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Bear Canister Requirements
#59930 03/28/23 10:27 AM
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Hoping this helps anyone else:

Bear containers are required on the Mt. Whitney Trail from Memorial Weekend to November 1. I called the Wilderness Permit Office today (760) 873-2483 and they say it's okay to use my AllMitey Ursack!

I called since the website requirement was vague: “Containers designed to prevent access by bears are required” per Inyo NF Bear Cannister requirements

Depending on what year you go, you might want to get an update on this requirement from the Wilderness Permit Office.

The Whitney Portal Store at the Whitney Portal Campground rents bear canisters.
Store Hours: May 9am-6pm, June 8am-8pm, July 7am-9pm, August 7am-9pm, September 8am-8pm, October 9am-6pm. Closed November - April.
Just remember to leave enough room in your pack for the canister.

Make sure to remove all food and scented items from your vehicle before you leave. Bears have no problem breaking and entering your car or truck. Keep ice chests and other colorful containers that look like an ice chest out of view. These bears are smart and know what one looks like. There are bear proof storage lockers located at the Whitney Trailhead Parking Lot. Put your name, phone number, and the date on your items before leaving anything in there.

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
Theresa Y. #59931 03/28/23 07:51 PM
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Thanks Theresa. I always use my Ursack when I visit the Whitney Zone, since it is mostly mice and marmots that try to get your food. My Ursack has the aluminum sleeve, and I stood it up with a big rock on top to hold it down. When I returned, I found a marmot had dug a burrow to the underside, in hopes of getting into it. But my food was safe!

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
Steve C #59932 03/29/23 08:34 AM
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Just a FYI...Bearvault has just added two new cannisters, a BV475 which is 2 inhes shorter in length than the BV500 and a new BV425 which is a few inches smaller than the BV450. The BV425 is 6 inches in length and good for 1 to 2 days. I suspect you can probably add more if you place your food in the right bags and eliminate air and such. I would suspect that for me, it would be good for 4 days since the firt day you plan on eating and therefore does not go into the cannister.

Take a look:

https://bearvault.com/

Paul

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
Theresa Y. #59933 03/29/23 09:33 AM
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I use an Ursack (without the aluminum sleeve that Steve uses) wherever it is legal. I’ve never had a problem. I use a BV500 in Yosemite and some parts of SEKI. BearVault claims 700 cubic inches and 7 days for the BV500. I measured 650 cubic inches. I eat a lot, so I have to pack carefully to get 5 days (4 nights) into a BV500.

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
Theresa Y. #60033 05/20/23 10:27 PM
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Thanks Theresa. I was wondering if by chance you had discussed all Ursack Bear Resistant Food Sacks. I have the Major XL which does not have the built in Opsack liner. I will call the number but wondered if your conversation included that specific Ursack option.

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
AFM #60041 05/22/23 07:53 AM
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Every Ursack should be ok in the Mt. Whitney area. It's not the bears, but the mice and marmots that will go after your food.

The bears are most active at Whitney Portal. They look for early-morning (before daylight) hikers who set their day pack down while they are getting ready for their day hike. The bears will sneak up, grab the pack and run.

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
Steve C #60043 05/22/23 02:57 PM
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Thanks Steve

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
Steve C #60059 05/24/23 01:30 PM
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I just talked to a ranger at the White Mountain Station. Phone number 760-873-2500. She said that the Ursack Major XL was approved for the Whitney Zone but not recommended. The reason for the non recommendation was that most of the Whitney Trail is above the treeline. The Ursack then cannot be hung from a tree and therefore marmots and other rodents as well as birds could get in through the opening which is closed by a knotted cord. It appears to me that using the double or triple overhand knot does a good job of closing the opening to the smaller critters. We are planning to use the Ursack as it saves ~ 2 lbs and is much easier to pack. We will also use Opsacks in the Ursack to hopefully eliminate odors and as someone mentioned place the Ursack away from our tent with rocks on top of it.

Any comments would be most appreciated. TIA

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
AFM #60060 05/24/23 08:30 PM
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Bears can easily walk off with an Ursack, even if they can’t open it. It’s best to tie it to a tree as described in the instructions. You don’t hang an Ursack from a tree. If you tie it right, mice and other small critters can’t get in.

Re: Bear Canister Requirements
AFM #60069 05/28/23 08:14 PM
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I have used my Ursack with aluminum liner at Trail Camp. I tied it closed tightly, and then put a heavy flat rock on top of it. That worked to keep the critters away. Funny thing, though: A marmot tried to tunnel underneath it to get inside. But the critter failed.


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