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Just a quick question. I used to be able to leave my suitcase and toiletries back at the Dow Villa (prior to the room being ready), but I guess they don't allow that anymore. We were planning on dropping off our stuff and heading up to the Portal for a pre-hike walk, but I'm a bit concerned about bears. Are they a concern in the mid-day hours? How large are the bear boxes at the portal?
Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks!
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Here is a recent post: ... That's about it save for outing my newbie-bonehead mistake for other newbies. At camp:
!!Don't turn your back on your food!!
I was 20 ft away from my food (on top of the bear lockers) for literally 1 minute, when a bear got off with the danish I left up there with my other stuff. Very preventable mistake. I should have known better, and I felt stupid for reinforcing the scavenging behavior.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Do NOT leave stuff that is not "food" in the bear boxes, as space is at a real premium. Clothing would be very inappropriate, to take up the valuable and limited space. Leave that in the car, covered with a tarp.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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I had the same issue during my recent trip to Whitney. I left my suitcase in the trunk of the car, but put my toiletries and anything with a scent in a plastic bag in the back of one of the bear boxes. There were actually some suitcases in the bear box, but that was both inappropriate and unnecessary. The bears won't bother your car if nothing in it has a scent, and everything in the car is stored out of sight.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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I had the same issue during my recent trip to Whitney. I left my suitcase in the trunk of the car, but put my toiletries and anything with a scent in a plastic bag in the back of one of the bear boxes. There were actually some suitcases in the bear box, but that was both inappropriate and unnecessary. The bears won't bother your car if nothing in it has a scent, and everything in the car is stored out of sight. I couldn't agree more - I can't believe some of the crap people bring to the Trailhead - then feel the bear boxes are their personal storage lockers - Soooooo un-cool, makes me want to take the suitcases, backpacks, ice chests, boxes, and bags full of unnecessary stuff and put it in the dumpster - OK I'll get off the soap box - (just wish they would be a little more considerate of others) Dave
The summit = the prize
The Travel to the Summit = The experience
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Can you not leave any food whatsoever in your car? I did Whitney in a day 3 years ago, but did not leave any food in our car while we where on the trail. Was thinking of bringing some things for after our hike this weekend, but was wondering this week about bears in the portal area.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Daddy, you will find your car opened like a tin can, if you leave ANYTHING in it.....and a ticket for a fine on the windshield to boot...what is it? $400?
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Thanks Ken. I started poking around the first timers page and somewhat answered my own question. I suppose we'll just hit up the portal store or wait until we get back to LP to indulge. Thanks again.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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The bears won't bother your car if nothing in it has a scent, and everything in the car is stored out of sight. Doc, from what I am told, this is not altogether true. Apparently there are some bears that have come to know what an ice chest generally means, even if it is empty and there is no scent emanating from it. This is why we are told to cover up with a tarp or blanket anything that LOOKS like food or a food container. I once left a gallon of antifreeze on my back seat at the Onion Valley TH and didn't think of it until I was just about at the Pass. I was particularly concerned because I had seen several piles of fresh scat on the trail. When I got back to my car, a car four spots from mine was ripped to shreds. I ain't kidding either. I felt fortunate that the smell of Snickers from the trunk of that car was more alluring than the smell of antifreeze in mine.
Always do right - this will gratify some and astonish the rest. -- Mark Twain
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Thanks Ken. I started poking around the first timers page and somewhat answered my own question. I suppose we'll just hit up the portal store or wait until we get back to LP to indulge. Thanks again. Just wait for the portal store! That was the main motivator for my group to keep movin'. One of my favorite moments of our trip was gettin to the store, gettin a 12'er, burgers, fries, getting out the cameras and talking about our journey. Have fun!
What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. Thats why i climb!
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So.....Is there a shortage of Bear Boxes at the Portal? Do I need to worry about possibly not having a place to put food/etc?
Also, if I am out on the trail for 2 or 3 days is it acceptable to use a Bear Box the whole time I'm out?
Thanks
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Weekends the boxes can get pretty full. In addition to just a plain lot of hikers; there are some who treat them as a storage locker for all personal items. In addition to the boxes near the store/restroom; there are boxes down near the hiker campground and also in the overflow campground. Large ice chests can really eat up space. If is good sealed ice chest I usually just hide mine out of sight in the trunk.
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> If is good sealed ice chest I usually just hide mine out of sight in the trunk.
Whoa! Visions of the destroyed car at the Onion Valley parking lot come to mind (Wish I could find it).
It seems like ice chests are a prime source of food odors, and I sure wouldn't gamble the seal on an ice chest against a bear's sense of smell using my car!
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