The Pacific Crest
Trail traverses through black bear and grizzly bear habitat.
On some sections of the PCT hikers may experience high levels
of bear activity. Bears in these areas have become adept at
gaining access to improperly stored food. Access to human
food, either through improper or inadequate food storage,
is the most significant cause of human injuries and the destruction
of bears. Therefore, proper food storage is paramount to a
safe, successful trip; it ensures your personal safety and
protects one of our wildlands greatest mammals.
Before your trip,
plan ahead and prepare by inquiring about food storage regulations
for the areas in which you will be traveling. Land management
agencies differ in their recommended methods of food storage.
For example, some National Parks and National Forests in California
have bear canister required areas, while other areas do not.
Although numerous methods exist for storing food, bear canisters
are the most effective way of keeping your food from bears.
Because black bears are intelligent, persistent and agile,
some methods for food storage such as the counter-balance
method are no longer effective.
For a successful,
safe hike on the PCT please remember to store your food in
a manner that does not allow bears access to it. This will
help to keep you safe and also to protect wild bears.
For the latest,
official bear-related information and food storage regulations.
Visit: www.sierrawildbear.gov
Click
here to download the Forest Service's "Sierra Nevada
Wilderness Food Storage Requirements" map.
Bear Boxes/Food
Storage Lockers
In some areas with
bear activity, the National Park Service has installed food
storage lockers. These are large metal containers where you
can store your food safely.
Bear boxes are
located along a 50 mile stretch of the PCT between Rock Creek
Crossing and Wood Creek Crossing.
| Bear
Boxes on PCT |
| Location
(Number) |
Milepost |
Map |
| Lower Rock Creek Crossing(1)
|
754 |
G-15 |
| Lower Crabtree (1) |
760 |
G-15 |
| Wallace Creek (1) |
764 |
H-2 |
| Tyndall Creek (1) |
769 |
H-2 |
| Center Basin Creek (1) |
778 |
H-3 |
| 9900' Elevation (1) |
|
H-4 |
| Vidette Meadow (2) |
781 |
H-4 |
| Lower Junction Meadow
(2) |
782 |
H-4 |
| Charlotte Lake (1) |
784 |
H-4 |
| Rae Lakes (3) |
788 |
H-4 |
| Woods Creek Crossing (2) |
795 |
H-5 |
Note:The
bear boxes above are listed from South to North. The mile
points are approximate.
Check also: Sequoia
& King's Canyon National Park
Locations of Backcountry Bear Boxes
Food
Storage Containers
Bear canisters
are required in some areas.
There are a number
of food storage containers on the market. Be aware that the list of
"approved" canisters changes. For the latest information
on bear canisters approved by the National Park Service visit:
http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/approvedcontainers.htm BearVault
has a "Worry Free Bear Canister Purchase Program
for PCT Thru-hikers," click
here to learn more.
For tips on how
to pack your canister, read The
Care and Feeding of Your Bear Canister by Tom
Reynolds.
National
Park & Forest Bear Information
The links below
will take you directly to the home pages for the different
Parks and Forest along the PCT and their information on bears.
SierraWildBear.gov
- Sequoia
& Kings Canyon National Park
- Protecting
Your Food From Bears in the Backcountry
- Sierran
Black Bears
- Backcountry
Regulations: Minimum Impact Camping Regulations
- Yosemite
National Park
- Black
Bears
- Yosemite
Wilderness Food Storage
- Inyo
National Forest
- Sierra
National Forest
- Stanislaus
National Forest
- North
Cascades National Park
- Bears
and You in the North Cascades: Safety Tips for Travel in
Bear Country
|
During Trip
