Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Going w/o a bear cannister

I was wondering, if I am hiking thru areas which have bear can requirements, but I will only be camping in areas that have food lockers, do I still need to carry a bear can?

I was wondering the same thing. I'm planning on carrying one, just in case we get to a locker and it's full, we don't find the locker we are aiming for or worse yet we don't get there before we have to stop and rest for the night................................................DUG

If you pass through an area which requires a BRC, you are required to have one...according to the folks at the InterAgency Visitors Center. The reason is there is a chance you will make an unscheduled stop in an area requiring the can.

I've asked a couple of times and the answer has been consistent.

As the above post points out Inyo NF requires canisters. But Sequoia may let you by without one. I don't backpack in the sierra's without one. I own two.

One backpack eaten through by marmots, and water bottles with claw marks convinced me.

With canisters it is find a nice spot with water and set up camp.