Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion What's In Your Pack?

Care to share...?

Well, it is a long story, I have the text somewhere. It was originally called "Trail Rage on the JMT". But the short version is:

I charged a bear who was about done cleaning out my snack bag that I had forgotten to stow in the bear box. He ran away, but first took a swipe at my leg, missing the skin by a hair, but ripped my pant leg.

I was hoarse for days from all the yelling and screaming at the bear as I charged and chased him away. This was all back in 2004. Here's a picture of my "bear shorts"


I still wear those pants--a nice patch over the rip. And of course, I'd NEVER try that stupid trick again. I was a full day's hike from Onion Valley. It could have been a very painful trip back.

Not to hijack this thread, the topic here is what NOT to keep in your pack -- at least overnight!