Don't know what to call this

[leslie]

Sometimes I feel I over-research stuff, but here goes...

Our original purpose for getting our first-ever RV was because we wanted to visit as many national parks and monuments as was possible, upon retirement. We determined that RVing was the best way to do this.

In 2017, we hope to visit the Grand Canyon, do the Tetons, as well as Yosemite and Yellowstone. So, the research has begun. I found a book, "Death in Yellowstone". I thought this book would help prepare us to enjoy a safe trip.

The advice about bears was very helpful. I am definitely going to buy bear spray. Yodeling lessons might be helpful too.

About the rest of the book, if I am not male and therefore don't stand up in a small fishing boat when I catch a fish, my chances of making it out alive increase. Also, no midnight strolls through the geysers and hot springs without a flashlight will increase my odds of survival. In fact, just being female and not getting drunk in Yellowstone greatly improve the odds.

So, if you want to know how to survive Yellowstone, then this might be the book for you.

[pinstriper]

Remember what Cousteau said about diving: "When you enter the ocean, you enter the food chain. And not at the top."

The same applies to bear country.

[scout]

http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2010/11/amateur-photographer-captures-grizzly-bear-chasing-bison-down-highway

don't forget this...if you haven't already seen it...ouch

[david]

leslie:

I have been to all of the National Parks that you mentioned, often multiple times. With regard to bear safety, your CL will protect you (tents or tent campers are not allowed in some areas of Yellowstone). Also take sensible precautions about leaving food outside. Talk and make noise while hiking remote trails.

Specifics on each NP;

Yosimite- Yosimite Valley is a zoo. You have to take a bus to get around the valley. There are remote campgrounds that will be much quieter. One we like is up on a plateau overlooking the valley.

Yellowstone- Pick a campground near where you are entering from or one of the central ones and drive around to the sights.

Grand Canyon- The south rim is nice, but the north rim is special- quiet, somewhat remote and higher and cooler. We once got near there late in the day in mid May and tent camped in a USFS to the north. We had snow on the tent in the morning. We drove into the park early and the scenery was magnificently snow covered. We had breakfast at the lodge that overlooks the GC and at first it was disappointing- covered with fog. Then about a half an hour later, the fog lifted and the canyon was revealed. Magical!!!

Also don't miss Sedona, Az to the south. There are a couple of USFS campgrounds along the river to the north of Sedona. Sedona has a magical/mystical feel to it.

Grand Teton- Somewhat of a disappointment. The campground that is lakeside is nice. Jackson Hole is a bit of a western hoot, but mostly contrived for tourists.

David

[pinstriper]

I found this for Leslie, [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5cMZymSr0"]how NOT to deal with a bear[/a].

[chuck893]

[quote source="/post/17578/thread" author="@pinstriper" timestamp="1452265809"]I found this for Leslie, [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5cMZymSr0"]how NOT to deal with a bear[/a].


[/quote]I watched that video carefully and two things came to mind: One is that the bear seemed habituated, that is, unafraid of humans. There is no more dangerous bear than a habituated bear. Two is that the young woman was using her bear spray improperly, although it's completely understandable. She was too far away. You could see the wind taking it. 

That bear has been in that camp before and scored, so it keeps returning. The young woman had just hauled her gear inside a cabin but there may have been some food odor on the boat, and bears have "bionic" noses.

Good bear spray (and it must be specific to bears, not the kind you carry in the city for personal defense) has a pretty limited range. A Yellowstone ranger told me that even rangers tended to spray when the bear was too far away---more than 30'---and the situation worsened if there was a wind. She said that unless the bear gets a solid faceful of concentrated capsaicin, bears can actually develop a tolerance, and even a taste for pepper! 

Leslie, there's good general advice here. Don't be fearful, just be careful. Best practice is to store all food and anything with an odor (even deodorant and hand lotion) in a bearproof if provided. Otherwise it should be inside the locked trailer or a locked car with all windows up. It helps to tarp things in the car as well since bears know all too well what coolers look like, and if they see or smell something they want they can open a car like a can.    

[pinstriper]

100% right Chuck, and the way she was whining, I was rooting for the bear.

[spot1]

I always take too many photos:

Took photos of the mama bear & cub at Many Glacier Park MT and the sign just outside of Yellowstone Park WY!

[a href="http://s657.photobucket.com/user/vstromklr/media/2015%20Camping%20Trip/IMG_8395_zpsfgek98xk.jpg.html"]

[leslie]

I told my husband that if we see a bear, he should hold the bear off until I can bring help!

[peislander]

I have a Pelican Pro cooler. They are bear proof + hold ice for seven to ten days. An excellent piece of gear. It is a great supplement to the small -not so mighty- fridge we have in our small but mighty Camplite 11FDB.

Here's a youtube video of a Pelican Cooler in a bear attack:

[video src="https://youtu.be/B0iChz6bDcQ" size="large"][/video]

[scout]

PEIslander,

Good score!  I'm a big fan of the pelican coolers for the their toughness and resistance to unwanted dinner guests...also like like these for same qualities:

http://yeticoolers.com

Both brands are a bit pricey out the door, but like the CL, they are a forever purchase...

P.S. Click on the video, I think Yeti captures the spirit of a lot of the folks on here! Including the bear lovers (or not)!

P.P.S. RideandFly - fantastic pic of the Bison! - mad skills with the camera!!

[spot1]

We have two 35Q Engle coolers and no refrigerator in the CampLite. This video shows brand X cooler and Engle cooler demonstration:

https://youtu.be/2IfmtqCbOIc

[ammobob]

Leslie, we have camped in Yellowstone 2 times. Once tent camping and once in our camper. Absolutely no problems with bears! You are making way too much of this. Bears are just as scared of you as you are of them. Go have fun and take it as it comes.

[spot1]

The majority of wildlife photos taken while driving our pickup!

Here's a shot of the Tetons:

[a href="http://s657.photobucket.com/user/vstromklr/media/Camping%202014/IMG_4590_zps9ce7f914.jpg.html"]

[pinstriper]

[quote timestamp="1452384271" source="/post/17610/thread" author="@ammobob"]Leslie, we have camped in Yellowstone 2 times. Once tent camping and once in our camper. Absolutely no problems with bears! You are making way too much of this. Bears are just as scared of you as you are of them. Go have fun and take it as it comes.[/quote]Tent campers are the soft taco of a bear's world.