Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Bear Vault or Not - Langley on 6/6-6/7

Hey there everyone -

Just curious as to whether or not my group should bring our Bear Vaults for our trip to Langley this weekend?

Also, what number do I call to reserve a permit & is there any way to self-issue? We're coming down from Reno and all of us work until about 5pm or have obligations here in Northern Nevada until about 6pm which would put us into Lone Pine around 10pm.

Thanks,

weston

I'm not so sure it's true there are bears at the Cottonwood Lakes, I have never spoken to anyone that has seen one and others would say they have been going there for 30 years and never seen a bear.

Doesn't mean they aren't there but i'd like someone to say they have seen one...

Yes bear vaults are needed.

I have spent many days in the area and have never seen a bear. But more importantly, they are required (after May 21st) and they protect bears by keeping them out of people food.

Rogue, you have become the master of sweeping generalizations and commentary on any and all subjects. I am developing a curiosity about your thoughts on: abortion vs a woman's right, and the situation in Iraq. Whether old people should just die and get out of the way. If gay marriage is right or wrong, and was the world created 6000 years ago?

Of course bears are up there, as anyone who goes there often knows. I have a picture of one taken near the intersection of the South Fork trail with the main Cottonwood Lakes trail a couple of years ago, and have seen piles of scat with embedded small bells on many occasions.

I take a small container of good brandy on most climbs, perhaps two ounces, to share with one to three friends at camp, not on summits. You said we're "drinking ourselves to death," but that is ridiculous.

This message board is getting dreary lately. It was created by Doug Sr for the purpose of Mt. Whitney climbers helping other Mt. Whitney climbers. But some seem to use it for pushing their own agendas, or for talking about their own wonderful accomplishments.

People need to get a life, and I guess that includes me.

Bob,

It's obvious you've got yourself loaded again on your half-ounce ration. ...I think you need to dry out.

But one question... Did the bear scat smell like pepper?

Way to go, Bob! We're with you!

Good Morning some of the questions Bob introduced may lead to debate but I'm certain we have several posters that will have the answers, I always wonder about some of these things but with limited education I felt I would need someone to explain them to me, like I just opened this topic to see if one could use a Garcia in the Langley area, well but then how about the poke that some people tie to a rock, See things always start out simple and then you go to wagbags in a hand basket.


Maybe we can focus on the mountains , our shared interest in the area and lean away from place holding topics to see our name in the box. Thanks Doug

Its not a question of need, it is the fact that BRC are required in the Cottonwood Lakes area.

Rogue, I have personally seen bears in the Cottonwood basin. Before canisters were required one of them tried to acquire my friend's food which was hung in a tree. It was quite a show. My food was in a canister and the bear ignored it.

Hi Weston,
Yes, bring your canisters, they are required in the Cottonwood Lakes area:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/bear.shtml

You can find out about wilderness passes here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/howto.shtml

I'm fairly certain they'll leave a permit out in the overnight box for Cottonwood Pass. You can ask when you call.

Have fun on Langley. It's a pretty area.

Two weekends ago heading south over Mulkey Pass we saw a lot of bear track.

I never tried to state that they are not there I was just pointing out that I have found no evidence of them being there, not even a track on the ground, and of course I always bring my bear canister when I go to this area, i'm actually glad to hear that some of you have spotted them because I hate when I feel like you burden yourself from regulations that are pointless.

I cannot answer all of Bob R's questions in this thread because it's too off topic for even this whole message board but I think you and possibly others completely mistook what I meant in that other thread by drinking yourself to death.

What I meant was although I do not drink I support others right to no matter if it's taking a few sips to celebrate on a peak, get drunk at a party with your friends, or the more extreme cases of people in the world that drink themselves to death.

I certainly did not mean to imply anyone on this forum was doing so, in fact I assume most of you are in WAY better shape then me and could hike me into the ground.