Post by tarol on Jul 29, 2015 18:32:37 GMT -8
"...so I think I'm due one," is what I told Mtmnslady and Sunbeam last Thursday night. Well, here is my horrible cell phone photos of the Mamma bear and cub who came within 40 feet of my tent at Hilton Lake #2 on Friday evening. Unfortunately I forgot my SD card for my camera so I didn't get any better photos.
I was in my tent having just retired and heard a thump then heard a baby bear cry out. I've never gotten out of a tent quicker in my entire life! I shouted out to Sunbeam and he got out of his tent. We started shouting at them and they backed away then went towards our canisters. Mom bear then proceeded to play with them for about 20 minutes! It was amazing watching her try every manner possible to get them open. At one point it looked like her cub was imitating Mom rocking back and forth putting weight on a log. She picked them up and threw them down, with a very loud thud that must've been heard for a mile, rolled on her back with them in her paws, bashed them against the log, etc. After unsuccessfully trying to open them up they left. We then moved the canisters 300 feet further away from camp and had a restless night.
The second day we didn't see or hear anything so felt better and got a better night's rest. The 3rd morning I was awakened by other campers shouting at them and then the baby bear crying out for a solid minute. I figured she must've gotten separated from Mom or something to keep crying out like that. Well needless to say we decided we'd had enough bear excitement and packed up and headed home an hour or two earlier than we would've normally lol
Sunbeam's canister is the newest model Bear Vault. Mine is the original model with the retrofitted lid which I have carried on my trips for 11 years now. They were both placed side by side upright next to a log about 300 feet from our tents. The Mom bear appeared to work the most on opening Sunbeam's newer canister and it was further away from the log afterwards. Both canisters were a little dirty and scratched but otherwise intact. After the encounter we took them another 300 feet away and once again they were knocked over. Canisters are not required in this area of the Eastern Sierra - but obviously should be...
I was in my tent having just retired and heard a thump then heard a baby bear cry out. I've never gotten out of a tent quicker in my entire life! I shouted out to Sunbeam and he got out of his tent. We started shouting at them and they backed away then went towards our canisters. Mom bear then proceeded to play with them for about 20 minutes! It was amazing watching her try every manner possible to get them open. At one point it looked like her cub was imitating Mom rocking back and forth putting weight on a log. She picked them up and threw them down, with a very loud thud that must've been heard for a mile, rolled on her back with them in her paws, bashed them against the log, etc. After unsuccessfully trying to open them up they left. We then moved the canisters 300 feet further away from camp and had a restless night.
The second day we didn't see or hear anything so felt better and got a better night's rest. The 3rd morning I was awakened by other campers shouting at them and then the baby bear crying out for a solid minute. I figured she must've gotten separated from Mom or something to keep crying out like that. Well needless to say we decided we'd had enough bear excitement and packed up and headed home an hour or two earlier than we would've normally lol
Sunbeam's canister is the newest model Bear Vault. Mine is the original model with the retrofitted lid which I have carried on my trips for 11 years now. They were both placed side by side upright next to a log about 300 feet from our tents. The Mom bear appeared to work the most on opening Sunbeam's newer canister and it was further away from the log afterwards. Both canisters were a little dirty and scratched but otherwise intact. After the encounter we took them another 300 feet away and once again they were knocked over. Canisters are not required in this area of the Eastern Sierra - but obviously should be...
So it made for a good trip, eh? Anymore pictures?
I'll be uploading them soon.
