The moon is setting behind peaks of the Cirque of the Towers that loom some 1500 ft high above the valley floor
(Photo, ©, 1996 by Frank R. Leslie)
Past Wind River Trip Updates
(Last significant change was cleanup of updates )Introduction 
Disclaimer: This page is for approved trip members only. You may have found it otherwise, but if you are an applicant not yet approved by the trip leader, remember that there is no promise of acceptance conveyed by this information.
Some notes from earlier years (2000, 1999, 1998, 1997) to give you a sense of what might happen. I'm not maintaining links from these old pages.
2000 Wind River Trip Updates
June 07, 2000
(Last significant change was cleanup of updates and FAQs )If I were in Lander with a last minute message, I will use the email listbot "Windriver2000@eGroups.com". You can see our trip messages by sending an email to "Windriver2000-subscribe@egroups.com". You can also post messages there.
Introduction
Disclaimer: This page is for approved trip members only. You may have found it otherwise, but if you are an applicant not yet approved by the trip leader, remember that there is no promise of acceptance conveyed by this information. Approved members will want to read this trip Newsletter.
Acceptance requires contacting the trip reservationist, Alice Mazzini, at (415) 977-5609, to place a trip reservation. (It's run like a motel reservation service.) This is best done with a deposit charged to your credit card of $50 to capture a position on the trip before someone else gets the last one! You can also get on a waiting list in case someone cancels.
To be approved, you must be a club member, submit the personal information and medical forms to the trip leader within three weeks of sign up, and be contacted by the leader as to your approval. Because of the possibility of tetanus, you must have had an inoculation within the last ten years at the time of return from the trip. (Your doctor's nurse can give the injection at a cost of perhaps $6 total; let me know if higher now.) The trip leader has the ultimate decision of who goes on the trip. Most people who choose to apply for mountain service trips are in pretty good shape already.
What's new!
Periodically, new information will be added here. Bookmark this site and check back at this website frequently. I'll probably update it monthly at first, as the reservation forms arrive here about the second week of the month. We need at least 12 participants (other than staff) by four weeks before the trip for the home office to approve the trip to go. Some applicants don't commit until June or later (causing much aggravation and uncertainty for the leader and other trip members). More casual messages may appear on the email list at the address that was given above. Be sure to subscribe to it.
Please help publicize the trip by posting this poster and tear sheet where it will attract others to our trip. Cut the tearsheet on the solid lines from the sides to a three-inch gap at the center so that each bottom-most strip can be torn off the rest of the list.
Summary: As of 6/7/00, we have 14 applicants and 13 approved participants of the needed 12 total needed for the trip to be authorized.
There are 2 Unapproved Applicant. (Send me your forms within three weeks of sign up with the trip reservations office!) There is no one on the wait list. Keep in mind that I will be in Lander early, and if you have not been approved by then, you won't be going with us.
There have been 28 brochure requests as of this date.
Unapproved applicants with reservations are from these cities:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
(Must send me completed info, release, & medical forms and get my approval to go on the trip. If no forms are received in a reasonable time, you can't be approved.)
Approved participants are from these cities:
1 Phyllis A., Lake Isabella CA
2 Philip A., Lake Isabella CA
3 Pauline S., Saratoga CA
4 Catherine "Kate" G., Gallup NM
5 John P., Los Alamos NM
6 Barbara C., Springfield OR
7 Kenneth C., Springfield OR
8 Cara K., Iowa City IA
9 Laura B., Palatine IL
10 John J., Memphis TN
11 Sanjay S., Chicago IL
12 Aaron S., Chicago IL
++++++++++++++++++++++Minimum Level+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
13 David L., Wexford PA
14 Iris P., San Francisco, CA
15 will not be released at request of USFS due to logistical aspects
16 ++++++++++++++++++++++Possible level++++++++++++++++++++++
(* Minor conditional issues are to be closed before the trip)
Wait List:
0 wait list applicants as of 6/7/2000
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Withdrew or transferred:
Dennis D., Godrey IL
Disapproved in 1999 (First applicants I have ever had reason to disapprove):
T.W., CA; would not send forms (6/10/99) [ A caution from the 1999 trip]
P.W., CA; would not send forms (6/10/99)
Trip Updates, Comments, and Miscellaneous
Many questions are answered in the Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) list. Please let me know if there are other questions, and I will try to update the FAQs list.
