High Sierra Topix

InsaneBoost wrote:

AlmostThere wrote: I swore I read you need to keep the can 100 ft away from your site, but I guess I'm thinking of camping 100 ft off the trail and from water. Is there a true rule as to how far you need to keep it away from your tent?

I obviously know not to keep it in your tent, vestibule, etc.

Not sure about any official rules - bearcan from tent distance-wise - but when solo (often), and in a bear zone, I regularly keep my Bearikade (outside) right next to my tent, using it as a convenient bench for putting on boots. Never had any problem - that I know of.
YMMV.

Okay. I noticed in a lot of camping videos they keep them pretty close too so I guess that's not uncommon.

Good to know, thanks.

InsaneBoost wrote: I swore I read you need to keep the can 100ft away from your site, but I guess I'm thinking of camping 100ft off the trail and from water. Is there a true rule as to how far you need to keep it away from your tent?

I obviously know not to keep it in your tent, vestibule, etc.

I was taught the '100 ft triangle rule'. Store your food at least 100 ft away in one direction, cook and eat at least 100 ft away in another direction and use the 'toilet' at least 100 ft away in a third direction forming a triangle with your tent/camp as the center point.

You need to depend less on "rules" and simply use common sense. You neither want Mr. Bear to roll your can off the cliff or to come into the tent to join you. The bear smells you no matter where you put the can. He knows you are camping nearby. He knows the location of the bear can. He is after the can, not you. I really see no need to keep it 100 feet away. I keep it within sight and throwing distance, pile up throwing rocks by the tent door, and if Mr. Bear visits, I throw rocks at him, yell and bang pots and pans.

I also have never found the "spring" on North Dome. One of my most thirsty moments of my life was on North Dome. Early season, we walked in from Tioga Road, anticipating filling up again at the "spring" and never found it, and not a bit of snow either. We dropped to the base of North Dome, with little water remaining and figured it was easier to climb the rock than bushwhack back up that gully! It was 90 degrees, with the sun baking us all the way up the climb. I gave all my remaining water to my climbing partner figuring that if I was in trouble, he could haul me out, but no way, could I carry out a 6-foot big guy. Heading back on the trail I had such bad cramps due to dehydration that I literally crawled up the trail in agony. We came to the first creek, filled bottles, then lay directly on the snow and sipped water for an hour. As early in the season as it was, and with as much snow along the trail as we walked from Tioga, we never thought that it would be bone dry once at the dome.

Wandering Daisy wrote:You need to depend less on "rules" and simply use common sense. You neither want Mr. Bear to roll your can off the cliff or to come into the tent to join you. The bear smells you no matter where you put the can. He knows you are camping nearby. He knows the location of the bear can. He is after the can, not you. I really see no need to keep it 100 feet away. I keep it within sight and throwing distance, pile up throwing rocks by the tent door, and if Mr. Bear visits, I throw rocks at him, yell and bang pots and pans.

Completely agree with that approach, WD. It's worked thrice for me. I love my pile of rocks.

Awesome responses everyone. This is why this is one of my favorite forums on the web -- and go-to forum for hiking.

I guess the only last question in my brain is thunderstorms. I know the rules when in the forest. Get near smaller trees around bigger ones. Find little valley type areas in fields and such. Make yourself as small as possible.

But what happens if for whatever reason the sky's are clear and during the night a storm approaches? Do I sit in my tent and pray? Run for the trees?

Any good links to the higher elevations when it comes to weather. I know most stuff runs off the valley and that's not very useful for high areas.

Pretty rare for a thunderstorm to approach in summer at night without warning signs, but it does happen. I always camp in a sheltered area. A good view isn't a quality I look for in a campsite as I can walk to those spots. I think of a campsite as "where I sleep". The times I have been exposed in my tent with lightning crashing around me I just prayed haha

InsaneBoost wrote:

But what happens if for whatever reason the sky's are clear and during the night a storm approaches? Do I sit in
my tent and pray? Run for the trees?

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=8001&hilit=lightening#p58095

you don't have to camp ON the dome. You can camp close enough and be safe from the lightning and possible wind and then just dance around on the rock as a dayhike.