Re: Parking Lot & Trailhead Bear Box Experiences

Has anyone ever had items stolen from these public area bear boxes? This year I will be making two hikes in Yosemite and I'm taking the Bear Vault for the first and long hike plus a smaller Bear Boxer for the shorter second hike. Due to odors, whichever one is not in use will have to be left in a public bear box because it should not be left in the car. I plan to put them inside paper bags w/ notes on the outside giving my name and date of return for pick-up as has been suggested long ago. The smaller one will be full and sitting in one of these boxes for 7 days. The large one will essentially be empty while in the box. I would be really upset to return and find either one missing. This is likely not a major issue but I would like to know if anybody has had issues w/ these public boxes.

Only used the boxes a handful of times... and one of those times some clown put a lock on the box.
Luckily was able to get the box open and left them a nice little note.
My advice is simply do not put your bear can in there. Take your food out and put it into some
plastic bags and whatnot... and leave the bear can in the car. It's doubtful anyone would take
your food... but I'd be more peeved if my bear can was bye bye than a few Twinkies.


Since I have your attention... the route from Matthes Lake over to Emeric...
Did it last weekend... no problemo...
Zggy from Matthes down to Echo Creek here
and down to Emeric here
of course... YMMV... and by the time you get out there... you may want to just follow Echo Creek all Z way

---

Quote
chick-on
Only used the boxes a handful of times... and one of those times some clown put a lock on the box.
Luckily was able to get the box open and left them a nice little note...

What do you carry in that pack of yours, that lets you get into a locked bear box? Or are you one of those guys that can pick a lock using only a pine needle?

Quote
wherever
What do you carry in that pack of yours, that lets you get into a locked bear box? Or are you one of those guys that can pick a lock using only a pine needle?

Don't you know that chick-on = 1 part John Muir + 1 part Grizzly Adams + 1 part McGiver ? Of course, as you rightly point out, the question remains as to which of the last two parts it was that got into the bear box?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2013 12:40PM by DavidK42.

Honestly... it wasn't much of a challenge.

---

Quote
wherever

Quote
chick-on
Only used the boxes a handful of times... and one of those times some clown put a lock on the box.
Luckily was able to get the box open and left them a nice little note...

What do you carry in that pack of yours, that lets you get into a locked bear box?

The question isn't what's in his pack, but what's in the trunk (or the back) of his car.

.

I agree with Chick-on here. We leave food in bear boxes all the time...and have never had a problem. But we don't leave expensive gear in them. That's a whole different temptation.

And I wouldn't worry about putting dates on things. I often think that if I were to tell people I won't be back for a week, that is more information than they need--and information someone might use to their advantage.

Just say; Please leave this here--we'll be back to pick it up.

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

I've used the bear boxes plenty of times and never had an issue. That being said, I agree with the consensus of not leaving valuable gear in them.

I'm going to have to rethink this. Even an empty bear canister has food odor that could draw a bear to the car. I have to fly cross country to go hiking in Yosemite and need to bring everything with me, including my food for two separate hikes. I might just leave the small canister at home. I now agree leaving valuable gear in public bear boxes is not a cool idea.

Consider supplementing by buying additional food in Yosemite. Both the stores in the Valley and Tuolomne usually carry some freeze dried, trailmix, crackers, power bars and the like. And yes just bring the larger bear can that way you won't have the bear can storage issue.

I'd just leave the small canister at home. You can stuff your stove and other
items in the larger can for your shorter trip. If you really want to lug the extra
can from way over yonder... then I would not worry in the least about leaving
an empty bear can in your car. Unless you are using it to store honey.

110% area with Katy. I'm gonna end up doing a back-to-back too... and
I'll probably just buy stuff for 2nd trip at TM or in Lee Vining somewhere.

---

Quote
chick-on
I'd just leave the small canister at home. You can stuff your stove and other
items in the larger can for your shorter trip. If you really want to lug the extra
can from way over yonder... then I would not worry in the least about leaving
an empty bear can in your car. Unless you are using it to store honey.

