Da Bears (Lake Como/& Capitol)

[desertdog]

I don't know maybe she's got it. Words of wisdom on sharks and bears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boV0t-riFuw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Papillon]

Some people tried to sleep low a year or so ago on Lake Como Road and their camp got ransacked. I'm surprised people are still willingly going up there. Would you go up there if Manson and the girls were up there? I know some guys on the forum are pretty desperate so they'd probably go but how is lying awake inside a nylon tent all served up like a western mountaineering hot pocket wise?

LB and Capitol are stressful enough. I can't imagine getting much sleep up there. People should consider gunning these in a day even if it takes three separate trips. Carry 1-1.5 liters and a means to treat at the lake and start at 2 AM. Or wait for the USFS to get things under control.

This isn't gonna end well.

[mtnfiend]

..... inside a nylon tent all served up like a western mountaineering hot pocket

Leave it to Papi to point out the hilarious stark reality of the situation!! Well done good sir.

[randalmartin]

Managed to spend a night up above lake como last weekend without an encounter with the problem bear. wonder why I got lucky?

Perhaps the Bear(s) were too busy with other more target rich camps.

[atalarico]

Peppering a bear with bear spray accomplishes two important objectives: 1) protects you during a bear encounter and 2) re-instills a fear of humans in the bear. Since bear encounters are so rare in Colorado (compared to BC and Alaska), very few backpackers carry it. Hopefully someone will spray this bear before it has to be put down.

The bear in the vid didn't look all that impressed with the spray. She kind of ignored it, and then strolled off at her kids pace...

Avoid baby bears.

Dick

I noticed that too, but if you look at the cloud of spray you can see she barely gets a glancing blow and it's enough to make her start backing off. I think the rock throwing ranger out of scene helped too. Haha.

All of that said, if someone is going to go up there with the intent of trying to put the "fear of god" back into this bear with bear-spray, I'd say let the authorities handle it. If for some reason the spray isn't enough, then you have a pissed of black bear on your hands. At least the forest service will have some backup if things go south.

Just my .02.

[TallGrass]

Agree, that I don't think this will end well for the bear because neither it nor all the various campers can be re-trained so one will have to give.

Bears: Some possible factors why I had no bear trouble. To save weight I didn't cook food (heat and moisture help carry smell), it was double plastic bagged in my pack, and trash was ziplocked helping keep scents down. Remember hiking down the ridge and seeing smoke out of the trees down by the lake and thought it would make them a bigger, smellier target than me, especially if they were grilling hot dogs or burgers. I only left my tent, bag, and air pad taking all food, trash and gear, with me when I did LB and found it undisturbed even by marmots when I got back. Never got as low as Como Lake so stayed out of the ripe pickin's, but it'd be a short romp for a bear to get up where I was if it smelled opportunity.

Feeling luckier about my Sangre trip with each post. Got in and out around the landslides for the Lily Lake TH, no bear encounters in the Como valley for the two nights I slept there.

[mountaingoat-G]

The bear in the vid didn't look all that impressed with the spray. She kind of ignored it, and then strolled off at her kids pace...

Avoid baby bears.

Dick

That's exactly what I thought...
kinda scary

[TallGrass]

For those mulling routes other than Como Road the Blanca group as well as bear concerns, the South Zapata Lakes (Ellingwood from the west) use bear-proof food lockers and trash cans at the campground, pic-nic area, and at the lot to access the falls and the TH, with good reason I assume.

[gspup]

All of that said, if someone is going to go up there with the intent of trying to put the "fear of god" back into this bear with bear-spray, I'd say let the authorities handle it. If for some reason the spray isn't enough, then you have a pissed of black bear on your hands. At least the forest service will have some backup if things go south.

Just my .02.

I'm wondering why more people don't bring bear spray and their own 'back-up'. When I do this one I, I will be sure that my .357 mag is on my hip...my GF can hold the bear spray

[Nelson]

All of that said, if someone is going to go up there with the intent of trying to put the "fear of god" back into this bear with bear-spray, I'd say let the authorities handle it. If for some reason the spray isn't enough, then you have a pissed of black bear on your hands. At least the forest service will have some backup if things go south.

Just my .02.

I'm wondering why more people don't bring bear spray and their own 'back-up'. When I do this one I, I will be sure that my .357 mag is on my hip...my GF can hold the bear spray

Food for thought:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1899301/sh ... rging-bear" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[macgyver]

what are your thoughts on sleeping in the truck at 8800', leaving around 2am, either LB or B&E as day hikes (both within 3 days) ... more of a hassle, but fairly doable?

[dpage]

what are your thoughts on sleeping in the truck at 8800', leaving around 2am, either LB or B&E as day hikes (both within 3 days) ... more of a hassle, but fairly doable?

I don't like that road enough to walk it twice close together. I needed a year break between my trips but I guess it's doable.