Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Bears are in the Portal

One bear during the fire closure but we thought they had moved out ,but fresh scat in the upper parking lot by the trail head this AM.

He's just looking for a permit.

He will have better luck looking for food then a permit.

I hope he's not from Montana.

Huddles are tough...



(Yeah, it's a repost, but everyone was hiding last year...)

Bears now breaking into cars,taking packs and searching for food.

Storm system moving in and light rain started about 9 AM this is a system not that 15 minutes cooling shower.Also could have wind on the ridge and 40 degree temps.

Update rain light to heavy 6 pounds at least snow on the summit and as 9 PM tonight this would not be the night to start a 1 AM ,clouds are building and could dump again tonight, the Portal 54 now so could be low 40's at trail camp and Colder above. Trail could be a water course and your boots/ trail runners will be soaked .Take extra socks gloves and beanie plus warm gear the wind will follow the storm.

Mom and cubs hanging out today in the campground cubs up a tree mom wait for the cubs to come down ,trouble about 20 campers taking photos of the cubs in the tree . Mom might leave, cubs may jump to another tree or stay. Until the campers clear the area it's a wild card.

Now onto the weather first time I see a NOAA snow level report ,next few day we could get weather,like last week with snow on the summit .But we would never come to the mountains without the proper gear,Oh it's summer and we always wear shorts!
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A car was hit by a bear on 8/23. There was a food canister and some food inside the car. The food was not in the can but I don't think that putting the food inside the canister would have helped because these cans are bear proof but not smell proof.



Peanut butter packs:

About every day/night car/truck,campsite ,Bear Box left open or food out the bears are very active now by nature they are bulking up for winter.Last night a car at the trailhead was reduced to parts no back seat ,no back window driver door trim removed and trunk lock broken ,food remains spread around the area Photos posted I. Southern Climbers Facebook page since this was a climbers house!

Doug, obviously bears getting used to human food and breaking into cars is a big concern, especially for the bears. In your many years in the mountains and in the Portal, how often are bears injured due to the broken glass on the cars? Thank you for all you do!!!