OK - This is a stupid question I acknowledge this upfront - I'm bringing my family to the valley to camp for a week (I was one of the lucky ones back in February 15th and landed a reservation - I have three daughters and they are all freaking out about the bears (including my wife)
I know all of things I have to do - bear box for everything including toiletries, etc
However, I'm not too excited about using the fire ring to cook my food and wanted to bring up my smoker to cook - We love to use mesquite briquets to flavor the food but they usually take many hours to cool off and at home I wait until the next morning to clean it out once the coals have gotten cold.
Would this be hazardous regarding the bears? - Also, what about the grill that may have drippings still on it - Is it possible to clean it off immediately - are there sinks by the bathroom that would accomodate this? Is it unwise to leave it like this overnight?
Any advice would be appreciated!
The Moon is Waxing Gibbous (85% of Full)
Re: Bear Question
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June 19, 2011 07:22PM |
June 19, 2011 12:21PM |
June 19, 2011 01:34PM |
I don't have any experience with a smoker, but I can tell you that for many years, I've brought along
first a small Weber 'Smokey Joe' grill, and for the past handful of years now a full-sized Weber charcoal
kettle grill (I disassemble it both going and returning, so it fits pretty easily in my SUV
). We cook some
fatty and fragrant things on it (steaks, sausage, wild salmon, etc.), and when we're finished, we just make
sure to scrape off the grill surface thoroughly of any clinging food bits with a grill brush. Then we close
the grill up and let the coals cool off overnight. Never had a single problem with a bear, raccoon, or any
other critter fiddling with or knocking over the grill in any way. I think there are perhaps too many other
(and more promising) interesting smells in the campground for it to be of much interest.
My experience is you'll be fine.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2011 01:45PM by PineCone.
first a small Weber 'Smokey Joe' grill, and for the past handful of years now a full-sized Weber charcoal
kettle grill (I disassemble it both going and returning, so it fits pretty easily in my SUV
). We cook somefatty and fragrant things on it (steaks, sausage, wild salmon, etc.), and when we're finished, we just make
sure to scrape off the grill surface thoroughly of any clinging food bits with a grill brush. Then we close
the grill up and let the coals cool off overnight. Never had a single problem with a bear, raccoon, or any
other critter fiddling with or knocking over the grill in any way. I think there are perhaps too many other
(and more promising) interesting smells in the campground for it to be of much interest.
My experience is you'll be fine.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2011 01:45PM by PineCone.
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Re: Bear Question June 19, 2011 06:42PM |
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telfair ave
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SoCalCPA
Thanks guys - just need to apply a little common sense is what I figured - Thanks for the advise though - I will follow it.
I am not sure if this is a big help, but I bring several bottles of Honey. I pour honey on the campsites away from me. That usually gets the bears going in the other direction.
June 19, 2011 08:16PM |
I'm sure anyone who has camped in the Valley enough years has several interesting stories to tell
regarding bears and food. In (the now dearly departed) Upper River campground, I once walked by a
site at night where the family had the rear hatch open on their minivan, light on inside the van, and an
open bag of marshmallows laying just inside (waiting for an ideal photo op I assume).
Also saw a bear sneak up in the dark on a group of British retirees camped across from us one year in
Lower Pines , and silently lift a jar of honey hanging in a plastic bag on the back of one of their camp
chairs (for their evening tea naturally)!
regarding bears and food. In (the now dearly departed) Upper River campground, I once walked by a
site at night where the family had the rear hatch open on their minivan, light on inside the van, and an
open bag of marshmallows laying just inside (waiting for an ideal photo op I assume).
Also saw a bear sneak up in the dark on a group of British retirees camped across from us one year in
Lower Pines , and silently lift a jar of honey hanging in a plastic bag on the back of one of their camp
chairs (for their evening tea naturally)!
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