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The Signs Proved to be Right!
Day 18
Standing Indian Shelter to Franklin
A Bear got our bags! That’s a bummer. After being so pleased with ourselves, turns out those bears really do know how to deal with a PCT hang. Two out of three bags got eaten and all our cords were wrecked!
With no food and no food bag, the only thing for it was to high tail it to town a few days early. I mean there are pros and cons, right?
Sherper Al comes in on top again and arranged for us to get a shuttle and his son Josh, who picked us up also recommended a hiker friendly place to stay.
We get checked in and the next thing you know is a gear explosion all over the motel car park to dry out and some serious sunbathing to be had.
There are lots of familiar faces around town and we even got involved in the pub quiz at the brewery.
Cheeky little zero in town to resupply and replace the gear that was damaged.
Thank you Bears!
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Comments 8
Craigen – you would do other AT hikers (and the bears) a service if you could detail exactly what happened, why, and what could be done to avoid it. A bear getting food is no joke – for the bear, for you, and for future hikers.
I’ve no idea as I was in my tent sleeping. I have a full description with pictures to a trail ambassador I met at Betty Creek though!
I have been enjoying your posts. At your current pace of ~5 miles per day I should have them for light reading for the next year. Stay strong, I’ll buy you a beer when you celebrate 100 miles.
Well I’ll look forward to that beer! Just say where and when!
I do PCT hangs all the time and no problem yet (thank you!). I am interested to learn how you believe the bears got to the bags. Break the line at the top on the branch? Somehow manage to wrap the line and pull it down? Maybe too small of a branch to hang from? Other? Based on your comment I assume it was high enough and away from adjacent trees a sufficient distance.
Thanks and wish you better luck on the future. I really enjoy your posts.
I think they have just worked out how to pull them down. There have been a high number of bags lost and stories of bears in the camp area at standing Indian. Just the luck of the draw!
I’m sure it is a historical term, but it amuses me that it is called the PCT hang, when long stretches of the PCT require a bear vault, since the hang is so unreliable!
No idea!