Bear Canister to Neels Gap?

imported
#1

So what’s the story on bear canisters between Lance Creek and Neel’s Gap? If I were to do an overnight at Woods Hole shelter, where I’d consume the last of my food supply for dinner that evening so that my food bag would be totally empty, would that be “legal”. I mean, why would I need a bear canister to camp there if I’m not carrying any food, right? Or, Plan B, is there any system set up to, like, rent a canister at Amicolola state park and turn it in at Neels Gap??? Do hostels in that area have them available to rent? If so, how much? Thanks, Longhaul

Richard Calkins

#2

If you eat all your food, which you should do before going into town, you should be OK staying at Woods Hole. That’s my favorite shelter because of that area. The only one possibly going in there to check would be a Ridge Runner and as long as your not hanging anything on the cables you should be fine. Enjoy

Sub

Subman

#3

I just read the letter of the law on the USFS web page and I can not see any wiggle room. All campers must have and use bear proof containers to camp within a quarter mile of the AT. If you get the wrong ranger you could get a ticket. He would have no right to search you for food. Now, I have not read about anyone getting a ticket here or even being visited by a ranger. I suspect you would get a warning.

Francis

#4

Seems to me, if ranger wanted to ticket me, he might look a bit silly insisting I have to be carrying an empty bear canister, just for the sake of having a canister, if there is no food to put in it. Sounds like a ticket I might have some fun contesting! :slight_smile: Subman - hope you’re out of the Smokeys safely by now. That must have been TOUGH! Oh, and I like Woods Hole also, except that it’s such a long hike to get to it. In fact, I wonder if it’s not just a bit over 1/4 mile, in which case I would not be camping within a quarter mile of the AT, so I wouldn’t need a canister… Jes sayin’

Richard Calkins

#5

A UsFS Ranger does have the “right” to search you, give you a ticket, or arrest you if you are breaking the law. If people had followed the rules and LNT practices this probally would not be a problem now. Plus it is not that far to get through the canister zone without camping.

MacoanTracks

#6

Sorry, A ranger can search you with a warrant signed by a judge. If he thinks you have a weapon and is in danger he can pat you down for weapons not snicker bars. He’s going to ask you for permission to look in your pack. The constitution does in fact apply to hiker trash…

Francis

#7

If you read the FS notice a bear canister is required for overnight camping in the designated area to store food, garbage, and toiletries. Eating all your food won’t exempt you. Follow the rules or don’t stay overnight, it’s that simple. If I remember correctly, awhile ago a store in Suches, I think, was considering renting canisters.

Ohibro

#8

The constitution has nothing to do with this. Do not break the law and you will not have to worry about anything. just hike the 5 miles and be done with it.

Macon Tracks

#9

The USFS and the trail clubs are so full of crap. They actually think that this bear canister rule has lowered the number of bear human incidents. They brag about how good they are on the web page. They just ought to put up a sign “CLOSED TO THRU-HIKERS” CAR CAMPERS WELCOME. Ever wonder why it is that the trail club(car campers) never thought to install one of those big steel bear boxes at Woods hole, Blood Mountain and for that matter Watauga Lake shelters? That would have fixed the problem. They know that any serious thru hiker won’t lug a 3 pound canister on the AT. They have effectively closed 3 shelters to NOBO thru hikers. It is sad that the trail clubs and the ATC won’t fight for thru hikers.

Francis

#10

If hikers would have followed LNT and had been better at food and trash handling there probally would not be a problem. if it was not for the USFS and trail clubs there would not be ant trail to start with. If you can not lug a 3 pound canister maybe you should try something different.A serious thru hiker would not be whining so much about 3 pounds for a short haul.Thru-hkers are not anymore special than anyone else. Car campers, day hikers,and others spend more time on the trail than anybody.

Macon Tracks

#11

What is the definition of a “serious thru hiker”? Most folks starting at Springer who get to the area in question have only been on the trail for a week or less. I would hardly call them a thru hiker. I don’t understand in what fight do the ATC and trail clubs need to defend “thru hikers”?

Ohibro

#12

Probably one of the loneliest shelters in the southern AT. I was there three years ago night hiking. Everyone had camped at the site just before the warning signs about bear canisters needed. Nobody at the shelter. I stopped to cook up at the shelter and headed up and over Blood Mountain. Got to Neels Gap around midnight. A big metal bear box would be a plus for the shelter. Wonder if a mandatory bear canister for ALL of the USFS’s jurisdiction that the AT goes through would drive down the riff raff trashing and other non-LNT behavior. Yeah, it would suck, kind of like how the JMT requires a bear canister and you never see a bear there really, but it would sober up a few of the careless hikers that have contributed to this problem.

TedHiker

#13

Ohibro, Good questions.

Macon Tracks

#14

Every year I talk to many dozens of thru hikers. I have not met one who was lugging a 3 lb bear canister. Thru hikers don’t use them. They are not in use on the AT by thru hikers.

Francis

#15

Not AT related - but need to clarify Tedhiker’s JMT bear comments.

Even if you haven’t been fortunate enough to see a bear along the JMT, trust me, they are there. Just not as aggressive as in past years - probably because the bear canister requirement serves as a counter to hiker food storage stupidity and ole’ bruin realizes wrestling with a bear canister isn’t worth the energy.

I’m familiar with the southern JMT: Vidette Meadow, Center Basin, Upper Kern, Tyndall Creek, Wright Lakes - prime bear country. They see you - you just aren’t patient enough to see them.

Booger

#16

Thru hikers have used canisters. Dozens are not many of thousands. You don’t need them on the At because the section is so short. The people ypu meet in GA are thru hiking they will be thru hikers when they get to Maine.

Macon Tracks

#17

I’m sure that at least one thru hiker on the AT must have used a bear canister. I have never met one and I have not read one account of a AT thru hiker using one on Trail Journals. It’s too bad that the ATC won’t ask that question at the mid hike survey when they get to Harpers Ferry. It would be a very low percentage. Oh, that’s right, they don’t have a thru hiker mid hike survey, I forgot.

Francis

#18

Again people who are trying to thru hike make up a very small portion of hikres. What do you have against the ATC? They don’t make the rules for the NFS.

Macon Tracks

#19

It’s too bad that so-called “thru hikers” have to be subjected to so many oppressive rules. Oh, that’s right, they are “thru hikers”, they don’t have to follow the rules, I forgot.

Ohibro

#20

Tail wags dog. The trail clubs are made up of day hikers and car campers. They feel entitled because they do all the work to keep the trail open. Perhaps you think they should be entitled. They attempt to scapegoat thru hikers as the source of all overcrowding, litter and graffiti. They influence the ATC and USFS to invoke rules that apply only to thru hikers like the Bear Canister rule and thru hiker registration. Car campers with only a short distance to hike easily carry the 3 lb bear canister. There is no talk about registering day hikers. If you don’t think the trail clubs influence the USFS or the ATC then read the Bear canister rule posted on the USFS web page. They are thanking the trail club for the brilliant idea. The ATC is the weak sister is this entire system of trail management. Underfunded undermanned, at the mercy of far too many powerful rice bowls. Management implies control. The ATC controls nothing because they have nothing. Even the trail itself belongs to someone else. It’s no wonder they cave in so easily. Thru hikers are a small percentage of trail users and have no voice. Nobody even asks their opinion, yet they are the poster child image of the trail itself. When is the last time you saw a movie about day hikers?

Francis