| If you plan to go backpacking in any of the | | | | bears to come and investigate. |
| National Parks or National Forests in the United | | | | 5. Don't potty in your sleeping quarters. Establish |
| States or in Canada, you are likely to be making | | | | your bathroom several yards from your tent - |
| plans to go backpacking in bear country. | | | | downwind. |
| These backpacking tips are not intended to scare | | | | 6. Cache all food out of the reach of bears. Hikers |
| you or discourage you from backpacking in such | | | | and backpackers have become, by necessity, |
| places. In fact, the opposite is true. Wilderness is | | | | quite ingenious with respect to keeping their food |
| where the bears live; and wilderness is where the | | | | safe from bears. Many methods exist and some |
| best hiking and backpacking can be experienced. | | | | work better than others. |
| Knowledge is your best defense against | | | | In many places, especially in California, the bears |
| unpleasant encounters with bears. So here are a | | | | have come pretty close to matching the ingenuity |
| few cautions to be aware of. | | | | the hikers. I remember waking up one morning |
| 1. Never feed bears or any other wild creatures. | | | | while backpacking in Yosemite with my father and |
| Most bears are happy to live and find their food | | | | my brothers to find the backpack of one of my |
| the way their ancestors did before humans came | | | | brothers ripped open and devoid of food. Luckily |
| on the scene. But, some bears have become | | | | we were on the last day of our multi-day hike. |
| habituated to human food and have, therefore, | | | | 7. Store any other items that have a scent away |
| become a bit dangerous. Don't invite these | | | | from your tent. This is as close as I come to |
| freeloaders to supper. They have, pretty much to | | | | poetry. The best practice is to seal things like lip |
| the last one, very bad manners. | | | | balm, empty food wrappers, all trash (remember |
| 2. Never camp near a carcass. In so doing you | | | | to pack it all out), used feminine napkins and |
| may just be inviting yourself to supper with a | | | | sunscreen in plastic bags and store them with the |
| bear. Even if you are invited to such a meal, turn | | | | food cache. Beware, even the clothes you cook |
| down the invitation. Find a new place to sleep and | | | | your food in can attract bears. |
| dine at least a half-mile away. | | | | 8. Set up a food caching system well in advance |
| 3. Don't camp in your kitchen. Do your cooking | | | | of starting your hike. Develop your system of |
| and eating several yards downwind of your tent. | | | | caching food before you start driving to the |
| 4. Don't set up a pantry in your bedroom. Never | | | | trailhead and test it out in your backyard. |
| store any food in your tent. Bears have been | | | | One of the most reliable food caching systems is |
| known to rip tents apart to get at the food that | | | | the bear proof canister. You can find them online |
| they have come to love. | | | | by Googling "bear canisters". In some National |
| Let me tell you this. It's a scary thing to have a | | | | Parks, Yosemite for one, these canisters are |
| bear trying to get into your tent - especially when | | | | required. They will add a bit of weight to your |
| you're in it. I once came upon a lonely camp site | | | | backpack, but they will also give you a hefty dose |
| in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that | | | | of peace of mind. |
| was torn to shreds. Bits of a sleeping bag, a tent | | | | If you are an ultralight backpacker, put together |
| and a backpack were strewn all about. Only a | | | | an ultralight bear bag system. Search online for |
| bear could have done what I witnessed. It was a | | | | "ultralight bear bag" for information on making |
| chilling sight. | | | | your own bear bag or where to buy one. |
| 4. Don't cook or eat in your bedroom. Never eat | | | | Some guests are polite and pleasant to visit with. |
| in your tent. Even if you remove all scraps and | | | | Bears are not among them. |
| trash after cooking or eating in your tent, the | | | | So, while backpacking in the wilderness, scratch |
| smell of food will permeate your tent and | | | | bears off you invitees list. And be careful to not |
| everything in it and create an open invitation for | | | | inadvertently invite them with enticing smells. |