[Aerkuld]

You know they can read, right?

"Coleman", "Playmate", and "Igloo"


I've had some experience with bears on backpacking trips in the Sierras. Never lost any food as we were sure to hang it up in the trees.
The trick is to find a branch that's high enough, and far enough out from the tree that the bear can't reach it. You also have to make sure it's a thin enough branch that the bear can't climb along it, but not so weak that it can bend it from the trunk. You then need to get a length of rope up, and over the branch.
All the food goes in the stuff sack to your sleeping bag which you tie on one end of the rope. Before settling in for the night you hoist the food up the tree and tie off the other end of the rope somewhere off the ground, and away from the tree with the food.
If you tie your cooking pan and mug around the bottom of the tree it serves as an 'early warning' system. Every bear we've ever encountered would run away if you make a lot of noise, make yourself look as big as possible, and throw sticks if needed.

On one particular trip we were warned by a Ranger about a particular bear in one area which would find a camp, then wait until people had sat down to eat. It would than wander in to the camp, and rear up on it's hind legs. That made most people drop their food and run. The bear then polished off the nice cooked food. Apparently, if you stood your ground, made a noise, waved a big stick around, then the bear would high tail it out. If I recall, the Park Service were trying to catch it to relocate it to less frequented areas.