High Sierra Topix

Found this today (http://www.wilderness-solutions.com/)...an electrical bear bag that discharges a shock when the bag is 'armed' and disturbed. So far it is submitted for SIBBG approval, who knows how that will go...only time will tell...although, I'd hate to trip over it in the middle of the night or even worse

Interesting approach. Thanks for posting. I wonder how they came up with the "shock value" of the unit...0.1 Joule. I don't have a real good feel about that number, but seems to me that it might be a little low.

Would be good to remember where it is when the call of nature strikes before first light.

Worth keeping an eye on.

A long time ago and far, far away, we set up an electric fence in Little Yosemite Valley for people to put their packs in from bears. (Before boxes, canisters and, even, cables). There were maybe 12 bears frequenting LYV then. They paced relentlessly outside the enclosure for a few nights until, one moonless night, a kamikaze bear charged the wire, grabbed a pack, and ran off into the darkness and bear hero lore.

We took the fence down the next day.

Never underestimate an animal you can teach to ride a bicycle.

g.

Excellent story, George!

On the other other hand, lots of beekeepers in Vermont seem to find that electric fences keep the bears away from their bees pretty effectively, so it might work. Of course I'd never claim a Vermont bear had anything on a Yosemite bear...

As a side note, here's a link to an electric bear fence: http://www.udap.com/bearshock.htm
Very interesting story George...

GREAT movie at that web site!

Like everyone else I don't want to pack more than I need to but maybe in this instance using an electric device over an approved bear can might be the best choice. Unless hikers take a more active roll in deterring bears they will always be a problem. Bears must be made afraid of humans and not see them as an easy snack so how is this task best accomplished?
Protecting your food is one choice but IMO not really the best one.
Better yet will be for the bear to not see hikers as any type of food source.
So a ZAPPER on/over an approved bear can might be a decent choice to accomplish this task and worth the extra weight.

BSquared wrote:GREAT movie at that web site!

Definitely check out the movie at this site. Watching the bear try and dig under the fence is amazing.