Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board bear canisters

I've done the MR two times, the last being last year the end of June. I have some friends coming down to do the MR next week. They had heard that bear canisters were required now on the MR...is this a new requirement?, did they hear wrong? Do they really have to carry bear canisters up the Mountaineer's Route?

I've never been told to carry a BC up the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek, but it's been a couple of years at least...

My partner for the EB this weekend was asking the same thing you are, but in looking at the map where the BC is a requirement, it looks like Pinnacle Ridge is the dividing line... So I'd say no... unless instructed by one of the "Old Timers" at the IAVC. (There is some new staff that may not know what the rules are...)

EDIT:

If the answer isn't no, they need to update this: http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/inyo/recreation/wild/bearmaps/food-storage-whitney.jpg (Link to a more detailed map of the BC area in the Whitney Zone. )

Excellent...thank you for this link.

The Inyo and Sierra National Forests each have a forest order regarding "proper food storage". They prohibit possessing or storing any food or refuse unless stored in a bear-proof container or in another manner designed to keep bears from gaining access to the food or refuse. In addition to this, bear canisters are required in certain areas within Inyo National Forest.

http://sierrawild.gov/wilderness/john-muir

If you dig a little deeper to:

http://sierrawild.gov/bears/food-storage-map

you'll see that Pinnacle Ridge is the dividing line between REQUIRED / RECOMMENDED. I read "Recommended" as freeing us to leave that extra weight behind.

I asked the ranger at the desk in Lone Pine a couple of weeks ago. He said cans were not required if we stuck to the MR/North Fork but were required if we were to return via the main trail. So I happily opted for my Ursack - mind the marmots.

that would be awesome -- really dont like lugging those cans around.

Thanks for the update!

..And I see not required for Shepherd's Pass trail! whoo hoo!

Inyo NF allows the use of the Ursack White bag, but not the other less capable Ursack versions. I checked last week at the White Mountain ranger station in Bishop was given the okay to use it anywhere in the Inyo NF, but not in SEKI or Yosemite NP. But I was cautioned to use the Ursack carefully, following the manufacturer's instructions and, if possible, to counter-balance hang the bag from a hefty tree limb.

Interesting, why not the green Ursack? It's identical to the white except for the green coating. (The yellow bag was much different I believe.)