I'm sure wildlife can be found on any trail but are bears a significant concern as compared to Yosemite? Do I need a cannister or can I hang my food or better yet, do I even need to hang food?

Bears are not much of a concern like in Yosemite or SEKI. Hanging is fine as no cannister is required. I would rather use an Ursack instead of hanging..In all the trips that I have done in that region I have yet to see a bear or have issues with bears vs. food

Hope that helps

Edited by kennyhel77 on 06/23/2012 15:19:12 MDT.

Even though I have a canister, I prefer to hang my food in the Desolation Wilderness and greater Lake Tahoe region. Bears can be problematic but I've yet to have any run-ins despite some rather poor attempts at hanging my food in certain campsites. From what I gather, the bears mostly frequent the established campgrounds near the lake for freebies.

Some people think of the food storage problem as an issue with the bears. In many places like this, the problem is more of an issue with the trees. If you have lots of good tall trees with good limbs at the right height, then there isn't much of an issue. Black bears were born to climb trees, and if the tree trunks don't cooperate, then the bears have a hard time climbing much. Cubs and yearling bears can climb pretty good, but often the fat adult bears are too big to climb.

--B.G.--

They ask if you have a canister and offer the use of one to protect the bears. I bring my old Ursack. I've only seen a bear outside the wilderness to the west, just west of Two Peaks years ago.
Duane

Desolation doesn't require them and I've never had a problem there on dozens of trips (famous last words). So long as you're not at one of the very popular spots you should be able to use an Ursack or, if below treeline, hang your food.

Cheers,

Rick

Would the PCT method of bag hanging work well enough?

PCT method will work well enough but only if your on the PCT, if your on the TRT it won't work at all. (Just kidding)
Steve