Sounds like a prime opportunity to get free hiker food.
Sounds like a prime opportunity to get free hiker food.
That bear was stealing food bags (even when hung) in the same area when I thru hiked way back in 2009.
"Fish Camp Woman.... Baby, I like the way you smell"
- Unknown Hinson
Last edited by Blissful; 03-19-2012 at 21:09.
Not being familiar with the Georgia section of trail, I have to ask:
Have they thought about installing steel bear boxes at the shelters and popular camp sites in this area? I've sectioned NJ, NY, CT and MA so far, and most official sites have some sort of steel box or vault to store your food, it seems to solve this issue rather effectively. Is there a reason that this hasn't been tried, or for that matter, has it been tried in the past?
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
There are no plans at present to install bear boxes here; I suspect there is no money to pay for this, tho I think it's a good idea. As Max Patch and others have pointed out, when it comes to bears, when one knows that a particular area has a known or proven problem when it comes to overnighting, the answer is simple.......don't overnight there. This is not rocketry or anything difficult, people, it's sorta straightforward for anyone with something resembling a brain.
That's what it's going to take - no camping away from designated camp sites allowed, and hikers required to store all food in the supplied steel bear boxes at each site. Bears can learn to defeat just about any bear hang given enough motivation and practice, and too many people won't carry canisters even if they're officially required to do so.
I will hide it under my butt.
I love snuggling w/ my food at night. Any critter/animal that gets a whiff of my stinky ass, and hears my loud rumbling snorrrrr must turn around and high-tail it the other way, cause I ain't never had a problem. Plus, sometimes I like a midnight snack!!
NOBO section hiker, 1066.4 miles... & counting!!
Ummm...really? Are you offended that I suggested a re-route?
You are right, I don't live there - I don't live in most places but I can still have an opinion if I've been there.
And of course this is the most travelled section of trail in GA, hence there is a bear problem. Do you like to state the glaring obvious?
Out of curiosity, is there any documented case where a bear really defeated a proper PCT style hang?