High Sierra Topix

Hi M and MM,
I'd tend to guess that the reason the gentleman (and, as I reach the elderly stage, he doesn't look too elderly to me!) depicted got battered is because the bear in question had tasted too much human grub (due either to folks flaunting or ignoring the regulations). Most of the bears I've come across have been pretty shy (in other words, they have ambled off once I started making an obnoxious racket). So, even though I greatly resent the addition of the extra bulk and weight to my pack, I understand the requirement for the bear cans and like MM will continue to abide by the regulations even though I tend to camp in areas that seldom are frequented by bears. At least, I've never run across a bear above treeline. Have you (and, yes, this should probably be a separate thread)?
CG

PS. I agree that 9 days in one bear can is incredible, either you don't eat much, or it's all peanut butter.

cgundersen wrote:\PS. I agree that 9 days in one bear can is incredible, either you don't eat much, or it's all peanut butter.

I am not a big eater but I did not starve either. Started with a 24 once water bottle on one side then layered in one package of instant oatmeal, two Folgers coffee bags, two tablespoons of peanut butter and honey (in baggies), a cliff bar, 1/2 cup of gorp, and a single serving MountainHouse meal for each day. Finally, I put the sugar, creamer and tortillas of the top. The first day's food was not in the can so really there was only 8 days in there, and the bag of other smellies would not fit until the second night but it worked.

BTW, I gained weight on the trip

You must have a very slow burning metabolism, and I am towards the opposite end.
My daily routine is oatmeal(mixed with dried blue berries, protein powder, and walnuts)
in the morning or a Pemmican Bar, I drink 2 nalgene bottles of Cytomax during the hike,
4-6 bars (Cliff, Luna, Probar), 2 tortillas with 2 almond butter packets, 1c gorp and 2-3 oz
jerky.
Then a freeze dried dinner with tortillas and some chocolate.
This can be much more depending on the terrain and length of my trips.

Hmmm; after posting on Maverick's new food topix thread, I realized that I habitually count days for two people (my wife & me). So, since we get roughly 6 days worth of food (for the two of us) in one Bearikade, I guess that 9 days is not so extraordinary. But, is it necessary to stash the 151 in the can? Do bears drink (rum)? Or, do you just not want to risk it?
cg

for me, the 151 stays out. no bears have taken it yet (not that they wouldn't, but a poly bottle in the can would take up room for real food. 151 is expendible.

All I know is that I have been hassled by a ranger for having my 151 out. He told me that it needed to go into my can or a bear box. If push came to shove, I would either leave it at home, or out of the can. However, the thought of a 300lb bear after the consumption of 750 ml of 151 is a bit scary.

My backpacking diet is remarkably similar to Maverick's and I lose weight on every trip (unfortuntely I usually make up for it when I return). Makes for a heavy pack though (especially with the carrots and hummus I add in).