ianv

If your food is with you at all times, at least the bear won't be getting rewarded for messing with a tent/pack. I personally would be nervous on the off chance that a curious bear wanted to investigate, but every bear I have encountered in the Cascades has been easily scared off. I have spent/spend plenty of time in the Cascades, and no, I have not had any real bear issues. I still think it is worth it to properly store my food. It isn't that big of an inconvenience. With the growing interest in hiking and backpacking, it won't take too long for bears in the Cascades to start acting like bears in the Sierra. Before Yosemite Valley was an amusement park, the bears in that area were probably just like the bears in Cascades.

I agree that areas with large amounts of careless people have the most habituated bear problems and that it is not likely that a careful person who keeps a clean camp in the backcountry will have any bear issues. I just think that it is not that much extra effort to guarantee that a bear will not be greatly rewarded for a quick swipe of the paw to a tent/sleeping bag. Plastic bags cut down on odor, but by no means eliminate it in regards to a bear's sense of smell. I definitely don't enjoy carrying my canister, but to me, it is worth the inconvenience. Peace of mind and the knowledge that I won't be responsible for habituating a bear. A Ursack weights under 8 oz and collapses to take up very little room in your pack. While your food might get smashed in an unlikely encounter with a bear, at least the bear will not be rewarded.

http://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/nature/bear-safety.htm Truly no offence meant, but leaving food in your tent or sleeping bag during the day is simply lazy. If a bear smells food, it will get to it. Hanging your food properly is easy if the trees allow. If not, get a bear canister or at least a ursack. Canisters are kind of a pain, but so are many other leave no trace practices. Just because something isn't required doesn't mean it is isn't the responsible thing to do. I spent a few summers living in Holden Village where the bears became habituated to humans and their food. I know the forest service put down at least 2 of them after the first summer. It only takes one bear one food score from a tent.

Climbed this today. Approach directions are easy to follow and the trail to the base is in fine shape. The route itself was really fun and is also in great shape. Thanks for the hard work that went into developing this. Watch the rope eating crack that is called out in the topo. We tried our best to compensate for it, but the wind and my poor rope pulling skills combined to get the rope hopelessly stuck. Luckily, it is in such a location that there is plenty of rope left to lead back up to it and the pitch is easy enough to downclimb once the rope is unstuck.

Hi Eric, Sent you an email.

from what i remember, 5.11 ~11 pitches, bring ~15 draws and two ropes for more direct raps. its fairly well bolted. i dont believe there is a topo although bryan is soon releasing an updated guide. we only had time for a few pitches, but they were pretty fun.

awesome, ive been waiting for hwy 20 to open to get back over to mazama. did you notice if the rest of the wall was dry? specifically "restless natives"? thanks.