Yosemite backpackers food storage rulesIn May, 2004, Yosemite National Park made a new rule many of us thought was overdue. Bear-resistant food canisters must now be used by backpackers in almost all of the park.
 
"Federal law requires proper storage of "food" throughout Yosemite National Park.
“Food” includes any item with a scent, regardless of packaging. This may include
items that you do not consider food, such as canned goods, bottles, drinks,
soaps, cosmetics, toiletries, trash, and unwashed items used for preparing or
eating meals. All these items must be stored properly.
Bear-Resistant Food Canisters
You must store food in a bear canister:
Within seven linear miles of any park road
Above 9,600 feet
Within 1/2 mile of the shoreline of Benson Lake"
As you can see from the green area on this map, the new rule applies to almost all of the park. And wise people would use the canisters everywhere. A bigger version of the map can be found at:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/wilderness/bfoodstorage.htm.
The park went on to say:
"Approved bear canisters for 2004:
Garcia Backpacker Model 812-C
Bearikade Kodiak-Kan (retrofitted models only), Weekender, and
Expedition
BearVault (conditionally approved)
Purple Mountain Engineering (PME) Tahoe Model (conditionally approved)
CounterAssault Bear Keg (conditionally approved)
No models of Ursack are approved because they have not been proven
bear-proof in the Sierra Nevada
Approved panniers (for stock use):
DeCarteret Aluminum Stock Panniers
Berner Bear Box
Bear Aware Panniers
The following two steel salvage drums with a security lid may be used
until panniers are purchased: Dozier Equipment Company (Model K-1035, 8
gallon open head) and Lab Safety Supply Company (Model 9M-9117, 8 gallon
open head)
These portable containers are the only effective way for backpackers to
store food in wilderness. Each plastic canister weighs less than 3
pounds, fits in a full-sized backpack, and is capable of holding up to 3
to 5 days worth of food for one person. You can rent a Garcia Backpacker
bear canister wherever you pick up your wilderness permit. The cost is $5
(for up to two weeks). Reservations are not available, nor are they
necessary."
"Bears in more visited areas of the Yosemite Wilderness are adept at
retrieving food that is hung using the counterbalance method. This is not
an effective means to keep food from bears in Yosemite. In contrast,
bear-resistant food containers, or bear canisters, have increased in
popularity in recent years in part because of their near-total
effectiveness and ease of use. They help the park accomplish its mission to
conserve wildlife.
Incidents of bears obtaining human food occur in popular wilderness areas
at higher rates than elsewhere in the Yosemite Wilderness. They may also
serve as training grounds for bears that subsequently search for human food
in other parts of the park, including front country areas."
Bears do not find natural food above 8000 feet, but having learned to get food from backpackers they now frequently roam there.
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A list of Yosemite trailheads with food storage lockers is at:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/bears/trailheads.htm
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The Backpackers' Cache bear resistant container, by Garcia Machine, is 8.8" in diameter by 12" long, and it fits inside most backpacks.
It holds about four to six person-days of food. You open it by rotating the two latches with a coin, and pushing down on a button to remove the lid. As of the info with one we bought in 2001 they recommend: "Keep it closed with both latches locked. Be prepared for uninvited guests. Keep it away from
excessive heat, don't use it as a stove stand. Store it away from the sleeping area. Do not attempt to retrieve a it while a bear is actively interested in it. A bear will fight for food. Let the bear paw, chew and kick the canister. He will lose interest in it and leave of his own free will."
Note that they call it a bear "resistant" container. It is especially not bear "proof" if it is not latched or latched improperly. If you store it near a slope it may roll away and even end up going downstream when a bear inspects it. (And they will, and even drool on it.)
The De Anza Outdoor Club does not own enough of these for everyone's needs on a large trip, but enough that each person or couple can have one in advance of a trip to plan food packing. Then they can rent others in the park. The canisters can be rented at many locations in Yosemite, such as entrance area information stations and retail stores. You'll usually find a complete list in the park newspaper "Yosemite Today."
In a big group we keep track of which container is which by putting colored tape or stickers on them. I have one with a sticker that says "Protected By ELECTRONIC Security System." A Ranger didn't get the joke, do you think a bear will?
You can fit more food in it if you remove excess packaging and cut out only the instructions and pack them with the food. Don't think you will remember the instructions! In areas with only black bears and/or raccoons, you don't need to put the first lunch and dinner in the canister, but leave a little room for the trash from the first day.
People who want to buy one might get it at lower cost directly from the manufacturer: Garcia Machine, Visalia, Calif. (559) 732 3785.
Their website is at:
http://www.backpackerscache.com/
