High Sierra Topix

just wondering, in winter can i leave food in car or do i have to store in trailhead bearboxes? ive never had a prob in winter with this but am wondering if rules have changed...the bears are hibernating afterall.

I have seen fresh bear tracks in the snow when hiking no higher than 9000 feet on the east side in December.

I've never left any significant food overnight at a winter trailhead. I'd just rather not take a chance. I have left empty coolers, which I have always hidden from view just in case the local bears are familiar with the Coleman product line.

thanks i just got back from my trip to the eastside...lots of snow....the range looks so dramatic in white

Glad you're back safe. What did you decide to do with your food though?

Just a thread wrap-up thing.

Russ

DAVELA wrote:...the bears are hibernating afterall.

A minor point. Bears do not hibernate. Well, it is not true hibernation.

In true hibernation the bodies metabolism slows down dramatically. Heart slows to a few beats per minute, breathing to a 1-2 breaths per minute, core temperature drops. Small mammals hibernate.

Bears don't do that. They just sleep. It is basically just a normal deep sleep. Bears will awaken frequently during the winter and go forage for food, then return to the den for more sleep. (sort of like my teenage nephew).

At the lower elevations, or in the So Cal mountains, bears may stay active all year. It mostly depends on the severity of the winter and availability of food.

Only an anally retentive purist would make a big deal and post the correct terminology, though.

as the bear was active last year under Markskor's condo, i concur.

Just use a bearcan anyway. and report DaveLA on what you did with your food.

i didnt bring a bear can with me but i put my food in the storage locker at big pine creek.When i returned i noticed someone neatly packed their garbage and put it next to my food in the locker.I swear they need to put webcams at all trailheads to catch these geniuses.

dave54 wrote:Bears do not hibernate. Well, it is not true hibernation.

More to the point Black Bears do not physiologically hibernate. Other bears, like the Polar Bear do, and it is a whole different thing to physiologically hibernate.

The study of bear denning in winter caused the term hibernation to be redefined. The important thing is whether they are in their dens or not. During the drought of the late 80's and early 90's the Yosemite rangers reported some bears around Tuolumne Meadows spent so little time hibernating that they starved -- so better lock up your food year-round.