High Sierra Topix

Hi,

As part of a backpacking road trip I'll be finishing a 4 night hike at Crabtree Trailhead in Emigrant Wilderness then driving to Bridgeport for a night before starting another trip the following afternoon.

I have 2 questions:

1) Am I right to presume it's a bad idea to store food in my car at the Crabtree Trailhead for a few days because of bears?

2) If so, are there any reasonable grocery stores in Bridgeport or on the route between there and Crabtree? Where i could resupply for my 3 nights backpacking starting from Twin Lakes near Bridgeport?

Cheers!

I think there are bear boxes at Crabtree Trailhead, near the overnight camp area. Call FS office to verify this. Just put a label on your food with date of pick-up and your permit number. If not and you have an extra bear can, it is legal to simply set the food in a bear can next to your car (although a bit chancy - someone may steal it, more for the bear can than the food). With a high-clearance vehicle you can put it under the car. I do not recall Crabtree TH as having a lot of bear problems.

The other option is to ask/pay for the pack station to store the food. You go through it about 2 miles from the trailhead. They may require you to put it in a bear can and simply set it outside their headquarters.

You can buy food at Bridgeport, but it will be expensive and limited. I am not sure where the current "store" is. There is a store/cafe at Twin Lakes with a few backpack food items. You really can put up with about anything for a short 3-night trip. Take zip-lock bags so you can repack. The Bridgeport gas station may have snacks suitable for backpacking. The other "store" is at Kennedy Meadows- again, very limited.

Closest real grocery store is probably in Twain Harte, a short back-track.

If you have enough lead time you can send a resupply package to Kennedy Meadows.

https://kennedymeadows.com/sonoraPCThikers.html