Trip updates below are presented in last date first.
As of 6/7/2000: Updates on Trip
7/21/2000: Jerry & I will be staying at the Maverick Motel in Lander. Expect to be there evening of 8/2. I've found the elist email message approach to be very fast and convenient for temporary or transient information. I regret not cross-posting to this webpage, but my time is limited. Vicki Gullang has a new number at the USFS Lander Washakie Ranger Station. (307) 857-1646.
6/7/2000: The trip is now "full", but I am checking to see if the USFS will allow an increase to 16+2 staff. The number is set by seat belts in their vehicles and the logistics of transporting our food and supplies. We now have only one applicant not approved (for lack of forms); just a temporary thing.
6/3/2000: The trip now has enough approved members to be declared go! Time to make travel reservations. Since some crew members may not have email, but might see this Internet page, I'll paste in a few selected email messages from our group list.
6/2/2000: I have now added an assortment of 18 photos taken a few years back by past crew member Ed Sweeney to our eGroups website. Ed has granted me permission to use them, but he holds all rights to further use. You can see the Bears Ears, Sand Creek, and our camp area (again, the USFS may have a higher priority project in a different area for us). You can find these at http://www.eGroups.com, where you sign up for free access service at no charge. Then you can get to the full Wind River 2000 site http://www.egroups.com/groups/windriver2000, (click that to see if you are signed up) where the photo files are at http://www.egroups.com/files/windriver2000/. You can also see the members' list and the calendar. I haven't tried the chat section (it's for us members only), but we might email arrange for a time to try it, for those who like. Should you have any difficulty getting to them, let me know and I'll try to help. As list moderator, I may not see the same webpages that you do, though. Enjoy the views!
6/2/2000: Just got this info from the Teton Group. ___________________ Frank, Thanks for your e-mail. That sounds like an awesome trip. The Teton Group, as well as the Wyoming Chapter, oversees this area. Major issues in the Wind Rivers are grizzlies, the roadless initiative, and proposed oil and gas leasings near Dubois in the Shoshone National forest. There is a lawsuit underway to stop these leases from going into effect. Mainly because of the critical habitat for bears, wolves, and elk. Grizzlies have been recolonizing many areas of the Wind Rivers, so being bear aware in the backcountry is a huge issue. Also the inventoried roadless areas in the the Shoshone National Forest and the Wind Rivers is vital for grizzly recovery. Another concern is making sure black bear hunters are well educated in identifying grizzlies and black bears. Two grizzlies in the Shoshone National Forest near Cody were killed by black bear hunters already this spring. This becomes more crucial in areas where people are not used to having grizzlies around. Let me know if there is anything we might be able to do to help you. Thanks again, Tom Mazzarisi Chairperson of the Teton Group
Just for reference, the only bears normally found in the Popo Agie are the black bears, not grizzlies. Frank
5/30/2000: We now have 12 approved members and 1 applicant. Iris P. called tonight, and I think she will be applying as well. I will increase the trip level to 16 in case there are others interested. (You may recall that the level is set by the available seat belts in the USFS vans.)
5/22/2000: There is a good article on the Wind River Range in the current Backpacker magazine. Sign off for now, Kate and John
4/30/2000: In case you haven't used it, I'd like to acquaint you with a Travelocity email report. At http://www.travelocity.com, you can set up the departure and destination cities that you desire. The service tells you the current flights and prices for the route and dates you want. You can then set up an automatic email when the trip price changes $25. It's surprising how much variation there is. Below is one of these reports. If you don't have Internet but have email at home, go to a public library to set it up. The responses will then go to your email address. Of course, you can always use a free email address at hotmail.com from a public computer. I have occasionally made a 24-hour hold reservation this way, then calling Beyond-The-Bay travel agency (that trip staff are required to use) to retrieve the reservation and better it if they can. On the trip to the Outing Staff Seminar this year, they got $40 cheaper for us the following Monday!
3/23/2000: This site covers the Fremont County where Lander is. http://www.state.wy.us/state/virtual_map/fremont.html
jokemaster@ottawacomputer.com writes:
We just received this alert from the West coast. Be cautious! The British Columbia Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters and golfers to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the field.
