canisters (storing them in plastic or fabric
bags will just cause you to have a torn bag). I also attach a strip of
velcro to the canister, and since most bear bells have a velcro strap, it
works pretty good. Make sure the bears can't roll your canister down the
hill. If you're going to use a canister, you needn't worry about the
location of food lockers as it becomes a convenience for you if you happen
to find them. The only real benefit is if you arrange it so that the
campground has lockers on your first night out, you can carry bulky items to
be eaten that night and the next morning. We had filet mignons wrapped in
ice cubes and after roasting them over an open fire on kabob sticks we layed
them on a bed of cush-cush. Next morning, fresh ham, eggs, and swiss cheese
sandwiches. Its not something we could have done for the entire 8 day trip
from Yosemite Valley to Mammoth, but with proper planning, you can really
have some fun with food.
P.S. getting a California fishing license could add some variety to your
dehydrated food during the trip.
jhon <n...@at.home> wrote in message news:3911BFF4...@at.home...
cy...@visi.com
they do leak. I set mine with the lid side down when I think there's
the slightest chance of rain. Yes, they work as seating, at least up
to about 180 pounds (that's the heaviest person I know of who's sat on
mine.) and I'd assume more, else the bears would be able to find easy
ways, like sitting on them, to crush them. Most bears weigh more than
you do.
I try to avoid getting water in mine, not because it'd harm the food
in the plastic bags but more because of the eventual reek of growing
molds. Eeesh. I don't want that slime on the outside of my ziplocs
when I dig them out. You do want to plastic bag your food inside
because they are just barely wide enough at the lid crack to accept a
certain amount of rain and a certain amount of insects.
I carry mine by putting it in the canoe bottom with a big trash bag
over it, but I somehow doubt that's any help to hikers.
On Fri, 05 May 2000 13:22:11 -0400, Bill Havanas <bhav...@lucent.com>
wrote:
>I assume that if they can "resist" a bear attack that they would work
>as a chair and plopping my 260 pounds on one wouldn't collapse it. Also
>that they would be good against mice. I do my backpacking in the East
>and have more trouble with mice then bears and I'm thinking that it
>would be easier to put the food in a bear canister and just leave it
>sitting on the ground or in a shelter then try to hang it.
>
>I hike on the AT and stay at the shelters where mice are a big problem.
>Even hanging the food doesn't always work since they will launch themselves
>at the bags.
>
>Other questions.
>
>Are the canister waterproof, or will they leak at the opening?
>
>How do you carry yours? In the pack or strap outside? Do they fit
>inside an average pack?
>
>Bill Havanas
>
>Stephane Boucher wrote:
>>
>> >>>>> "Scott" == Scott <chan...@apexweb.com> writes:
>>
>> > The monster weighs 2 lbs 14 oz
>>
>> I'm amazed at how people blow this out of proportion. People will
>> cary a 6-7lbs tent, 2lbs camp shoes, tarp, one of those inflatable
>> sleeping pad and plenty of other things not always necessary.
>>
>> Yet, it is a big deal to carry the cannister.
>>
>> I carried one a weekend ago, and frankly, between the weight penalty
>> and the hassle of hanging the food - which isn't 100% safe - I'll
>> choose the cannister.
>>
>>
-----
rbc: vixen (somewhat harmless)
0-0: The artist formerly known as something else.
I only answer my email every few months, on average.
Patience helps.
yoobie
pretty sparse due to the fact that they don't stock them. Thus, I have decided
not to bring fishing gear on my 6 day backpacking/climbing foray into Yosemite's
high country. Unless of course, I have it all wrong.
hbr
Bruce W.1
hangs the bear-bag. I use a thin aluminum one made from the bottom of
a disposeable broiler pan, it folds-up and its lightweight.
================================================
Stephane Boucher wrote:
>
> >>>>> "Bill" == Bill Havanas <bhav...@lucent.com> writes:
>
> > I assume that if they can "resist" a bear attack that they would
> > work as a chair and plopping my 260 pounds on one wouldn't collapse
> > it.
>
> I'd assume that too. On the other hand, make sure you don't dirty
> your shorts with food odor of something you might have spilled on the
> canister.
>
> > Also that they would be good against mice.
>
> Yep. And even if you hang your food, chipmunks will be kind enough to
> go to your food and try hard to ruin your weekend.
>
> > Are the canister waterproof, or will they leak at the opening?
>
> I think it could leak. But you should put your food inside of a plastic
> bag anyways, and if you put the cannister on its side, I don't think
> you'll get any water inside. But it is a fairly snug fit, so I doubt it
> would ever leak much... unless you throw it in the lake :-)
>
> Speaking of lake, make sure you place the canister in a place such
> that a bear can't throw it in the lake, river or off a cliff...