Hints for efficiently packing a Garcia canister, and a list of suggested backpacking foods, are at:
http://www.sierrawildbear.gov./foodstorage/packingabearcanister.htm
In 1999 the park took down bear poles used to suspend bags of food from. They reduced the rental rate on them from $3 per day to $3 per trip. They also started allowing campfires only in communal campfire rings at a lot of backcountry campsite areas instead of allowing a fire near each tent. In 2003 the rental price was up to $5 per trip.
In 2005 the price quoted was $5 for a two week rental.
From The Bear Facts (July 13 - July 19, 2003)
"Several bears continue to obtain food from backpackers in the Little Yosemite Valley area, including the Sunrise Creek and Moraine Dome area. One bear has learned to snatch backpacks containing food from unsuspecting hikers who have left their packs on the ground while pumping water or using the restroom. Another bear has learned to intimidate campers, snatching their open bear canisters if they show signs of backing down. It is important for backpackers and hikers to always be aware of their surroundings and to watch for sneaky bears."
From the Daily Report of Thursday, July 31, 2003
"There have been regular bear sightings in several wilderness areas
including Little Yosemite Valley, Cathedral Lakes, Lyell Canyon and Glen
Aulin. Bears are easily retrieving food hangs in these areas and have been
ripping into backpacks in search of food rewards."
(2004) "Trailhead Food Storage
Food and food-related supplies must not be left in vehicles parked overnight at trailheads. Vehicles containing food overnight may be impounded and/or cited. Currently there are storage boxes for backpackers departing from most trailheads. Ask for locations when acquiring a wilderness permit."
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~The rangers do walk through backpack sites to check on things regularly; they can give out hefty fines for improper food storage, waste disposal or fires. They have even made people
without permits walk back out.
Think you can outwit the bears by using some other method or other bear resistant container design than the approved containers? If you try and fail it could mean the bear will keep on trying to get human food and may have to be put to death. Zoos don't want them and when the park tries to relocate them the mostly come back to where they found easy human food sources, or die trying to.
Bears are very smart animals. The bear "proof" garbage bins have been redesigned many times by the park service. Bears have been used in circuses around the world because of their brains and gymnastic abilities. In backpacking areas some have been known to keep up the circus tradition by climbing on limbs above a suspended food bag and leaping to snag it with their claws on the way to the ground. Rock climbers occasionally report that bears pulled up food bags they hung over sheer rock cliffs. Bears don't mind water and have swum out to a raft people thought they could hide food on.
At the top of the stairs at the beginning of the portage trail from Leigh Lake to String Lake in Grand Teton park there's a bear box (standard metal footlocker style) with a sign on it reminding people to put all their food in it while they carry their canoe/kayak down the trail instead of leaving food sitting out unprotected.
On a trip a few years back in Grand Teton the rangers were prohibiting picnics in one popular area because a mom bear was teaching her cub to bluff charge picnickers to scare them away from their food.
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Yosemite Today newspaper
The current Yosemite bear canister rental locations and price are usually in the Yosemite Today newspaper.
Especially if you've never been to Yosemite, or if you'd just like current information about ranger activities, facilities hours, or more details about bears, pick up a copy of the Yosemite Today newspapers when you arrive in the park, or order it by mail for our July trips--write in late June and ask for a copy of the July issue. Write to Yosemite Nat'l Park, P.O. box 577, Yosemite, Calif. 95389
or find it online at: http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/today.htm
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Each campsite in Yosemite, (as well as some trailheads and parking lots), has a metal food storage locker (bear box). Most measure 33" deep x 45" wide x 18" tall, according to the Yosemite Guide newspaper.
Using a campsite food storage locker gives you ideas on how to use one, including some logistics on sharing one in a large group.
 
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Don't believe anyone who tells you that the bears in Yosemite really don't break into vehicles. For statistics go to:
Black Bear Management Trends
Park Service photos:
 
How bears break into cars, what to do if you see a bear and more is at:
Bears
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Farley cartoons by Phil Frank (Rangers, campers, bears, etc.) are at:
http://www.yosemite.org/newsroom/farley/farley.htm
In the cartoons for the week of July 29-Aug 4, 2002 we learn that the bears "use the keyless entry system" to get into cars for food. "They rip the door off."
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read about testing and approval of bear-resistant food storage containers.
http://www.yosemite.org/naturenotes/Bears.htm
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