Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Bears in the Campgrounds

Two years ago a mischevious bear mistook our White Trailblazer for a giant cooler and tore the door off (completely off). Have there been problems this year? Yes of course we emptied it and left the windows down. Apparently large white vehicles where the target of choice that year, and according to the host, mini-vans in particular.

Haven't seen or heard of any specific problems this year when I have been up there. This Wednesday we pulled into the lower campground and backed up to the bear lockers to put our stuff away. I was going through the cooler and turned around to see a bear sitting on top of the locker. I yelled "get out of here" and he took off.

Just be sure to get everything that has a scent out of your car, do not leave any coolers, waterbottles or anything that looks like it might have food in it. We came back once to find the rear window of our camper shell broke and our EMPTY cooler chewed up. The bears go by sight as well as smell.