[philmont] Bear Boxes

> Bears in Yosemite and Yellowstone open cars now days. Locked
> cars. I haven't looked for a while but there was a video on
> the web of a bear opening a car at Yosemite. The bear runs,
> jumps on the roof and pries open the door in the space
> between the hood and the door with their claws. Quicker than
> you can do it with a key. All food at campgrounds in Yosemite
> are put in bear boxes.

Not doing it can result in a very hefty fine too BTW.

> The small bear boxes you can carry in our pack are very
> ineffective. The bear cannot get in to them, but there is no
> way to secure them. If you want them around the next day you
> have to put them in a bear bag in a tree. Bears bat them
> around and out of camp.

AKA Bear/Philmont/Sierra Piñatas

Philmont has installed "bear proof" trash dumpsters in all of the
staffed camps that we visited last summer. They are heavy gauge steel?
Boxes with a recessed, under hung latch mechanism. The lid overhangs
the box, so it might be more difficult for a bear to "bounce" it open.
But if they can learn to do cars, with the right practice and incentive,
they can learn to do the boxes too.

I also notices a lot more pickups with trash driving the roads this
summer too. I suspect this is also part of Philmont's bear protocols -
get the trash out of camp and away from the campers as soon as possible.
Not having to compact your trash may exacerbate the situation however.
(Compacting your trash is hazing, but stuffing your sleeping bag
isn't????)

If you go, please *voluntarily* compact your trash - it only takes a
minute, makes the trash much easier to carry and makes everyone's life a
little easier.

Regarding Ropes:

As others have mentioned, one crew (non-Valle) received two nylon ropes
roughly 100' long. The other crew (Valle) received three since there
are no bear cables.

Happy Trails,

Roy Fisher

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Received on Thu Jan 18 21:08:03 2007