High Sierra Trail August 2017

read what ANDREW SKURKA SAYS on the subject from his trip on his blog

Never mind. After posting, I realized that I didn’t actually address the questions, so I deleted my post.

The SEKI map of where bear canisters are required and recommended is at https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/FoodStorageRequirements_8x11_20150729-2.pdf .  If my eyes do not deceive me, Guitar Lake is not in the required area.  Note that this is the 2016 map, it seems possible they might change things this season.  The general SEKI rules page is at https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm with links to the map and approved canisters, etc.

Bears have been known to grab Ursacks and run off with them, so plan accordingly …

Skurka’s post (cited above) addresses the Sierra High Route and not the High Sierra Trail.

The High Sierra Trail runs roughly east west starting in SEKI at Crescent Meadow and ending at Whitney Portal near Lone Pine.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/high-sierra-trail.html

Nothing more to add on bear canister requirements except that at least the initial part of HST is frequented by human food habituated bears;  best to carry a canister – protect your food and save the bears.

Thanks everybody for your posts.  Bears grabbing Ursacks, huh?  I’m guessing those weren’t tied down properly?  (Which, of course, is probably the reason that the S29 Ursack isn’t approved for the canister required areas of SEKI/Yosemite, in the first place.)