They are advising people to wear noise producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly. They also advise us to carry pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity.
People should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper.
1999 Wind River Trip Updates
Trip updates are presented in last first order below.
As of Friday, July 16, 1999: Updates on Crew Still two more cancelled and were replaced with other applicants. One of those has been approved already.
Jerry and I have now made WRTA bus reservations due to enormous increases in one-way rental cars. The USFS has graciously agreed to provide a vehicle for our use in grocery buying and packing.
As of Wednesday, June 30, 1999: Updates on Crew The last reservation form showed that Kaela G. had cancelled and Frances S. was moved to the trip list.
As of Monday, June 28, 1999: Updates on Crew The crew is finally beginning to stabilize. I had an uncomfortable experience with two applicants who would not send the three info forms required, even after several months of repeated requests. Since there were people on the waiting list, one last, very clear request was sent, and after the deadline date passed, there were disapproved. They will not be a part of our group even if they gratuitously show up. Thus we welcome trip applicants Marcella E. and Kurt F. [They've now cancelled]
While snowfall has been heavy, we are now into summer, and melting should be proceeding. I have sent a request to our trip liaison at Lander as to the expectations. If we cross Sand Creek on the Bears Ears Trail, you will find it about 15 feet wide and 2 ft deep, but huge boulders usually will keep your feet dry.
You might like to explore this State site on Also, here's another "snowpillow" station chart for Hobbs Park, just north of where will be going. note that the red curve for this year was plummeting at the beginning of June. Snow water equivalents are the weight of water, so multiply by 6 to 10 inches of snow to an inch of water to estimate the snow depth. Townsend Creek is a few miles south and likely has the same melt rate as Hobbs Park.
And I'll close with another reminder -- Popo Agie is pronounced Po po shia, and the ending rhymes with ambroshia.
As of Friday, May 21, 1999: Bus Service. I contacted Ms. Bert at the Wind River Transportation Authority 800-439-7118 on May 20,1999. They do run a bus from Lander to Salt Lake City airport, and other locations there when you make reservations. The bus does not run every day. They will make trips on 8/4, 8/7, 8/21, and 8/25 (These are the ones you may be interested in).
The bus leaves Salt Lake City at 2 p.m. in order to reach Lander by 7 to 8 p.m. They leave Lander at 5 a.m. and get to SLC after 12 p.m. It is about a 5.5 hour trip and costs $75 each way. If you are considering this trip, be certain to call them for changes or details. Let me know if you get more info.
Received notice that Ms. Ryane C., who won a National Trip service trip scholarship, has signed up for the trip.
As of Monday, May 03, 1999, Received email that Michael P. can't make it. We may have a replacement though.
As of Sunday, May 02, 1999, three more approvals have been made. We welcome Geoff J, Beth G., and Fred D. Since they had already sent their forms in, they were instantly approved. I have requested and verified that we not have a trainee this time, thus making another seat on a van for crew. We normally receive significant support with this large a group, which makes it easier on the staff. Michelle and Christopher S. had to withdraw, so we now have a fairly firm crew line-up. I've added some new crosslinks to the South Carolina Trails page, which has excellent descriptions of trail tools and trail construction. I'm starting on "The Ed Sweeney Photo Gallery". You can see a few large photos by clicking here. I need to make a webpage and also cut the bit size for faster downloading.
As of Friday, April 09, 1999, two more approvals have been made. We had Michael D. withdraw, and since there was a couple on the wait list, they then progressed into the two empty slots. Since they had already sent their forms in, they were instantly approved.
Here's another look at the
Wind River Snowmelt
in the Wind River mountains near Lander, WY at Hobbs Park near the Bears Ears Trail. We will be south of Hobbs Park a few miles, so this is worth keeping an eye on. As you can see, there have been heavy snows (the orange line) that are well above average (the blue line). In five months to go, there could be more snow or faster melting, so it's not really a concern now. Even if it were totally impassible, the USFS would just take us somewhere else in their district.