>
> > How do you carry yours? In the pack or strap outside? Do they fit
> > inside an average pack?
>
Bruce W.1
weighs 4 ounces. You rope it to a tree and aim it in the direction of
your bear-bag. Put it in a clear plastic bag to protect it from
rain. When the bear comes to investigate the food it goes whoop whoop
whoop for a minute and then resets.
How effective is this? No bears have taken my food since I started
using this. But no bears have visitted me recently either, so it's
hard to say. Suffice it to say it will wake me up.
Discovered recently that the PIR alarm doesn't work when it's coated
with ice, but that's another matter.
=============================================
ORBS
<b...@NOSPAMcorecomm.net> wrote:
> Radio Shack sells a pocket-size passive infrared (PIR) alarm that
> weighs 4 ounces. You rope it to a tree and aim it in the direction of
> your bear-bag. Put it in a clear plastic bag to protect it from
> rain. When the bear comes to investigate the food it goes whoop whoop
> whoop for a minute and then resets.
Alternatively, you could plug in a big speaker to CD player, and blast
a single track of rap music all night. If that doesn't repell bears,
at least you will have no neighbors for a mile or two around.
(You have some good ideas from time to time, Bruce, but this one is a
non-starter. If someone's "car alarm" went off in the middle of the
night in the wilderness, I would be one VERY unhappy camper. Hungry
bears best stay out of my way while I track down and cousel the
offending human.)
rick++
> Suddenly bear #2 popped
> up out of nowhere, ran into the vacant tent, snatched the food
> from the three, then ran off. A well-coordinated bear attack!
Also in Little Yosemite about a dozen years ago,
a bear came up to our campsite while we cooking dinner and grabbed
the food. No fear at all.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Rick Ellis
>Also in Little Yosemite about a dozen years ago,
>a bear came up to our campsite while we cooking dinner and grabbed
>the food. No fear at all.
Did you do anything to try to stop the bear?
Pete Hickey
Mark IV <n...@this.address> wrote:
>Replace the audible alarm with a painfully intense (for the bear)
>ultrasonic alarm that humans can't hear?
No way... I've watched those spy movies.. Although you won't be
able to hear it, that kind of sound will fry your brain. Brain
juices start leaking out your ears.
--
Pete Hickey | | WELLS Inc.
Communication Services | Pe...@mudhead.uottawa.CA | Makers of fine
University of Ottawa | | time machines
Ottawa,Ont. Canada K1N 6N5| (613) 562-5800x1008 | since 2003.
cy...@visi.com
deer alarms all the time when going and coming from up north. Very
irritating. Just relaxing when one finally passes me and another
dratted one comes up behind. It's like ultrasonic dog whistles.
Turns out old and deaf dogs couldn't hear them, but children often had
their hands over their ears or came to the sound, wondering what that
odd noise was. Not that my hearing is great, but I do seem to hear in
the high ranges. If we were close enough to hear each other's
campsite (a thing I prefer to avoid), I'd hear your ultrasonic
thingie. And you might have a strange and bewildered silvertip human
drifting around to the sound. Or making some of her own.
On Mon, 08 May 2000 23:57:54 GMT, pe...@bitman.uottawa.ca.DELETE.ME
(Pete Hickey) wrote:
>In article <o4ldhso2aip5o1tk6...@4ax.com>,
>Mark IV <n...@this.address> wrote:
>
>>Replace the audible alarm with a painfully intense (for the bear)
>>ultrasonic alarm that humans can't hear?
>
>No way... I've watched those spy movies.. Although you won't be
>able to hear it, that kind of sound will fry your brain. Brain
>juices start leaking out your ears.
-----
Woody Schlom
lakes is
> pretty sparse due to the fact that they don't stock them.
A couple of years ago I was up above Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (still Yosemite
NP) and some guy came by our campsite and GAVE us three huge (none less than
14 in.) rainbow trout he'd just caught and couldn't eat. And believe it or
not, the ones he kept for himself were even larger!
But this guy really knew his stuff. Our resident fisherman never caught a
single edible fish -- at the same lake. I was VERY impressed, because I'd
never heard of, much less seen, fish this large in Yosemite lakes. I think
I've even got a photo of these fish on my website.
FkYdkYguY
please....and like any high country area....some lakes are empty do to various
reasons.
FkYdkYguY
details, just buy one, fill it, take it, use it...and sleep well, and return
uninterrupted, and well fed....k.i.s.s.
Precannister: Trips cut short, torn tent(never had a crumb of food in it), food
stolen from well counterbalanced hangs, some food stolen right at campfire at
night-Lyell canyon yosemite. in 7 years
After cannister: Zero incidents in 5 years