No-tent zone at Million Dollar Falls?
August 8, 2010 at 10:14 pm (Fight the Good Fight, Livin' North of 60°)
In last week’s Whitehorse Star, there was a short article advising campers that “Environment Yukon has banned tents at the Million Dollar Falls campground.” Why? An incident involving a bear tearing open a tent.
Being a tenter myself, my biggest pet peeve when using campgrounds is the lack of bear-awareness that people camping seem to have. I find this especially true with people in hard-top campers, trailers, and RVs. With only a thin piece nylon material separating me from bear claws in my two-man tent, I feel somewhat vulnerable, like a piece of fresh meat neatly packaged up in nylon instead of plastic wrap, ready for a bear to dig its teeth in.
For example, on an early morning walk around Liard Hotsprings campground last summer, there were garbage bags (with garbage, of course) hanging on the side of some campers nearby and a couple of picnic tables not cleaned up from the previous night’s meal. Incidentally, one of the hotspring pools at Liard is closed every August partly because of increased bear activity. There was even a fatal mauling by a black bear several years back. I can’t help but to wonder if the increased bear activity is linked to a general decrease in bear-awareness at local parks.
Liard Hotsprings
Not only does this lack of proper garbage and food storage/disposal put humans at risk, but these scavenger bears end up having to be destroyed.
Regardless of your mode of camping, please keep your campsite clean. The bears and I thank you!
moon said,
August 8, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Having seen these bear close… why on earth would anyone take the risk … ? surely people in these regions are aware of the dangers… and what get to me, is the fact people then blame and kill the bear … should bloody shoot the idiots that go into Bear country and don’t even think they are invading Bear life !!!!
Carole said,
August 9, 2010 at 9:05 am
Hey Moon! So nice that you’re back in the blogosphere.
Just a note about my post, I mentioned the “increased bear activity,” but I don’t know if there’s really an increase. Perhaps I should’ve just mentioned the correlation between problems with bears and lack of bear-awareness that I’ve noticed when camping.
Meandering Michael said,
August 9, 2010 at 1:33 pm
This is one of the major reasons why I dislike camping in campgrounds. I don’t know if it’s ignorance of bear safety practices or a lack of consideration for those of us who prefer to sleep in tents, but I do not feel that campgrounds are safe. I’ll choose the middle of nowhere any day.
Baino said,
August 9, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Hmm not sure I’d be game. Literally. I saw a David Attenborough special on campground bears once and they were very adept at breaking into cars ad opening picnic baskets and even coolers left in the back.
moon said,
August 9, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Baino …. you sure you were not watching Yogi Bear ?…. he loves a Picnic Basket, and apparently is smarter than the average bear …
Carole said,
August 10, 2010 at 7:45 am
Michael, not all of us have sailboats to take us to islands.
I’m teasing, of course. Actually, that’s the nice thing about living in the Yukon; you can go to the middle of nowhere any day.
Baino, I’d like to say that bears are often a problem at campgrounds, but again, it’s the people. Lack of education/awareness/consideration? Any of the three will cause problems.
I love, I love, I love camping, and despite not being visited by a bear in a very long time, I always keep my bear spray, bear horn, hatchet, and knife handy.
Ah, Moon! Still making me chuckle!
Jenn @ Juggling Life said,
August 18, 2010 at 5:38 pm
That looks like a gorgeous place to spend some time.
My son loves to backpack in Colorado and he and his friends are very bear-aware.
Carole said,
August 19, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Hi Jenn,
I’ve never been to Colorado but would love to visit someday. It’s a gorgeous place from what I can tell.
Winn said,
August 22, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Ooh! I love Liard Hotsprings! Very fun place. I especially liked that deep warm pool just a short walk up from the first set. Would love to go again sometime.
Carole said,
August 23, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Hi Winn,
Thanks for your visit. I’ve always wanted to go to the second pool, but I always go to Liard in August when that spot is out-of-bounds because of the bears. Oh well, it’s still a great place to spend some time.
Million Dollar Falls « Bike Dust said,
May 8, 2011 at 6:44 am
[...] Whitehorse star reported here: Tents banned at Million Dollar Falls [...]