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Home Wilderness Desolation Wilderness

Bear Proof Your Backpacking Experience in Desolation Wilderness

sierrarecmagazine by sierrarecmagazine
April 16, 2022 - Updated on August 4, 2022
in Desolation Wilderness, Hiking / Backpacking Lake Tahoe, Hiking/Backpacking, Lake Tahoe
157 1
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Tahoe Bear

Tahoe Bear by Michelle Tems

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How to Best Ensure You are Not sharing Your Food With Bears in Desolation

Desolation Wilderness – Backpackers flock to Desolation Wilderness Spring thru till winter. There really are few places like it on earth. Over generations of use however many things have changed in desolation wilderness. What was once acceptable has become illegal and what what once was safe practice is now not recommended at all. Bears are one of the constants that has changed a bit in Desolation wilderness.

As a Volunteer ranger for the wilderness area the past four years I feel that I can honestly say that Bears have become far more aware of the easy meals obtained by human food storage in the wilderness. Many a morning hike into the wilderness to do my weekend clean ups, is met by a group of hikers on the trail out early in the morning. The story is always the same.

A Bear took our food last night and we are hungry

Bears in Desolation wilderness have taken notice of poor practices of day hikers and backpackers alike. Campsites with food laying around or with bear hangs that an average child could get food from are common sites in Desolation. Maybe it is because Desolation is so easy to access it draws people who just don’t know better? From a jaded perspective, based on conversation I have had, more than likely it is an attitude of indifference or refusal to follow the rules.

Bear In Tahoe Basin by Michelle Tems

Are Bear Proof Canisters Required in Desolation Wilderness?

This is a complicated subject.

Tahoe agencies seem to mix the message a bit. Official on site language says Bear Canisters or Bear Proof canisters are Highly Recommended. However the Tahoe Rim Trail Association which also manages the PCT section of Desolation wilderness Requires Bear Canisters or Bear Proof bags on the entire trial. While the PCT is again highly recommending such practices in Desolation.

In August of 2020 The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit put out a press release warning guests of increased bear activity and strong recommendations for bear proof canisters.

Backcountry visitors should practice proper food and garbage storage and behave appropriately when hiking and backpacking in Bear Country. This summer, wilderness rangers report bears are successfully taking down food-hangs in Desolation Wilderness. Once bears become habituated to human food and garbage they will return and seek it out. Agencies highly recommend using bear resistant canisters when visiting the backcountry. Lake Tahoe Basin Management

Bear Canisters Vs Bear Bags

At a basic level I have nothing against bear bags. They certainly make packing the pack much easier. However I have seen dozens of hikers in Desolation Wilderness walking out with out their food because the bear simply took the bag with them. The bag may indeed be bear proof, but it does nothing to dampen the smell of Human food and is simply easy for the bear to carry off to a safe place for it to give its best effort to enjoy its prize. They simply are just not managed properly in Desolation most times and that is partly because of lack of knowledge and experience in hangs plus a limited resource of good hang trees with in the Wilderness area. (Remember this is a granite slab where trees have battled for centuries).

Hard Case Bear Canisters are a far better measure for success in food storage in the wilderness. Taking the time to pack your packs with a Bear Vault or other type of hard shell bear canister will give you exponentially greater chance of your food being their in the morning. Bear canisters like the Bear Vault provide hikers with a secure way of bear proofing there backpacking experience. The Hard shell helps prevent some smell, it also is harder to grip with teeth and claws, making the grab and run activity less likely for a bear.

I personally have carried a Bear Canister for years backpacking, just because it adds that element of safety that I desire at night, knowing I have done my part in keeping bears away from camp.

What should go in your Bear Canisters?

Every thing that smells. Literally. Bears have one of the best noses in the world and can smell simple Chapsticks, cough drops, medicines, toothpaste, etc. Talk with any one of the numerous car owners where bears in Tahoe have broken into their cars for a simple Chapstick or piece of candy left on the floor board of the car. Bears are not picky with their adventurous sprit to try anything that smells.

The following bear safety tips for hikers and backpackers should be followed at all times:

  • Store food in bear-resistant canisters while recreating in the backcountry.
  • Hike in groups and keep an eye on small children.
  • Keep dogs on leash. Off-leash dogs can provoke bears to respond defensively.
  • Watch for signs of bears, such as bear scat along trails or claw marks on trees.
  • Stay alert and make noise while on trails so bears know you are there and can avoid you.
  • Never approach bears or cubs. Always keep a safe distance and never get between a sow and her cubs.

If a bear does approach your campsite, stay calm and stand your ground. Make yourself appear larger by raising your arms above your head or if wearing a jacket, open it wide and clap your hands or make other loud noises. Do not run or act aggressively and never block a bear’s escape route. Black bear attacks are rare, but if attacked, fight back. 