I urge any of you who don't have email to sign up with a web mail service if you don't have philosophical problems with this. I'll occasionally send info on our mail list that I may not put in the other places on this page or directly write you. Using email doesn't impact our trip budget. One that Jerry is using is hotmail.com. I also use it. With a web-based email, you can go to another town, log in to the web at a public library, and read your email. You can find this no-cost service at this site, which is easy to use. Just click the "Sign Up Here!" button to join. Once you have an email login name and password, you can sign on to the listbot (list robot) at the bottom of this page. You can then send me your address for future email.
Tuesday, March 23, 1999: Those who have not received approval from me must get your information and medical forms to me ASAP. I have now sent reminders about this to those who are listed as unapproved. Why is this important? There are five persons on the wait list who have already sent their forms, and would be approved to go if there is space. If you really want to go on the trip, send your forms in so we can resolve some uncertainty. The three USFS vehicles limit the trip size. If we don't have a trainee assigned, one extra seat not in the count could become available. But if one more space becomes available, another couple can go. The time of wait list reservation determines who goes on the reserved space list first. There is no choosing by me from the wait list, although if someone on the wait list seemed remarkably unsuitable, I would try to dissuade him, but that is not the case with these five! We don't have enough to run a second section, unfortunately.
I am experimenting with an email list server from Hotlist to announce changes to the webpage, etc., for trip members and others. For those who don't have a email account, but who look at this website at a public access computer in a school or library, please take a look at hotmail.com. Just type this in the Location space at the top of the browser. It's where the http:// usually shows. The Hotmail site allows free email for all and is easy to set up. You can then access your email from any remote site, like the Lander Public Library or where you live. Last year, I used one of their computers to post a note at the top of this webpage just a few days before the trip.
I finally retired from Harris Corporation on 3/16/99, with nearly 21 years there. Perhaps I'll get caught up with the website info a little faster.
Many thanks to Mr. Ed Sweeney of the 1998 trip, who sent three photodisks of pictures. He graciously allowed me to post these, so I'll start a photo gallery page soon. Of course, these photos have his copyright and may be otherwise used only with his permission.
Wednesday, March 03, 1999: The trip will be a "go" assuming all applicants are approved. Not only are there enough, but there are 5 on the wait list.
You can see the area at this link. If you click on "see Map", you can compare what you saw with the map that I am sending you.
The national office has changed their recommended travel agent to "Beyond the Bay Travel", which is mandatory for trip outing staff. Their phone number is 800-542-1991 in San Francisco. Fax is 415-421-1816. After-hours emergency number is 800-358-1278, email at 76753.710@compuserve.com; cc:Mail alias is "Beyond the Bay". Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Coast Time, Monday through Friday. Address is 520 Davis St. San Francisco, CA 94111. Ms. Patti Wylie is currently the preferred contact there. This agency formerly serviced the club a year or so ago, so they understand our special needs to go to difficult places.
jokemaster@ottawacomputer.com writes:
We just received this alert from the West coast. Be cautious! The British Columbia Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters and golfers to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the field.
Wednesday, February 03, 1999 -- First serious update:
Have had good response to the initial magazine release. I have obtained address labels from for those requesting a trip brochure and have mailed them a greeting and invitation letter.
This map shows the general area of Moss Creek
7/19/98:
Skip Shoutis called today. The Bears Ears Trail is still impassible due
to snow. Our wrangler (love using that word), Walt Shupe, is out in the
area to check out some adjacent sites.
One possibility is working on a bridge at Moss Creek, which has access
through the Indian Reservation. The other is near Sand Creek on the
Bears Ears Trail below the snowline. In that case, we would camp near
the Sand Creek crossing.
Temperature in Lander has been 100 degrees in the last week, which means
about 90 in the mountains. There is high water in the rivers as the snow
melts off. In mid June, they had 14 inches of snow on the Louis Lake
Loop Road south of the Sinks.
So it sounds like we will have an interesting time where ever we go.
If we are near Sand Creek, I don't think we would have easy access to
fishing, but would have to cross a ridge to the south. I think the
license cost may be about $30, but I'm not sure. If we go to Moss Creek,
there are lots of lakes and streams in that area.
With so much snow and the melting race, it's hard to tell what will
happen.
I'm in the last frenzy of packing, as we leave Wednesday. See you soon.
6/28/98: We have another trip member going as our trainee. This makes 12 now. Jerry & I are in the last phases of trip planning and really getting ready. Let me know if you have any last minute questions.
