Ice ax or cannister$$$?

imported
#1

I am hiking pct this year and I am watching all the little things add up to alot of money. Guidebooks, new raingear, shoes, 5-6 months of water treatment, these all cost near a hundred dollars a piece. Not to mention a new WM bag ($330). I am thinking ahead to when I am in northern california or oregon when I am buying my third pair of $85 trailrunners and I don’t want to be short on equiptment money because I had to buy a Ice ax and bear cannister which I will be using less than %10 of the trail. My question is, do you really need a ice ax or a bear cannister (they seem like a waste of money to me)? And which one would you suggest not buying if not both? BTW I am not afraid of bears and have camped in bear country numerous times and I have had late night encounters too! And I will have trekking poles to use inplace of the ice ax.

Ohioan

#2

If I were going to go w/o one or the other I would go w/o the bear canister. Be sensible about where you camp and your camping/food habits and you shouldn’t encounter bear problems. But if you are not sensible you might suffer for it.

Smack

#3

If you hike through the bad bear areas like Rae Lakes, and plan your camps @ bear boxes, you can do w/o the canister.

The ice axe is necessary. You may end up not using it - but if you need it it could save your life. I slipped going up Forrester Pass and trekking poles would not have helped. Some people do go w/o the ice axe but you do so at your own risk.

Lizard

#4

You can rent the bear canister for very little money, it doesn’t have to be a major expense. As has been pointed out on this site before, the issue is not just whether or not you are afraid of bears. The bears in the Sierras have been trained/conditioned to associate humans with food source, the use of bear canisters is to re-train the next generation of bears. When the bears learn to associate humans with food, they become quite fearless in getting your food. In areas of Yosemite they had begun to approach dayhikers in broad daylight. When this happens, the rangers have to put the bears down. In feeding the bears, whether intentionally or inadvertently, you sign their death certificate.

The canisters are heavy and a nuisance, but currently necesary to protect the wilderness we love.

tumblina

#5

I looked at renting a cannister a while ago but was derailed when I saw that the cost of rental and shipping was to close to the actual cost of a brand new cannister and they rent you the “heavier” cannisters (correct me if I am wrong or had outdated info). There needs to be an outfitter that you can rent cannisters and ice axes together to cut down on logistical confusion and thru hiker equiptment cost. Personally I don’t think that cannisters are necesary to protect the wilderness, I think that bear country education if far more valuable, lighter and cheaper. Now when you are dealing with bears other than black bears, cannisters might save some bear lives. We are in a new time that is different from stealth camping while using your food for a pillow and feeding bears from the comfy confines of a fenced in smokey mountain shelter…The bears are different too. As for the ice ax I will hold out and talk to other hikers on the trail and maybe or maybe not be inspired by near death stories. Thanks for your input on these debatable subjects.

Ohioan

#6

Proper food storage is a Federal law under 36 CFR 2.10 (d). If you are found to not have a cannister in required areas, you will be ticketed and have to pay a fine. If you make the decision to not use the cannister or the established bear boxes, you are not only stealth camping from the bears but stealth hiking from the backcountry Rangers. Is it worth it to be constantly looking over your shoulder?

Jim

#7

Not carrying an ice axe could potentially be an incredibly foolish way to save some bucks. Trekking poles do not replace an axe. You can’t chop steps with poles. Go out and try self arresting with your poles with your hands on the straps. Not so easy. I don’t know if you’ve ever hiked in icy snow on very steep slopes/passes before, but doing it sans ice axe is pretty dumb. For example:

This is an area I hiked in the Kachina Peaks wilderness in AZ recently. Immediately to the left in the picture, the slope drops over 800 feet down to tree line with nothing but ice and rocks on the way down:
http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/DaveLoome/Arizona%20photos/?action=view&current=sketchy.jpg

This is early morning, rock hard snow I couldn’t even dent with my feet. Totally impossible to get across without cutting steps. The Sierras have similar conditions as this. Sure, depending on time of year, and the time of day you hit the passes you may never need an axe. Having hiked in stuff like this myself there’s NO friggin way I’d risk it.
If you really can’t raise the extra $80 at some point in the next few months to get both, get the axe.

Deputy