Tips for Packing Your Bear Canister

  • Pack your Bear Canister before you leave, to make sure all your food fits. If space is tight, consider excluding your first days’ lunch and snacks.
  • Remember to allow space for scented toiletries, trash, and pet food. Some people store camp cookware in their bear canister, and if you have plenty of space it’s a good idea, but it is not necessary. Most campers simply clean their camp cookware after each use and leave it out in the open, away from their tent (it will still have some scent on it).
  • If you use insect repellent with DEET, do not allow it to come into contact with your Bear canister. Double-bag it in ziplocks, and ensure there is no residue outside the bags. DEET causes irreparable harm to the plastic in bear canisters, and it voids your warranty.
  • Include a trash bag to keep your trash separate from your food.
  • Repackage food into ziplock bags to reduce space taken by inefficient packaging materials.
  • Organize food into larger ziplock sets so it is easier to locate food by meal.
  • After a few days of eating, you will have extra space in your Bear canister®. Fill the space with other items to keep your pack as compact as it can be.

Tips For Packing Bear Canisters in Your Pack

  • Once your Bear Canister is packed with food, it will probably be the single heaviest item in your pack. You want your pack to transfer the weight onto your hips, for the most comfort and energy conservation while hiking. Ideally, you should pack heavy items close to your body and at mid-back level. In other words, layer the bottom of your pack with items that are less dense (sleeping bag, tent, inflatable sleeping pad, clothes you don’t need handy). Next place your heavy items (food, tent pegs, etc.). If your pack is wide, place the heaviest items close to your back, not far away from your back. On the top you should place remaining items, and those that you need to have handy (rain jacket, snacks for the day, etc.).
  • Bear Canisters can be strapped to a pack. There are dimples or ridges on the side that serve as strap guides, to help secure it to the pack. However, if at all possible, it is better to place the weight mid-back inside your pack.

Which Bear Canisters Are Recommended

Sierra land managers are unified in their desire to protect black bears from the ill effects of obtaining human food, but specific regulations vary between different parks and forests. Currently, each management area decides which food storage techniques and products are allowed in their area.

To determine which specific techniques and products are ALLOWED in a certain area, check directly with the land managers: Eldorado National Forest (Desolation Wilderness). Another great link to check out is How To Keep Tahoe Bears Wild.

Personally I like the Bear Vault BV450 for 1-3 day backpack trips for Longer Trips you will need more capacity. moving up to the Bear Vault BV500 is a better choice

Here are links to other Bear Canister Requirements across the Sierra.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Yosemite National Park
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks
Devil’s Post Pile National Park

US FOREST SERVICE

Inyo National Forest
Sierra National Forest
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest
Eldorado National Forest (Desolation Wilderness)

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A post shared by BearVault Bear Canisters (@bearvault)

Bear Canister Pros and Cons

Upside: Canisters offer backpackers peace of mind by providing a simple, effective way to keep human food safe from animals. They can also double as a camp stool.

Downside: They are heavy (2-3 lbs.), bulky and a tight (or insufficient) fit for all the food and scented items you aim to carry on a lengthy trip.

Canisters typically hold 3-5 days’ worth of food and toiletries for 1 person.

BENEFITS OF USING A CANISTER:

Convenience: Set up camp without the need to search for that perfect and often elusive tree from which to hang your food.

Freedom: Camp away from the bear lockers and crowds, or even above tree-line!

Fun insurance: No aborted trips because critters ate your food.

Multi-tool: It can make a useful camp stool, table, or bucket (depending on the model).Try to think of more uses!

Better sleep: It doesn’t make a good pillow, but you can rest and relax without worrying if your food is really safe up in that tree.

Safety: Avoid getting stranded in the backcountry with no food.

Karma: This is the single most effective thing you can do as a wilderness visitor to protect bears.

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sierrarecmagazine

Publisher of Sierra Rec Magazine. An avid hiker and explorer of mountain lifestyle and adventure. I love to discover new trails, hike along rivers and hang a hammock along the shores of a mountain lake. I often great people on the trail and have found some of my favorite places from the advice of people I meet in the Wilderness. I love the sierra and just like sharing what I know.

