Hi all. The areas that I will be camping in over the next couple years have some Black Bears, but not in large numbers. What will be in large numbers will be raccoons, squirrels, etc that can be attracted to my food supplies. I could buy a commercial bear bag and do the "hang it from a tree" routine, but I'm not sure if that is necessary. So, a couple questions; 1. How and where and in what do you store your food while camping? 2. What are the less expensive alternatives to commercial bear bags, yet are still effective? 3. Anyone make their own bear bag and care to share the instructions? Rick - Poquoson, VA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I must say - on my bp'ing trips in Yosemite, I would never ever contemplate NOT putting my food in the bear container's the park provides in camp grounds, especially camp IV.... I totally agree that bears unaccustomed to people and human food are less apt to raid the tent site. However, there is a definite caveat at least up here - I plan my outings in bear country by the season. This means that in early spring (march-ish) and late fall (sept/oct-ish) I find other activities than overnighting in bear country. The reason? Simple: both times bears are foraging fast and hard to put on as much weight as possible, and are more tempted to invesitgate anything that might present a meal. Once the salmon start running, moose calves are around, then berries bloom, then late salmon run all pretty much mean that the bears up here really don't give a shit (not literally) about what I may be having for dinner. Their other food is just too bountiful. Mike, you are absolutely right in that I would never take my experiences here and apply them to Yosemite, or Yellowstone, or BC, or anywhere else because it just won't work! BTW - I have not had the fortune of sea kayaking anywhere else but Alaska, so my food in the boat only applies to up here. Scott Simpson Anchorage Alaska "There is always one more thing you can do to influence any situation" Lt. Gen Harold Moore, USA (Ret) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
That's not so bad...looks like you can't drink while driving, hiking, paddling, or taking pictures out on the trail. If you're camping, in a motel, restaurant, your cabin, or a picnic area, it's okay. Worded sort of funny, but not much to argue with. Shawn --- Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com wrote: > This alcohol prohibition includes all park areas within > the park boundary except: government owned housing, overnight lodging > facilities, designated picnic areas, and frontcountry and backcountry > campgrounds as identified in the current Great Smoky Mountains Trail > Map, the official Smoky Mountains Folder, and the current Park > newspaper. The Superintendent may authorize the possession and > consumption of alcoholic beverages as part of a special event. Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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