IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
With regard to
"There are not a ton of trails into the Sierras that put you deep enough into bear country to worry about them."
There are two situations Im familar with.
#1 Established campground with bears.
These bears KNOW there is food, and are GOING to find it.
These are problem bears because people made them that way.
In this situation, all you really need to do it be smarter than the next guy.
Do not camp next to a group with a ton of kids.
You know the kind.
Toys strewn about the camp, last nights march mellow remains around the fire ring,
trash bag full of everything a bear loves hanging on a stump, table covered in dirty dishes....
And #2 Backcountry camping with bears
These are not problem bears. They are curious bears.
You just parked in an area they frequent. They are here to check things out.
They will snoop around and get into trouble if you leave a messy camp, but thats it.
So all you need to do is leave a clean camp.
Normally these bears require nothing more than space.
Give them space, let them go about their business, then allow them to leave.
And if you give them space thats exactly what they will do.
With ALL of that said....
When camping in bear country the ice chest is removed from the vehicle and placed outside, under the rear bumper, with a tarp over it.
That way if the bear does feel the need to tear into it, it is tearing into the ice chest and not the vehicle.
"There are not a ton of trails into the Sierras that put you deep enough into bear country to worry about them."
There are two situations Im familar with.
#1 Established campground with bears.
These bears KNOW there is food, and are GOING to find it.
These are problem bears because people made them that way.
In this situation, all you really need to do it be smarter than the next guy.
Do not camp next to a group with a ton of kids.
You know the kind.
Toys strewn about the camp, last nights march mellow remains around the fire ring,
trash bag full of everything a bear loves hanging on a stump, table covered in dirty dishes....
And #2 Backcountry camping with bears
These are not problem bears. They are curious bears.
You just parked in an area they frequent. They are here to check things out.
They will snoop around and get into trouble if you leave a messy camp, but thats it.
So all you need to do is leave a clean camp.
Normally these bears require nothing more than space.
Give them space, let them go about their business, then allow them to leave.
And if you give them space thats exactly what they will do.
With ALL of that said....
When camping in bear country the ice chest is removed from the vehicle and placed outside, under the rear bumper, with a tarp over it.
That way if the bear does feel the need to tear into it, it is tearing into the ice chest and not the vehicle.
