Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Bear Canisters

I will be part of a group going up the Mountaineering Route in August and based on the permit notification letter, it appears the bear canisters are not required, but are highly recommended. Any input from some of you experienced folks regarding the necessity of using the canisters would be greatly appreciated. If not necessary for bears, what is typically used for the pesky marmots? Thanks again.

Ken,

Bear canisters aren't needed on the North Fork side. There are other critters to watch out for though. The biggest issues involve marmots and ravens. I never bring a canister to the North Fork but I'm careful about hanging my food. There are good boulders to hang food off of at Upper Boyscout Lake and Iceberg Lake.

Kurt: Thanks for the reply and information.

Ken

You're welcome. If you want to see some pics of the route I'll be giving a slide show at Adventure 16 in Mission Gorge on Tuesday the 10th. The show is about Mt. Whitney and I included some photos of different routes including the Mountaineer's Route. Happy Hour sponsored by Royal Robbins starts at 6:30 and the show begins at 7 PM.

there are plenty of mice at UBSL. Hanging food in a bag off a rock will not deter them. They just climb down the string. They do like GORP.

h_l:
any alternatives to a bear canister in your opinion?

On MR, overnite temp of 24F last Sept did not stop mice problems. I have had mice at altitudes higher than Whitney. Little buggers.

Bear Vault does make a small size one, the 350 model which would be okay for short trip like MR, depending on group size of course.

I have no experience with the Ursack bag, but regarding smaller pests, it states

"Ursack is highly effective against Marmots and raccoons. It should not be considered wolf or dog resistant. That's because they have sharp teeth and strong jaws. Bears have great strength, but their teeth are not sharp.
Other rodents have varying degrees of success. Sometimes mice can chew very small holes, but very little of your food is likely to be taken. Some species of squirrels and (we have heard) pine martens have greater success, and may on rare occasion chew holes in Ursack."

Thanks for the information.

Ken

A raven made a hole the size of a dime in my Urasck two weeks ago at Iceberg Lake. I was climbing up the MR chute and watching two ravens go to work for quite some time. They never got to my food, but now I have a hole in my bag and not sure how good it still is.

pvault:

Bummer about you ursack, but the feedback is appreciated; I was considering using this as an alternative...

Ken

Quite interesting to hear so many stories about ravens, marmots and other rodents getting a meal from folks on the MR. It would appear that these aniamls have learned they can secure a snack from insufficiently protected enclosures. How long will it be before bears start day hiking up the MR to share in the reward? or when will canisters become required?

on the topic....

last year, doing the HST, we were required to bring a forest service bear canister that we rented for our last day in the whitney zone. does anyone know if this year, i'd be allowed to bring my own canister and not have to take on of theirs with me?

what?

I have flown my bear cans back and forth from VA to CA 9 times. I always use mine, not theirs. No permit office has ever complained when I let them know I would not need to rent. I have both original Garcia model as well as the large BearVault. They never asked about that either. Harvey

that's good, i'll plan on supplying my own. the one they gave us last time was way too big and heavy

Hi Bears have been in the North fork since the problems started in the late 80's and last year they walked around Iceberg Lake area , we think because a group of hikers left packs buired in a snow slide , the pattern seems to be more food training exist in the Portal area, they travel from the North Fork down for food ,when they start feeding in the North Fork cans will need to be used or use of cans now will not create a food source for the cycle to start. it behoves many climbers of the need to camp in the North Fork for any length of time, other than the Hardy route, most other climbs can be done from car to car in a day.Thanks Doug

What is the smallest and lightest "legal" canister approved for Mt Whitney? I'm 1 person spending 3 days and 2 nights at Trail Camp...I don't need a giant 3lb. drum in my pack.

Thanks in advance.

There goes my theory about not having Advil. hehe

I'm gonna get this solo model.

http://www.bearvault.com/

The smallest is the BV Solo and the lightest is Bearikade Weekdender, the latter will also lighten your wallet.

Yes, but it will lighten it much less than a single session of physical therapy.

Good information from all - much appreciated.

-Ken