bear-proof containers

[Old Hiker]

Ummm, never said you had to USE it, just bring the container. must bring a solid, non-pliable bear-resistant canister to contain personal garbage, toiletries and foods. Depends on what your definition of the word "is" is.

"I did NOT let that bear get into my sack!"

[Lone Wolf]

The only true solution is personal responsibility.

correct. i'll sleep with my food in my tent

[Spokes]

Reminds me of watching old episodes of COPS when the guy without a shirt yells "I ain't goin' to jail"......it reenforces the concept of why we have rules.

[Grampie]

the common sense thing to do is put in steel bear boxes at both shelters or tear both shelters down. this problem ain't goin' away.

I like Lone Wolf's answer.....For myself. I just wouldn't camp in that area.

[swjohnsey]

Lotsa dogs on the trail in Georgia. Camp near someone who has a dog.

[Panzer1]

if the bear can't get your food he might eat you instead.

[leaftye]

if the bear can't get your food he might eat you instead.

That's what I would do.

[Yahula]

This is a scanned copy of the actual signed reg from the USFS site. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...rdb5351875.pdf

[RossSFCA]

Also in New Jersey campsites in bearcountry they supply big metal bear containers for public use that stay at the camp site, seems like this would be a better option than requiring each individual to carry a heavy container.

The same thing goes for Yosemite. In addition to an education and awareness campaign, there are metal bear boxes where you can store your bear container. That way, the park provides something AND the hiker provides something.

The additional weight is just not worth it for five miles / one day of hiking. This will be an administrative nightmare. I hope it is not a reason to hand out tickets and charge unnecessary fines to generate income for the park service or state.

[Snow>TP]

Putting metal bear boxes at shelters and campsites is expensive and illegal in Wilderness areas.

5 miles seems trivial to thru hikers but not to every other day hiker. When bears find an area they crowd and stay within the area. The idea is maybe the collection will scatter with the lean toward better food storage.

[Lone Wolf]

Putting metal bear boxes at shelters and campsites is expensive and illegal in Wilderness areas.

5 miles seems trivial to thru hikers but not to every other day hiker. When bears find an area they crowd and stay within the area. The idea is maybe the collection will scatter with the lean toward better food storage.

day hikers aren't the problem. thru-hikers are. they're the ones hanging bear pinatas'. and most thru-hikers at that section are only on their third or fourth day out and have very little experience

[BradMT]

Ummm, never said you had to USE it, just bring the container. must bring a solid, non-pliable bear-resistant canister to contain personal garbage, toiletries and foods. Depends on what your definition of the word "is" is.

"I did NOT let that bear get into my sack!"

Another triumph for Nanny Nation...

[CrumbSnatcher]

Putting metal bear boxes at shelters and campsites is expensive and illegal in Wilderness areas.

5 miles seems trivial to thru hikers but not to every other day hiker.

5 miles could be alot of miles to "I just started 2 days ago" thruhikers :-) alot of hikers probably leave gooch gap with the desire to make it to neels gap and fall short and camp
my 2cents

[MuddyWaters]

well it reads bear proof containers for overnights on 5 miles of trail pretty easy to not overnight and not need a bear canister on that section.

Yeah last yr they just didnt allow camping overnight at all there, no biggie. Now they allow camping but if you have food it needs to be in a can, and everyone complains.

[Camping Dave]

the canisters themselves add weight which will cause the real ultra light hikers a real headache.

Actually they cause ultra light hikers the same headache as everybody else: 2 pounds, 1 ounce. But really ambitious ULers can drill holes in their BearVault and get the weight down to 1 pound 6 ounces. Leave the lid at home and save 3 more ounces.

[Panzer1]

so then is everyone going to have to start at Springer with a bear container?

[swjohnsey]

No. . . . . . .

[takethisbread]

Leave Neels Gap bunkhouse at 7 am and arrive at Unicoi Gap by 4 or 5 pm and the whole issue is moot.

[Pedaling Fool]

Leave Neels Gap bunkhouse at 7 am and arrive at Unicoi Gap by 4 or 5 pm and the whole issue is moot.

There's an idea, lets make Blood mountain the new Springer

[Spokes]

Ummm, never said you had to USE it, just bring the container. must bring a solid, non-pliable bear-resistant canister to contain personal garbage, toiletries and foods. Depends on what your definition of the word "is" is.

"I did NOT let that bear get into my sack!"

Yep, the ACTUAL notice says "possess and use"

This is a scanned copy of the actual signed reg from the USFS site. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...rdb5351875.pdf

What I find interesting is the map attached to the signed order also states specifically that the "trails closed to camping".

So you have to possess and use a bear resistant container and can't camp anywhere along the trail (or Woods Hole Shelter spur) as highlighted in the order.

After all it is titled "Appalachian Trail Seasonal Camping Regulation"