Newbie needs advice

[jendak760]

I just wanted to see a bear ~ you know like walking through the wilderness or something like that. I didn't say I wanted it to tear through my popup or anything. That I could live without.  :yikes:

[tlhdoc]

You should come and camp with COTOC (Hickory Run SP, PA) in September.  They have a healthy black bear population. :yikes:

[jendak760]

but I think we will probably keep our trips for the first season to this side of the country.

[Steve-o-bud]

I would think NOT seeing a bear would be a GOOD thing!!!!:yikes:
 
My DH and I were tent campers for 11 years before we bought our PU and we used to camp every year at Sequoia and Bridgeport (north of Mono Lake). At the cg in Bridgeport, the bears used to invade the cg we stayed at every night, tipping over all the trash cans--you could hear them crashing all night!
 
One night, we forgot to put the cooler in the car before we went to bed, and in the middle of the night, I heard the cooler open (it had a wicked creak on one of its hinges) and thought a person was trying to steal the cooler! :rolleyes: I woke my DH and when we unzipped the tent, there was Yogi, no more than 10 feet from us, seeing what was on the menu. I about jumped out of my skin! DH quickly zipped the tent back up (yeah, that would keep us safe) and Yogi helped himself to the eggs, bacon and my stepson's tootsie roll! He finally lumbered off when he got tired of listening to the next site's dog barking at him!!
 
We've never cooked in our camper, but we have stored food in it on past trips and because of that incident with Yogi, I am now scared to pieces to camp at Yosemite, Sequoia, or even back up at Bridgeport. Yep, NOT seeing a bear would have been the highlight of the trip for me!
 
Looking forward to meeting you and giving you the NNC/SCC intiation rites at Pismo!:J

At Sequoia, the rangers are very strict about enforcing keeping no food in the trailer (even the fridge), and keeping all cooler and food in the bear boxes. It can't be left out for even a few minute!

In Yosemite, they aren't too strict, and apparently, they don't have as serious a bear issue. The same rules apply, and they definitely tell you not to leave coolers or stuff in the car, or in the trunk. The bears have a very good sense of smell.

I also don't like cooking in the trailer, I'm paranoid that the aromas will stay in the trailer, and attract the bears.

I'm with Jendak, bears best are observed from afar!