Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Bear Canisters VS Ursack & Ranger Rules for 2007

I called the Ranger Station in Lone Pine to enquire about what kind of personally owned bear canisters are legal. Since it's a government agency, probably ask 2 rangers, get 2 answers.

I wanted to buy an Ursack because it's a canvas material and will accordion down as it is emptied and take up less room in the backpack. Also cheaper than the Bearikade which is running $265 for the little one. I bought a BearVault for $59.95 which is only 4 oz heavier than the very pricey Bearikade.

The Ranger just last week told me that Ursack is legal as of now, but may become illegal to use in the Whitney zone by end of summer.Just a heads up in case you're planning on purchasing one, then finding out you can't use it.

I love the Bearikade because its lighter yet has more volume than a Garcia or BearVault bear can. But i have heard it is not approved and the rangers may make you leave the mountain if you have one. Also the Ursack is pretty useless above 10,000 ft.

huh?

"useless above 10,000 ft" ?

would seem that its protection to a bear puncture would be same no matter what altitude!

did you mean whether it is approved for use up high ?

I'll just use my BearVaults.

I think the 'uselessness' refers to not being able to tie it to a tree. If I read the regs correctly, in Sequoia/Kings and Inyo you are not allowed to tie it to a tree or anything anyway, they say not to tie it up, but to leave it on the ground.
It would seem very easy for a bear to just pick up the ursack and walk off with it or sit on it and crush it. I am considering buying one, but have the above reservations about it.

For a conditionally approved Ursak you need the U29 hybrid. The aluminum liner will not accordian down as the amount of stuff in the Ursak decreases. However, it will still be lighter than any other bear canister. Tied to a fair sized rock a bear will not walk off with it.

An Ursack without the aluminum liner would suffice for use on the MMWT if you are camping at Trail Camp, since bears are not the issue. At Trail Camp you are protecting your food from marmots and the various species of birds.

An Ursack is legal without the sleeving in many areas, therefore, the only loss you suffer is the $20 for the aluminum sleeve.

SIBBG, the folks that do the approvals, have not pulled a conditional approval on a canister in mid season after failures, to my knowledge. This includes canisters or protection schemes by Ursack, Bear Vault and Bearikade.

Lots of misinformation in this thread.

Here is the definitive site: http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/

You DO need a can or new U29 Ursack with aluminum liner on the main trail.

There are many places in the Sierra where a Ursack can be used, and I often do, and often above 10,000 feet. Yosemite did an extensive study of how far a bear would carry an unattached Ursack, filled with honey. I vaguely recall the average was 9 feet, and the max was 30.

I've heard that there have been instances of bears figuring out how to make the Garcia fail, and I think that the Bearikade failures relate to the lid attachment mechanism.

These bears are smart.

Your mileage may vary.......

What are the issues with the Bearikade makes it unacceptable, if you know? I did see something on the agency site about serial numbers, I guess.

I thought that the Bearikade was approved based on the SIBBG site. Are the above references to older models?

Can you rent a bear canister at the Whitney Portal instead of purchasing one? If The Portal does not rent them where can you rent them in and around Lone Pine?

I know...the price.

$265 vs. $60, and they have people wanting to buy it? Whew.

Gary

Yes, see Bear Canisters at Portal Store.

"What are the issues with the Bearikade makes it unacceptable, if you know?"

Some of the beginning earlier models, years ago, had a delaminating issue.
This was quickly fixed and now, according to Wild Ideas website, no bear has ever succeeded in breaching one open since...
Expensive but light.

I heard that someone used one as a pot to boil water and the epoxy came unglued. Who woulda thunk...

There's a camping equipment company I think in Northern Calif that rents the Bearikades very reasonably and ships them out to you fast. I ordered on a few years ago, but trip got cancelled, so I never got the Bearikade and didn't get to see how light they are. Just run up Bearikade rental on any search engine andit'll come up. It's just the hassle of making sure you get it on time and returning it. And what if it gets stolen.....? I guess you pay for what you don't own?

The BearVault is available for $59.95 at www.FuelForAdventure.com I got a $16.95 carrying sleeve for the thing with ties (for backpack) and a handle in case you carry it. The Bearikade I looked at was 1 lb. 13 oz. The Bearvault I bought is 2 lb 4 oz.

With the weight of the rentals at the ranger station (3 lbs) you need to wash the thing when you get it because you don't where it's been. I've heard bad stories of people storing soiled undies in them. Ewwwwww.....!

I've had a Bearikade for about 6 years now and used it in black, brown and grizzly country with no problems. There are some claw and scratch marks on mine from bears fully testing it. There were some problems with the initial version of it about 8 years ago which were quickly corrected with a minor redesign by the company (as I recall, they replaced the original model at no cost). As far as I know, there haven't been any problems reported since and I've never had a ranger tell me I couldn't use it in a national or state park.

Wild Ideas, the manufacturer, used to have a rental program, but I don't see it on their web site. You might try calling them as the light weight sure feels better than the alternatives on a multiday trip: 805-693-0550

I used to work with the guys who developed the Bearikade, and they produce an excellent product. It does cost a bit more, but it is the lightest bear cannister available for the volume.

Too bad a 14 oz aluminum liner is requiredd with the Ursack.

Wild-ideas still rents Bearikades according to their website. Go to the home page, click on "products" and then click on the "rent" tab at the bottom right hand corner.

I bought one last year and although they're expensive I've never looked back with regret.

I've been using an Ursack above 10,000', and I'm assuming you mean above the treeline, for years without a problem. Above the treeline the problem is not bears but marmots. This is why I commented that the liner really isn't necessary for Trail Camp but is required by the INF because you may end up camping in an area that has a bear problem because of illness or injury.

How you use it is different. You put in a place where the marmots can't get to it.

Hi, wondering what the Portal store charges to rent and/or buy a bear container? Thanks