High Sierra Topix

What does one do with one's pack when sidehiking Half Dome and Mt. Whitney?

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Heres an earlier link regarding Whitney. Cant help with your HD query, as Ive never hada pack on my back there, but I'm guessing its the same.

This post seems like it would be better served on the Bpack Hiking board??? Just saying!!!

Not exactly sure what you mean by "sidehiking".
If what you mean is leaving a pack somewhere down below and heading up the last few miles without it, then...

FYI, Unlike Whitney (other thread), there ARE reported bears that high up near the HD/CR junction. Best approach is to leave the packs there - stashed, unseen from the trail somewhere, (either near this junction or ~.2 miles farther up at the last water - artesian spring). Take everything out of the pack (I mean everything!) and just stack it all up neatly...bear can holding all food/ smellies and open up all pack pockets. Better to have a bear/ critter nose around and be satisfied that there is nothing that they can eat than to have the bear make off with a full backpack, or have some other critter gnaw through a closed pocket.

This was taken a couple of miles or so down the trail from half dome three years ago. The bear is on the trail proper. It had no apprehension about us at all.

This has been discussed. It's easy to stash your your pack behind rocks, and no one will mess with it. And there might be other packs there to keep yours company. Or just carry it up.

I would never leave a pack anywhere along the trail to Half Dome, because the bears are so habituated they'll take empty ones. (Per the rangers, and accounts from hikers I've talked to who have had their pack snatched up while they are taking pee breaks.) I would take the bear canister out and leave a bunch of stuff inside it to lighten the pack up however. (Not that I am ever doing Half Dome again, hate that trail, hate the crowds, and there are a lot of better trips that don't require fighting for permits.)

For info on bears at/around Whitney, I suggest the Whitney forum - there is a recent thread on bears at http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthread ... ney_Portal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;