Your food will be in greatest danger when you are in the parking lot at the portal. 90% of bear snatch and run jobs occur there. Don't put your pack down for a minute without your eyes being on the bag and you being within a few feet.
I think the percentage is even higher. Has ANYONE reported losing anything to a bear while on the Mt Whitney Trail?
Brent forgot to mention that nearly all the bear snatch-and-runs are in the dark, too. The bears lurk in the shadows while day hikers are getting ready to hike early in the morning. Their packs are loaded with food for the hike; they lay their pack on a table and walk back to the car. Bear runs in and grabs and runs.
Bears are easily seen, and run off, during the day. At night, they are practically invisible.
The problem is worse in Whitney Portal than in Yosemite.
