Date:         Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:00:21 -0600
Reply-To:     "Joe T." <vanagon85@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Joe T." <vanagon85@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Westies, bears & Yellowstone
Comments: To: Rob <becida@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2012062511561457@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

There was a very entertaining thread on this topic a year or two ago, lots
of great stories and advice on camping with bears.

I just got back from Yellowstone....Trip report here:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=517674&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight
=

We camped at Canyon Village.  There was a black bear in the area the whole
time, they kept having to run him off and thought that maybe he'd been
fed.  The camp hosts and volunteers came around to each campsite every
afternoon to make sure that people were following "Bear
Aware" procedures, i.e. keeping your food and prep stuff in your vehicle or
in a bear box when not in use, and keeping a clean campsite.  They might
have cut us some slack because of our Colorado plates; on a couple
of occasions, the park employee said "oh, you're from Colorado so you know
what we're talking about."   I think they get some visitors with very
little camping/outdoor experience, and they want to educate them as much as
possible.  People seem to forget that outside of their big white rental RV,
it really is a wilderness.

The Yellowstone rangers and employees that we've dealt with on our two
trips have been very amiable and well-intentioned, nothing
overly authoritative about it.  They just want to make sure that both
campers and bears are protected.

It seems like every time there's an encounter, the first question that
comes up is whether or not the campers were being Bear Aware.  If I'm ever
in an encounter, regardless of what happens, I want to be able to say yes.
Otherwise, you've kinda brought it upon yourself, and I don't want to be
that guy!  I have drilled this stuff into my kids as well.  They are
well-versed in leaving no trace and camping the right way.

Joe T.
Denver
'85 Wolfsburg Westy


On Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 9:55 AM, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:

> I received an email asking me about camping in Yellowstone & bears.
> Just yesterday i heard that arriving with your food, toiletries &
> other thing that the bears might like separated and ready to be put
> into a bear box at the camp site was a big help in getting in the park.
>
> I have not been there in some years and I know there are folks on
> this list who are far better at offering advice on camping there and
> dealing with the dual threat of the officials & the bears.
>
> This being June and travel time for many it seems like a good time to
> talk about the best places to camp, things to see, do & avoid at
> Yellowstone.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Rob
> becida@comcast.net
>



--
Joe T.
'85 Wolfsburg Westy Subie 2.2