The counter-balance method of storing food over a branch or hanging it over a rock is no longer effective on this trail. Bears have learned to easily gain access to food stored this way. Historically, bears have not traveled as high as Trail Camp, which is located above treeline at 12,300 feet in elevation, but now, bears are visiting this area in search of human food. Bear-resistant food canisters can fit inside or outside of backpacks and can hold nine days worth of food for one person. Bears cannot open these canisters.
Canisters are for rent or sale at many local backpacking and sporting goods stores.
Please call any Inyo National Forest Ranger Station or visitor center for more information. Rescuers found the three bodies at the crash site at an altitude of 6,000 feet on the steep northeastern side of Kebnekaise, which rises 6,966 feet in Sweden's arctic about 700 miles northwest of the capital Stockholm. The climbers, ages 50 and 80, were rescued a few hours after the crash by a Norwegian helicopter and taken to a research station at the base of the mountain. Witnesses saw sparks, indicating that the helicopter's rotor blades hit the mountainside and crashed. The helicopter, equipped for mountain rescues, crashed as it approached the two climbers, who had been stuck on the snowy mountain since Tuesday because of bad weather.