110% area with Katy. I'm gonna end up doing a back-to-back too... and
I'll probably just buy stuff for 2nd trip at TM or in Lee Vining somewhere.

whoa nellie!! you gotta put the stove in there as well? im already tight feeding a family of five and spoiling them with toothpaste. there is no way the stove is going to fit as well.

Quote
Patsfans
whoa nellie!! you gotta put the stove in there as well? im already tight feeding a family of five and spoiling them with toothpaste. there is no way the stove is going to fit as well.

No no no...
I was just telling jimdisco that he could fill up the space in his big bear
can for his shorter trip with stuff like stove and can o fuel... and just
leave the small bear can at home...
Rule o thumb is simply... if you apply it to you... or eat it... then
put it in the bear can... suntan lotion, bug spray, food, lip balm...
that is the scha-speel you'll get when u get ur permit.

---

Quote
chick-on

Quote
Patsfans
whoa nellie!! you gotta put the stove in there as well? im already tight feeding a family of five and spoiling them with toothpaste. there is no way the stove is going to fit as well.

No no no...
I was just telling jimdisco that he could fill up the space in his big bear
can for his shorter trip with stuff like stove and can o fuel... and just
leave the small bear can at home...
Rule o thumb is simply... if you apply it to you... or eat it... then
put it in the bear can... suntan lotion, bug spray, food, lip balm...
that is the scha-speel you'll get when u get ur permit.

is jimdisco toms brother? do they have a cousin on the East coast name joerocknroll?

Don't know which Tom you are talking about (we have several here) but I'm not related to anybody else on this forum even though I do live back east and am a Patriots fan if that's what Patsfans means. Tomdisco is just an acronym for a small company I once owned based partly on my middle name. I'm really a Jim and chick-on sometimes likes to correct the impression that tomdisco means I'm a Tom. That's why he occasionally calls me jimdisco instead. Are you thoroughly confused now? One correction: I only root for the MA teams after I know the respective Carolina teams are out of the running. Rooting for the Boston Bruins right now big time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2013 04:27PM by tomdisco.

Quote
tomdisco

I only root for the MA teams after I know the respective Carolina teams are out of the running.

In other words, you root for Boston teams all the time!

Quote
plawrence

Quote
tomdisco

I only root for the MA teams after I know the respective Carolina teams are out of the running.

In other words, you root for Boston teams all the time!

Be kind. I would remind you that the Panthers made it to the Super Bowl once and the Hurricanes have won a Stanley Cup. These teams receive my total support up till the moment they miss the play-offs. Being a former native of MA, at least I have a back-up rooting plan. I don't follow basketball and Carolina does not have a baseball team so no loss there. My mother is a die-hard Red Sox fan but for me to sit through nine innings of baseball is like trying to watch paint dry.

Quote
tomdisco
Don't know which Tom you are talking about (we have several here) but I'm not related to anybody else on this forum even though I do live back east and am a Patriots fan if that's what Patsfans means. Tomdisco is just an acronym for a small company I once owned based partly on my middle name. I'm really a Jim and chick-on sometimes likes to correct the impression that tomdisco means I'm a Tom. That's why he occasionally calls me jimdisco instead. Are you thoroughly confused now? One correction: I only root for the MA teams after I know the respective Carolina teams are out of the running. Rooting for the Boston Bruins right now big time.

YES, i am thoroughly confused and have been several times trying to keep up with the regulars on here. It has been fun and educational. Hopefully it all pays off in a WEEK when i lay my eyes on Hetch Hetchy for the first time. btw... If i posted ALL my questions somebody would probably send me on my way.
LETS GO BRUINS!!!!!

Quote
chick-on
bug spray

I asked a bear specialist about DEET and bears. He didn't think they'd go for that (or the citronella candle).

Quote
eeek

Quote
chick-on
bug spray

I asked a bear specialist about DEET and bears. He didn't think they'd go for that (or the citronella candle).

Then what do they use? Do they just grin and bear it?

Quote
me
that is the scha-speel you'll get when u get ur permit

(do what they say... not what I do?)

---