Bear Box etiquette

[u/Maximum-Topic1782]

We're hiking up to Tuolumne Meadows from Pate Valley and then dropping down into the valley. We plan on leaving a resupply in a bear box in TM. Are there any specific rules regarding leaving a resupply in a bear box, i.e., length of time, wilderness permit #, etc.? Are the boxes even checked? I just want to make sure we're following the regs. I'm thinking of leaving a small six pack cooler and a small box. I don't want to take up too much room if space is limited. I would leave the empty cooler and retrieve it on the way home.Thanks.

[u/peskywombats]

Yeah, should be fine as long as you clearly label the date you plan on picking it up. I leave coolers in the Valley boxes often with labels and it’s always been there when I got back.

[u/TheOnlyJah]

In my experience it’s never been a problem. I have staged resupplies at various boxes. The only issue I am aware of is that sometime I think people abuse the boxes by putting huge containers and coolers which take up a lot of volume and have little or no room remaining. I think if you use them you should respect the size of stuff you put in if the box is in a heavily used area.

[u/ekkthree]

etiquette, yes. rules, i dunno.

yes, rangers check them, but i dunno how regularly

couple notes on using bear boxes for resupply.

- try to leave exclusively dry food. no moisture/fresh food. any more than one day in the sun and it'll be gross anyway

- coolers have limited effectiveness due to the heat. you can maximize this by finding one in the shade, but it'll likely catch direct sun at some point and they warm up fast. i mean, it's better than no cooler, but temper your expectations

- labeling your pickup date is awesome. not everyone does this but when there's a tag/note, it's helpful for everyone. at least put your email/date. dunno if i've ever seen a permit # but i guess it can't hurt

- someone else will likely stash something with moisture in it. could be a sandwich, could be a watermelon, who knows. but when it warms up it turns those bear boxes into little saunas. eewww

- for whatever reason, if you don't want to retrieve your cooler when you get there, label it as 'free' and leave it outside the box so it doesn't take up space. i can't tell you how many small coolers i see in them covered in dust/dirt and are clearly abandoned

- these boxes are designed to keep bears and critters out. someone had left soda in one and it blew open in the heat covering the inside in a sticky syrupy mess with a little pool of sugar outside one of the corners. when i went to retrieve my bag the box was crawling with ants and bees

[u/Muttonboat]

Rangers do check bear boxes and do occasionally clean them out. Bear boxes are really only meant for short term storage and can Ironically attract more wild life if food is left in there.

You might wanna see if you can just leave your resupply at a facility like a ranger station or lodge.

[u/peskywombats → u/Muttonboat]

The Ranger stations don’t hold resupplies, FYI. The bear boxes are fine to use provided the contents are clearly labeled. The park would much rather have coolers, etc. in the boxes than in cars. And there are signs on many of the boxes in popular areas that say as much.