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New Bear Canister Regulations in Desolation Wilderness

By Mac Leave a Comment

The Forest Service has introduced new food storage regulations in Desolation Wilderness requiring overnight users to now carry “a canister designed to prevent access by bears.” Simply put, bear canisters are now required in Desolation Wilderness. This impacts everyone recreating in Desolation Wilderness, including Pacific Crest Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail hikers.

And to reiterate in case of any doubts, yes, this applies to PCT thru-hikers. Being a thru-hiker does not exempt you from the rules (except the ones that say you should bathe regularly and shouldn’t eat candy with every meal).

Effective July 18, 2022, and through July 17, 2025 (this will presumably be extended), anyone found without proper food storage will be subject to fines up to $5,000 per individual, $10,000 per organization, imprisonment up to six months, or a combination of both. That said, it should be noted that signs posted at ranger stations cite the fine as being $150 (still no excuse to not carry a bear canister).

Desolation Wilderness Hiker Lake Aloha
Desolation Wilderness is a highlight of Northern California.

The Pacific Crest Trail and Desolation Wilderness

Where exactly do Pacific Crest Trail hikers now need to carry a bear canister in Desolation Wilderness? Prior to this order, northbound PCT hikers were able to ditch their bear canisters as early as Sonora Pass (Kennedy Meadows North or Bridgeport), but many choose to ship their bear canisters from South Lake Tahoe.

Access to South Lake Tahoe where the PCT crosses Highway 50 is immediately south of Desolation Wilderness which means the new order is (almost) just an expansion of where thru-hikers already needed bear canisters. It wouldn’t make sense to mail a bear canister home from Sonora Pass and then have it mailed out again to South Lake Tahoe (or Echo Lake); hikers will simply have to carry them for longer.

The Pacific Crest Trail is within Desolation Wilderness for a total of 21.7 mi / 34.9 km. Heading northbound, the southern boundary of Desolation Wilderness is at PCT mile 1095.5, and the northern boundary is at PCT mile 1117.2 (southbound miles,1558.1 and 1536.4 respectively). Echo Lake is not located in Desolation Wilderness.

Could PCT thru-hikers avoid having to carry a bear canister in this section by simply hiking through the entirety of Desolation Wilderness in a single day? Yes. Most hikers over 1,000 mi / 1600 km into a thru-hike won’t see this as much as an obstacle. However, Desolation Wilderness is beautiful and it would be a shame to rush through it to avoid having to carry a bear canister for a few more days. But do what makes you happy (so long as you’re respecting the rules and the bears).

Carrying a bear canister through Desolation Wilderness means either picking it up or dropping it off in Truckee, California accessed via Highway 40 (PCT mile 1153.4 NOBO / 1500.2 SOBO) or Interstate 80 (PCT mile 1157 NOBO / 1496.6 SOBO). The PCT also crosses a road at Baxter Pass – just north of the Desolation Wilderness border, but getting a ride to/from here would probably be more trouble than it’s worth to just carry a bear canister a bit further.

Overall, these new regulations mean that most Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers will be carrying their bear canisters for an additional 58.6 mi / 94.3 km – likely two or three days hiking for most hikers this deep into a thru-hike.

Featured - Desolation Wilderness Bear Can No Text
Where the Pacific Crest Trail passes through Desolation Wilderness

Which Bear Canisters Are Allowed?

UPDATE: According to multiple people who have spoken directly with Forest Service, Ursacks are not permitted under this new order – hard-sided canisters only.

The information currently available leaves it unclear whether an Ursack will be permitted, but the order states “canister” which an Ursack is (arguably) not. Signs at ranger stations note “hard-sided” containers. Hopefully, clarification will follow.

The following is a list of the bear canisters currently approved for use on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Bear CanisterPriceWeightCapacityMaterials
BearVault BV425$73.5028 oz / 800 g305 in3 / 5 LPlastic
BearVault BV450$8133 oz / 936 g440 in3 / 7.2 LPlastic
BearVault BV475$8737 oz / 1.03 kg565 in3 / 9.3 LPlastic
BearVault BV500$92.5041 oz / 1.162 kg700 in3 / 11.5 LPlastic
Counter Assault Bear Keg$8060.8 oz / 1.724 kg716 in3 / 11.7 LPlastic
Model 812 Garcia Backpackers' Cache$10044 oz / 1.247 kg610 in3 / 10 LPlastic
Bare Boxer$8022 oz / 634 g275 in3 / 4.5 LPlastic
Udap NO-FED$7538.4 oz / 1.089 kg608 in3 / 9.96 LPlastic
LIGHTER1 Lil' Sami$13030 oz / 850 g305 in3 / 5 LPlastic
LIGHTER1 Big Daddy$14036 oz / 1.021 kg650 in3 / 10.7 LPlastic
Wild Ideas Bearikade Scout$27528 oz / 794 g500 in3 / 8.2 LCarbon fiber
Wild Ideas Bearikade Weekender$30931 oz / 879 g650 in3 / 10.7 LCarbon fiber
Wild Ideas Bearikade Blazer$33333 oz / 936 g750 in3 / 12.3 LCarbon fiber
Wild Ideas Bearikade Expedition$37036 oz / 1.021 kg900 in3 / 14.75 LCarbon fiber

Source: Forest Service Order 03-22-11

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California,  Gear,  Pacific Crest Trail,  Tahoe Rim Trail Bear Canister,  Hiker Problems,  PCT Gear,  TRT Gear

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