Speaking of bear resistant canisters....

[sierranomad]

Oh..I should also mention that in addition to bping solo and camping away from popular areas I endeavor to cook and eat my supper about a mile before getting to where I'm going to camp for the night.

[sierra cyd]

My most recent bear sighting was at the Red's Meadow campground in 2004 (we were in the Sierra for 6 weeks straight that summer, and only twice came "out" to "civilization", and this was one of the times, and the only bear). The bear came by at night and slobbered on our Bearikade canisters, and our friends' bear vaults. The bear ignored our other friends' Garcia cans (the 6 cans were sitting together under the picnic table).

Previous sightings:
1997, Dusy Basin, x-large bear in middle of the night (full moon)
1999, Vidette Meadow area (I think), curious cub, middle of the day
1980+/- Yosemite Valley, smallish guy, daytime, semi-circle of tourists oogling

We've been to Desolation a lot and haven't seen any, but I guess one could show up anytime, so food should be properly stowed.

[hikerduane]

I had one dog or more since 1979. We only had one bear come close to camp that I am aware of and that was close to home where I was bping on the Plumas NF. It must have gotten a whiff of us and split pronto. Even when Pooch, my last dog was alive a few years ago, I could see the writing on the wall and had made preparations to go prepared where needed. I was not convinced yet, that with a dog I still needed a canister where it wasn't required. So you can see that I was starting a slow change. Since I usually only hike where there are few people, I tend to believe in those areas that the bears are still wild. Pooch, a Yellow Lab X, was a good bear dog I think. Three out of the four times I ever heard him bark or growl was when a bear was around. (Pooch growled at a bear in broad daylight in the Marbles and barked a couple times at home when a bear was around or knocking my garbage over in my pickup when I put in it in the back to take to the dump.) That was funny, I was going to take the garbage to the dump a few days before a bp trip so it wouldn't be a target and it gets hit anyway.

I've seen numerous bears while bping, most have been in the morning, sows with a cub or two.

[JM21760]

About 1978. Sleeping on the mattress next to the cabin's porch in Mineral King. Middle of the night. Heard something. Grabbing around, found the flashlight. Turned it on. Bear head, staring at me from about 2 or 3 feet away. "Yaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" Bear left abruptly. Got back to sleep an hour later. Such Fun!

Next year in MK, sleeping inside. Sound of splintering wood. "What the...?" Bag of trash left in the back hall. Flashlight reveals forearm of bear swinging around in improvised hole in the roof of the cabin, via the wood pile outside. "Yaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" Bear departed post haste. Roof repaired next morning with shingles split off Cedar rounds.

Last one. Arrive MK evening. Sprain ankle playing Frisbee in meadow in front of cabin. Rain begins. Knocked out on bed from pain killers. Pours rain all night. Next morning, find car's driver side window ripped out. Big paw prints inside the car. Bag of laundry must have enticed him. Inside of the car soaked! Rains 5 more days, washes out road. Last day, sun came out, and we had to leave as they finally got the road fixed.

[Wanderer]

The URSACK Hybrid recieved conditional approval a couple months ago. I haven't yet seen the aluminum insert personally or played with it yet, but it may be an option for some. If you already own an URSACK you can add the aluminum insert pretty inexpensively and end up with a ligher-weight, less expensive alternative. I already have a BeariCade weekender & an URSACK, hmmmm, what to do, what to do?

[hikerduane]

First I have heard of it. I have the TKO, it would be nice to add the insert for a much lighter bear resistant cantainer, assuming by your post that it is a lighter option. Thanks. A option instead of something else that bears have worked over. Hmm.

[wingding]

The Ursack Hybrid is about 10 ounces lighter than the Bearikade - that does make it tempting.

[sierranomad]

I have the Ursack and have been happy with it. Never had a bear try to get in it, but one night it was tested by a racoon. Some teeth marks were left in it, as well as a couple of frayed strings, but food was left intact.

One note of caution: mice can chew their way in. One night when I was snow camping at Glacier Point I cooked and ate in the Geology Hut. Left my Ursack in the hut, not thinking of mice. The next morning I found a small hole in it, and a lot of my trail mix gone. The problem is, that with the hole and all, I'm sure that it is no longer bear/racoon proof.

[hikerduane]

sierranomad, if your Ursack fails within a year I believe, send it back for a refund if it is not your fault.

On to the aluminum insert for the Ursacks. I received mine today, it came via the Post Office. Initially it seemed too big, stiff, springy. After a day outside servicing my pickup and working outside, I had time to try cinching up my Ursack TKO with the aluminum thingie in it. With the time all afternoon to think or not to think, I worked the Ursack over. It ended up being pretty simple after just one try. All I did, was to place my knee on the bag with the insert in it of course and apply some weight to it, so the insert would roll up a little just like a rolled up newspaper would. This enables you to cinch the Ursack up enough to close the hole at the top and to be able to tie a knot behind the cordlock so the top stays closed. I don't know how this would work with a full bag, packed for a trip. You seem to loose some storage inside, the insert is wide and doesn't allow you just a little room you need to close the hole at the top properly without compressing the bag to gain the slack. Some compromise here I guess to make the Ursack usable in the Sierra. I think if the top and bottom of the insert were a little cone shaped, the bottom less than the top, you wouldn't loose any room, at least at this point in my thinking. I emailed Ursack, so I'll have to see what there response is if any.

Price was around $27 shipped and taxed here in CA. They still showed they had some the other day when I ordered.

[sierranomad]

Thanks, hikerduane, but I have had it for a few years. I like the Ursack and may get another one some day, but will just be sure to keep it away from mice.