As of 6/15/98, we have eleven participants, and the fees will meet the budgeted expenses without going for a subsidy from the Club. I've talked with our trip liaison, Dennis O'Connor at the Club office, and he agrees that the trip is a go! Jerry and I have made our trip air reservations for Orlando to Salt Lake City and will drive a rental car from there to minimize expenses. We will arrive SLC on 7/22, and we return from there 8/9/1998. We will likely stay at the Maverick Motel in Lander (mid-scale, reasonable rates, downtown, restaurant). We start grocery shopping on Thursday, but can be reached through the Washakie Ranger Station.
I've added a Trip Website Guide to the main (front) page, and I would appreciate your comments on what you would like to improve it. It's aimed at trip leaders who might be thinking about this means of communication. I plan to present the subject at the Annual Staff Seminar in the Berkeley area later this week. I also will cover GPS for club staff as another topic.
5/31/98: Carla S. and Don P. have been notified of their approval. I have sent an invitation to six trip applicants for Linda Gerdenich's trip. She wrote that there were insufficient signups for that trip, which was to be the week after ours got back. Next week, I will call our reservationist to check the situation.
The United Express connection to Riverton is Great Lakes Airline, replacing Mesa Airlines, which pulled out. Based upon recent prices, Jerry & I will probably go to Salt Lake City and rent a car.
5/12/98: Two more applicants have posted their deposits.
5/2/98: I have spoken with Mr. Skip Shoutis, the Washakie District Trails Supervisor. He intends that we will camp near Dutch Oven Lake on the Moss Lake Trail about one-third of a mile north of the Bears Ears Trail. The Bears Ears Trail starts at Dickinson Park Ranger Guard Station. There are two potential work areas: one near Dutch Oven Lake, and one slightly higher up from last year's work on the Bears Ears Trail near the switchbacks near Little Valentine Lake. This is a good way in, so there might be a bivouac (over night temporary camp) on the way in.
Skip said there is a new airline operating from Riverton, the closest commercial airport, about 30 miles NE of Lander. They may have a home base in the Great Lakes area. There is also an airport at Casper, about 2.5 hours east. He used that on his last trip. I haven't researched this lately.
4/20/98: I recently heard from another trip leader (Linda G.), who had only three signups for her Wind River trip. She will refer her applicants to our trip.
4/6/98: I noticed that I had miscoded a link to the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). I reworked this page too fast, and now it will work ok. FAQs are traditional to provide the answers to questions that most people would ask. I'd like your questions as well to improve our communication. Please let me know what else you might wonder about.
I was looking at one of the snowfall sites last night. A strong storm dumped quite a lot of snow into the Hobbs Park area. Snows continue several months, usually melting off in early July.
I've doe some more checking on Mesa Airlines (a United Airlines connection) out of the Denver hub. They are still flying in Wyoming, judging by the Travelocity fare checker.
The home (index) page guest book works, and if you don't have email but see this at a library or school where email services are not provided, you may leave a message or question there. I'll try to check it frequently.
3/8/98: Two couples from the Northwest are now approved for the trip. Waiting for updated info and medical forms from an applicant who just missed out last year. I noticed that the snowfall sites have now been updated. The rangers ride out after the worst of the snowmelt-swollen rivers have subsided to pick priority sites needing our services. The Washakie District covers so much area that we could be as much as 15-20 miles away from the previous year's trip. We need only get to the ranger station, as they provide four-wheel drive vehicles to take us from Lander to the trailhead.
Note that the trip will depart the ranger station on Tuesday, 7/28/98 and end there on Thursday, 8/6/98 to facilitate the USFS personnel schedules. I'm rechecking the webpages to be sure these dates are used, and not last year's.
I saw a news article that Mesa Airlines, the United partner, is considering dropping service to Riverton, about 30 miles to the NE of Lander. They are reported to have discontinued service to Cody, and the WY governor was musing about starting a state airline. I haven't any update to this news yet.
We've also flown to Salt Lake City and driven a rental car to Lander. Locally in Lander, there is a Rent-A-Wreck agency that has cars that are in good condition. The closest Hertz and Avis agencies are in Riverton. There are shuttle buses between Riverton and Lander, and also between Salt Lake City and Lander. It's a long way from Cheyanne or Casper. Another access airport is Grand Teton, but it's an expensive yuppie/movie star area.
