Coincidently regarding bears & since it is Fryday, here is a link to a local legal trial happening now regarding a bear killing an 11 YO  who was dragged out of his tent- I have never seen a bear in 35 years in Utah, but this happened 2 years ago in the mountains near Provo:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51230221-76/bear-ives-sam-utah.html.csp

I guess my advice is to never assume you are not in bear country?

YMMV,

Mr. BZ-where are Yogi & Booboo when you need them

On Feb 11, 2011, at 9:33 AM, pickle vanagon wrote:

>> the one time i went, the ranger told us to stow our food in bear containers
>> and to absolutely not leave any food in our tent or car.
>> 
>> i looked at him flummoxed.
>> 
>> regarding his safety precautions, i sleep "in a kitchen". one that gets
>> cooked in. one that's presumably permeated by food smells, at least from the
>> perspective of a bear's nose.
>> 
>> 
> 
> I laughed out loud when I read this.  I've often worried about the same
> thing---the idea of separating food smells from the van does seem like an
> absurd goal.  Like Mike, we've camped in bear country and never had
> problems, but that's no proof that its safe...
> 
> I guess a relevant question here is what RV owners are supposed to do.
> They're in the same kind of situation.  Presumably they don't clear out
> their fridges and put everything in bear containers.  Presumably the bears
> usually just don't try to enter the vehicles?  That's what I've told myself
> in the past...