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      • Can An E-Bike Change Your Travel Habits?
    • Skiing / Snowboarding
      • Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Guide
      • Experience Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort
      • Ski Heavenly Resort Lake Tahoe
      • Diamond Peak Winter Recreation
    • Snowshoeing the Sierra
      • Snowshoeing Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing Donner Summit Region
      • Nordic Centers of the Sierra Nevada
      • Snowshoeing Near Kirkwood
      • Snowshoeing Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine State Park in Lake Tahoe
      • Snowshoe Silver City to Noble Canyon Outside of Markleville
      • Snowshoeing Yosemite National Park
    • California Sno-Parks
    • Rock Climbing Tahoe
  • Trails
    • The Pacific Crest Trail
    • Tahoe Rim Trail
    • The Half Dome Experience
    • Hiking Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
    • Taking In The Carson Valley By Trail
    • Best Lake Tahoe Day Hikes
    • Top 6 Bridgeport Day Hiking Trails & Destinations
    • Backpacking Trails Mokelumne Wilderness
    • Hiking the Rubicon Trail in South Lake Tahoe
    • American River Canyon Trails – Auburn State Recreational Area
    • Hiking the Horsetail Falls Trail into Desolation Wilderness
    • Exploring the Lakes of Pyramid Creek ~ A Desolation Wilderness Adventure
    • A Great Five Lake Day Trip into Desolation Wilderness
    • HIKING DESOLATION WILDERNESS GLEN ALPINE TRAILHEAD
    • WOLF CREEK TRAIL | CARSON ICEBERG WILDERNESS
    • FEATHER FALLS NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL – PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST
  • National Parks
    • National Parks
      • Free Entrance Days for National Parks in 2021
    • Explore Yosemite National Park
      • Glacier Point – Yosemite National Park
      • Hiking Lyell Canyon and the JMT From Tuolumne Meadows
      • Hiking Yosemite’s Wawona Area
      • Yosemite Lodging
      • 25 Best Yosemite Hikes
      • Yosemite Routes / Travel
      • Mountain Passes in Yosemite
      • Yosemite High Sierra Camps Open Again in 2023
    • Explore Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Lassen Volcanic National Park – 1 Day Itenerary
      • Kings Creek Falls – Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Hiking Lassen Volcanic National Park
      • Snowshoeing Lassen Volcanic National Park
    • Explore Kings Canyon National Park
    • Explore Sequoia National Park
      • Sequoia National Forest Trails and Camping Sites
      • Plan your 2023 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Backpacking Trips
      • Exploring Mineral King Valley – Sequoia National Park
      • Mineral King Day Hikes Sequoia National Park
      • Day Hiking grant grove trails in Sequoia National Park
      • Day hiking Giant Forest & Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park
      • Day Hiking Cedar Grove trails Sequoia National Park
    • Explore Death Valley National Park
      • Day Hiking Death Valley National Park
      • Discover Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park
  • Wilderness Adventure
    • Explore Carson Iceberg Wilderness
      • Wolf Creek – Carson Iceberg Wilderness
      • Deep in the Canyons of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness
      • WOLF CREEK TRAIL | CARSON ICEBERG WILDERNESS
      • NOBEL LAKE HIKE VIA NOBEL CANYON
      • Highland Lakes – Stanislaus National Forest
    • Explore Mokelumne Wilderness
      • Backpacking Trails Mokelumne Wilderness
    • Explore Desolation Wilderness
      • Backpacking Desolation Wilderness
      • Lakes of Desolation
      • Trails of Desolation
      • Desolation Wilderness Trailhead and Mileage
    • Exploring Hoover Wilderness
      • Top 6 Bridgeport Day Hiking Trails & Destinations
      • Discover Green Creek Canyon
      • 20 Lakes Basin – Hoover Wilderness
      • Explore Gardisky Lake
    • Explore Ansel Adams Wilderness
      • The Best Backpacking Destinations in Ansel Adams Wilderness
      • Explore Parker Lake
    • Explore John Muir Wilderness
      • Top 10 Backpacking Trails John Muir Wilderness
    • Emigrant Wilderness
    • Explore Granite Chief Wilderness
    • Explore Golden Trout Wilderness
    • Jennie Lakes Wilderness
  • Destinations
    • Explore Lake Tahoe Reno
      • Explore & Visit South Lake Tahoe
      • Explore North Lake Tahoe
      • Explore Reno
      • Visit and Explore Virginia City
      • Explore Desolation Wilderness
      • Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Guide
      • Guide to Hiking Meiss Country in Lake Tahoe
      • Chickadee Ridge
      • Echo Summit Recreation
    • Explore The Carson Valley
    • Explore Bridgeport
    • Explore Alpine County
      • Lodging and Accommodations Alpine County California
    • Explore Mammoth Lakes California
      • Hiking/ Backpacking From Reds Meadow
    • Explore Calaveras County
      • Kid-Friendly Summer Adventure in Calaveras County
    • Explore Plumas and Lassen Counties
      • FEATHER FALLS NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL – PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST
    • Explore Tuolumne County
      • 15 Great Outdoor Destinations and Trails in Toulumne County
    • Explore Bass Lake
      • Bass Lake Hiking Trails
      • Bass Lake Bike Trails
    • Yuba River Outdoor Recreation
    • Donner Summit Recreation
  • Sierra REC Now
    • Adventure Guides
    • Sierra Scenic Routes
      • California Sno-Parks
      • Drives & Drivers
    • Lifestyle Features
    • Active Aging Lifestlye
    • Health & Wellness
    • Food and Recipes
    • West Region Climate News

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