High Sierra Topix

Rae Lakes loop is pretty active as far as bears go. I did that trip several years back and what we did was ask the ranger where the bears were active and avoided camping in those places. We never saw a bear, but the people that were doing the loop at the same time as we were ingnored the ranger and had major problems. Bears tend to hang out in the same campgounds, so if you avoid those you will be fine. I keep my pack in the vestibule of my Contrial with my pots on top of it. That way I know when the little critters are messing with my bag and can scare them off. IMO it is the little critters (mice, squirls, marrmots...) that are more likely to ruin your trip.

I might try to skip the Paradise campgrounds, then.

Does anyone know about bear activity at the trailhead at Roads End? Can food and smelly things be stashed out of sight in the car while I'm on the trail, or is it like Yosemite Valley where bears will rip into your automobile?

You'll find banks of bear boxes all over and warnings not to leave stuff in the car, just like Yosemite.

Captain Slappy wrote:Can food and smelly things be stashed out of sight in the car while I'm on the trail, or is it like Yosemite Valley where bears will rip into your automobile?

If you like your car, you'll leave nothing smelly in it at all. Doesn't matter where you are. My goal has always been to have the least "smelly" car at the trailhead, so they don't even look at it.