Protect your food! Protect the bears.

"Hard-sided bear-proof cannisters" must be carried by every person spending a night in the King Range Wilderness. That includes me, the backcountry ranger. There is a potential $150 fine for each member of a party who is not carrying a can or is storing food or scented items outside of one.

There are definitely bears in the King Range. Indeed, you are likely to see bear tracks on the beach. There is a small canyon, between Shipman Creek and Big Flat, that almost always had bear tracks at its mouth, this summer. It's a small bear--probably a two-year old--and probably a cub of the large sow that lives near Big Flat. I expect that this small bear doesn't think of humans as a reliable food source, as her mother once did. This is why the bear can restriction is in place.

Thinking of hanging your food? Have a look at some of my photos of the Lost Coast. There are many camps that have no trees one could suitably hang food to keep it from bears. I saw three bear hangs this summer and none of them was high enough off of the ground to keep me from getting it. If I can get it, you can bet the bear will find a way.

Bears have a great sense of smell--they can probably tell if you have dessert planned at half-a-mile. Some people are afraid of bears. That's reasonable. They're a big animal with sharp teeth. I know of no incidents where a bear attacked a human on the Lost Coast--even humans wearing cherry lip balm seem to be safe. If you are confronted by a bear, keep you pack on (you look bigger), wave your arms, and shout. Make sure the bear knows that you are big and you will go down fighting. They'd rather go eat berries than mess with a human.

Bears may get food that is not properly stored. Raccoons are much more likely to get human food on the Lost Coast. I had raccoons in my camp at Big Flat every night that I stayed there this year. Like bears, raccoons have a great sense of smell and a great affinity for human food, toothpaste, and other smelly stuff. Also like bears, raccoons are effectively checked by a "hard-sided bear-proof cannister". Put everything in it before you go to sleep or head out on a day-hike. Put it somewhere away from your pack and tent. It may be batted around, but it will still contain your food when you return. What's more important, your backpack will still be a backpack when you get back. I have hauled the remains of a visitor's backpack out of the wilderness--remains that the raccoons had made useless in their efforts to liberate a Luna bar.

Is the bear cannister too heavy? I'll grant that the black, Garcia-type cans that are most readily available are a little heavy--but they work. The Bear Vault is another can that is somewhat lighter, also works pretty well, and is made of clear plastic. Pretty cool. Bear Vault also makes a half-size model, which is much lighter. This half-size model is what I carry for solo trips of up to three days. Beyond three days, I need a full-size. What can I say? I like to eat healthy.

You want to rent a can? There are a few places that the Garcia cans can be rented near the Lost Coast. The BLM office in Whitethorn has them for $5/can/trip. Remember that the office is only open M-F 8-4:30. If you are coming from a city that has a large outdoor goods store--like an REI--you can probably rent one at a more convenient place and bring it with you. Better yet--just go buy one. If this isn't your last backpacking trip, you will probably use it. Many California wildernesses now require these cans. They really never wear out and if you do a couple trips a year, one will pay for itself in saved rental fees in just a few years. Note also that, if you buy your own, you can get something lighter than a Garcia.

One final note on bear-proof containers. This note is about the Ursak or Ursack. The Ursack is a neat idea and much lighter than a Garcia bear can, for sure. Unfortunately, the Ursack does not fit the description of "hard-sided" and therefore do not fulfill the legal requirement. It's a bear-proof bag, designed to be used as part of a bear-hang. As I said above, there are few places to hang successfully on the Lost Coast. An Ursack unhung, though it will probably keep bears or raccoons from getting the food, can still be grasped by the animal. Don't consider burying it--both these animals are quite capable of digging even in the King Range's rocky soil. Even a raccoon can grasp an unsecured Ursack and carry it away into the woods, where you will never find it. You will never find it. The animal will eventually give up on it. Then it becomes litter. Please protect the animals and the wilderness. Don't litter the King Range with Ursacks.