PSA: A retired PCT hiker told me to skip the bear canister on the JMT last year. Almost got fine in Yosemite.

He said rangers never check and it saves 2 pounds. I took his advice and a ranger checked my food bag at the Happy Isles trailhead. Anyone else get burned by old-timer advice on a popular route?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella_foster16h ago

@andrew_nguyen64 nailed it - maybe that old guy just wanted more company out there, you know?

andrew_nguyen6421h agoMost Upvoted

I read somewhere that the JMT rangers started cracking down hard on this around 2021 because too many people were getting caught without proper food storage. A buddy of mine got hit with a $200 fine last summer near Whitney Portal for the same thing. It's one of those bits of advice that might have worked a few years ago but not anymore. The rangers are definitely checking more now, especially at popular entry points like Happy Isles and Tuolumne Meadows.