Steve Casimiro over at The Adventure Life just learned that rocky Mountain National lPark is requiring Bear Canisters for all backpackers this season. A lot of folks on the east coast don’t get this, but its vital to understand: East Coast bears are wimps compared to the ones West of the Mississippi.
The only time I’ve ever used a canister was backcountry climbing in Tuolumne, and it was a few epic nights. After having a bear walk right into our campground and head straight for our Mac & Cheese cooking on the stove (we managed to scare him off with the help of a scout troop camping nearby) we spent a sleepless night listening to claws clacking on rocks around our tent and scraping against the bear cannister we wedged between two large rocks.
I definately would not want to be in bear country without a canister.
Long's Peak in RMNP
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