“A hiker eating a backpacking meal before setting up camp off of the PCT. Fueling up before hiking Glen Pass in the morning.” Photo by Bridget Houchins
What might be on your mind after hiking dozens to hundreds of miles north through predominantly desert and chaparral landscapes, weaving through towering windmills and rattlesnake habitat, emerging into the pinyon and juniper woodlands south of the High Sierra?
Is it water? Likely! What about bears? They ought to be.
For many northbound thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, “bear country” is oft not considered until nearing Mt. Whitney and the canister requirement zone, when in fact the trail frequently passes through Central Western/Southwestern and Sierra Nevada black bear populations as it winds north of the US-Mexico border.
South of Kennedy Meadows South, hikers have been losing food to bears for years, and it appears to be a growing issue. In June of 2024, a series of hikers would arrive, thirsty, to Foxmill Spring, 31 miles north of Walker Pass, hastily drop packs to walk and collect water, only to return and find a bear had helped itself to the gear and food left behind. Intelligent, with an exceptional sense of smell, bears will alter their course and disregard human interaction once the association between human, or backpack, and easy, dense calories has been made.
“When a bear accesses food, it may be a minor incident, but it can change the bear’s foraging behavior forever by reducing their fear of humans. Once it loses that fear it eventfully becomes food-conditioned and will likely continue to rely on hikers for their calories. The end result for these bears is death because their habits cannot be changed and they now pose a danger to humans.” – Inyo National Forest
Tree bear above hiker tent in the night at Chimney Creek campground.
Other areas with habituated bear activity included Chimney Creek Campground, just south of Foxmill, where last year a collared bear spent a few weeks revisiting campers throughout the night, often unfazed by “hazing” techniques, such as shouting and banging cook pots, as it lurked around tents. One hiker’s video showed the bear running up a tree directly above a tent, precarious for bear and camper alike. A few days’ hike north, near Olancha Peak, a couple of young and curious bears on Inyo and Sequoia National Forest stalked closer than they should to hikers taking a lunch break on-trail.
Map depicts the near-constant overlap of CA black bear habitat and the PCT. Overlay created by GIS Specialist, Galen Keily.
These encounters are a harbinger of potential human-bear conflict along the John Muir Trail section of the PCT, where black bear populations increase. Zones around Charlotte Lake, Rae Lakes, and Lyell Canyon, for example, carry a history of conflict following backpacker missteps. It’s important to remember that, like our bruin cohabitants, humans are prone to building fast habits- our actions in Southern California will carry over into the High Sierra. So, while food storage regulations vary along the trail, the requirement to effectively protect wildlife from your food stays the same- for your sake and the bears’, carry a canister!
“PCT hikers can contribute greatly to the fate of these beautiful creatures by securing all their bear attractants properly. Food, trash, and toiletries. Your actions set the stage for bears to stay wild.” – Inyo National Forest.
Here are a few tips to remember this hiking season to keep yourself and your friendly neighborhood black bear safe:
From Inyo National Forest website. How to setup your camp in a bear-safe way.
- Always keep your pack and smelly items within reach. Fetching water or taking a bathroom break? If you have a bear canister, set it outside of your backpack. If you do not, keep your pack with you.
- The team at BearVault recommends hikers dial in a packing plan before hitting the trail. “Food is one of the heaviest items in your pack, so rather than packing the canister as an afterthought, give it a priority spot close to your back for better balance. In ultralight packs, canisters can even help add some structure. Once at camp, they double as a stool or even a “foam” roller for sore muscles! Many thru-hikers come to love their canisters, and it becomes an essential piece of kit for every backpacking trip.”
- Report habituated bear activity to the PCTA, local land agency, and the state department of Fish and Wildlife (or similar) In California, use the Wildlife Incident Reporting System — Home. Our staff is happy to help direct your report to the right place.
- For all wildlife, from rodents to ravens to bears, we recommend using a bear canister for your entire journey on the PCT. We strongly recommend carrying one north from Tehachapi to Truckee, CA, in Lassen NP, and in northern Washington.
- In a few regions of the Sierra, a “bear hang”, or counterbalance, if done perfectly, is still permitted food storage. This method is extremely difficult to execute effectively and has high failure rates, often due to a lack of appropriately sized trees, insufficient rope, or user error. Ultimately, a bear hang is a delaying tactic- be prepared to defend your food.
- Animal-resistant bags may be used to your advantage in Southern California, but note, this is not a permitted food storage method in all areas along the PCT.
Sign located in backcountry of Kings Canyon National Park; placed by backcountry ranger.
Remember that, in nature, all is connected. “Responsible hikers take preventive steps to protect themselves, bears, and those who will come after them by protecting the bears from becoming food conditioned in the first place,” adds BearVault. While you may not see the immediate effects of a bear finding your chocolate bar wrapper in a fanny pack, generations after you will. Protect the Pacific Crest Trail experience by protecting the habitat and wilderness it passes through.
For more comprehensive information on food storage along the PCT, please visit Bear canister requirements and protecting your food – Pacific Crest Trail Association