1/1/98: Jerry and I plan to arrive at Lander on 7/24/98 at about 10:30 am.
Items of interest from the 1997 trip:
7/13/97: Here are some photos from the central Popo Agie area. The page isn't well set up yet, but I wanted you to be able to see it anyway.
Walt Shoup, our USFS wrangler, called 7/10/97. The snowfall is still heavy and slow in melting. He and another went to the Atlantic Peaks area south of Stough Creeks Lakes, and there were still 10-12 ft snowdrifts. It is hardened up, and the horses were able to cross the snow without sinking in. Their inspection in the Bears Ears Trail area will be postponed another week, but they still are planning on our going there. Meltoff is pretty fast when it starts. You can see the snowmelt effects
here and here.
(Push back to return here.) The Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River is from the central area, and we will be further north and higher. Some six to ten inches of snow melts to an inch of water, so 10 inches SWE (snow water equivalent) is about 60 to 100 inches of snow. Notice that the second peak back in May was where new snow fell, and now the level is holding somewhat steady. The potential is 2.5 ft below flood stage, so Lander will be dry.
Walt says that Bernie Davison is now the District Ranger, and Garry Edson is on special assignments. I still report to Skip Shoutis. The big leased vans are gone now, and they will make other arrangements to get us to the trailhead. They are also maybe short on utility vehicles, which may make transportation of groceries to the warehouse two miles north of town more difficult. Jerry and I are planning on renting a car at Riverton, but we may need some help from early arrivals to turn the car in prior to the trip.
Now is the time to imagine being there, and visualize the things you will need and those you won't. I always bring something unneeded and wish I just had something else. Planning is the best way. I don't know if the national office still sends out recommended equipment lists; please email me yes or no. Good lists are available many places on the web.
Try the Backpacker magazine site. Also, here is a search list for equipment.
Time to make ready -- it won't be long now!
7/1/97: Mr. Shoutis is planning on our working on the Bears Ears Trail between Adams Pass and the South Fork of the Little Wind River. From Dickinson Guard Station, this is a good climb to the pass, with a long open stretch in the high country. We would pass north of Mt. Chauvenet. The area still has snow now, so he doesn't plan to ride in to check until 7/14. Snow should melt soon.
I'm trying some forms on the home page. Only the guestbook works now. Please try it.
Added a page on the Maroon Bells trip in 1993. (See below.)
I will be mailing out a list of trip members and other info perhaps about July 1st. I'll try to get an update from the Washakie Ranger Station before then. Jerry has gotten her recipes planned to accomodate special dietary needs. I'm working on webpages on river crossings and safety in response to comments from last year's trip members. If there is a topic you think would be of general interest, please let me know, and I'll see what I can do.
5/12/97: Several changes with members, and more accepted for the trip. I hope to update the website more this weekend, but have been working overtime for weeks, now. Here's some tentative info on bus service from Salt Lake City to Lander. Wind River Transportation Authority, 800-439-7118; fax, 307-332-7180. Lv. SLC 4:30 pm AR. Lander 10:30 pm. Lv. Lander 5 pm, Ar. SLC 11? pm. $75 one way & $150 round trip. From Riverton WY, Wind River Tours is $34 round trip, but air travel is by commuter jet from SLC or Denver and is expensive.
4/15/97: The trip has filled! As of the 4/11/97 trip report, all 15 slots are reserved. Adding the three staff, this fills the two suburban vans and a big pickup truck that the Lander Station uses to transport us to the trailhead. This is two times (driver plus 7 trip crew plus a few packs) plus (driver plus two trip crew plus rest of the packs) equals three drivers plus 18 trip crew for a total load of 21. This may require riding behind the gear-shift hump, but we'll fit. It's part of the getting-to-know-you process. ;-)
3/12/97: Lander weather now 30-60 degrees; 40% chance of snow.
For more info, email Frank R. Leslie,
Webmaster
They are advising people to wear noise producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly. They also advise us to carry pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity.
People should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper.
From www.oocities.org/Yosemite/1270/updatepast.html
Frank R. Leslie,
07/24/2001
