Speaking of bear resistant canisters....

[hikerduane]

When I did an overnighter in the Desolation Wilderness in late Sept., the Forest Service said that some group has provided Garcia Machine canisters I believe they are, to bpers for their use while in Desolation. I've been going there for years and years and the only bears I have ever seen has been on the west side, out of the wilderness. I imagine that with the bear problems around Lake Tahoe, they don't want things to spread to the backcountry. I used my TKO on this trip. Enjoy your visit there, not as many people as you think there, at least further in. I went with a fellow NorthCA Hiking member up to Gilmore Lake.

[JM21760]

Personally, I've never had any bear trouble in Desolation. But, it has been 15 years or so. Never even seen evidence of bear in Deso. Doesn't mean they're not there though. Yosemite, Tuolumne Meadows especially, and Mineral King, You will most likely get nocturnal visitors.

[hikerduane]

I had bypassed Yosemite for years because of all the crowds I had heard about. I don't where they are, but they haven't been where I visited. I hadn't visited the park since the mid 60's as a preteen. Since I have started going there on my own starting in August of '04, I have been there 3 times now. I have yet to see a bear while using TM bpers cg, or while in the backcountry on trips. I have not visited the problem areas on the JMT, everywhere I have been has not been popular with bears. except close to home. I think some smart bear lovers are thinking about the bears in the Lake Tahoe area.

[sierranomad]

I spend quite a bit of time in Yosemite's backcountry. The only times I've had nocturnal visits from bears have been while in the bp campground at Little Yosemite Valley, and also while in Yosemite Valley. I wouldn't want to encourage a careless "bear attitude" though, as no doubt the precautions that have been put in place (canister rules) are a major factor in the decrease in bear encounters.

[markskor]

I also have spent some time in YNP park.
I have personally seen bear at Glen Aulin, Tuolumne, Vogelsang, Washburn, Merced Lake, Little Yosemite Valley, both Cathedrals, Peeler Lake, and in down in Wawona. I have also seen them as well as around 1000 Island Lake, June Lake loop, and in the Red's Meadow area - just outside of the park boundaries, - also near Twin Lakes area near Bridgeport and up in the Virginia Lakes area too. I have seen them when I lived in the Tahoe area, and this does not count numerous other sightings at Rae Lakes, Onion Valley, Kearsarge Pass, VVR, Muir Ranch, Crabtree Meadows area, Whitney Portal, etc...all along the JMT.
I say the dreaded cans, even though I first hated them, are well worth our effort. Soon, it is my hope that they are required all along the entire Sierra
Save the bear!

[hikerduane]

I wish more local areas were aware of the future for problems with bears and how hard it will be to reverse it. Where I live, a bear has hit most of the neighbors garbage cans and I think got mine twice this fall while I was away from home working. I wish I could obtain something to make my cans bear proof. Guess I'll have to call my County Supervisor if I knew who that was, I didn't vote for them I think and see what they think. I have known many of my past ones though.

[BSquared]

Well said, Markskor! Amen!

[sierranomad]

Don't misunderstand my comments. I am a staunch proponant of the cans and carry mine religiously. I believe that these regulations have a positive effect on "convincing" bears to look to natural food sources, and I consider it my duty to do my part, whether there were regulations or not.

Perhaps another contributing factor to my camp not being visited by bears at night too often is that WHEN I camp at those popular areas markskor mentions it is off-season (my last time at 1,000 Island Lake there was only one other group - and I stayed up on the ridge)

[Snow Nymph]

The last time we saw bears was on the west side (July 2003). Also, a few times when we're in big groups (at popular sites). Other than that we avoid those areas. We didn't see bears on the JMT, just droppings on the trail and one print by the Muir Ranch junction.

[krudler]

Never seen a bear...surprisingly...but I have seen a mountain lion!