One More Bear Question!

We%26#39;ll be going to the Park on Monday morning - arriving from the Southern entrance. We want to drive in and first head up to Glacier Point. My question is this: will the car be safe from bears while we are walking to/from Glacier Point or do we need to go to the valley first to get a bear container? We won%26#39;t have food, just toiletries but I%26#39;ve heard the bears go after anything scented!

One More Bear Question!

You will be fine. They will give you bear information at the gate. Ask them specifically about tioletries at Galcier Point but don%26#39;t count on them giving you any slack. They have a tendancy to be black and white about it. We left our entire lunch in an ice chest in a dirt parking lot while we hiked to Vernal Falls one afternoon and had no problems. I would not recommend this. We just totally forgot where we were/didn%26#39;t think things through. We ate it when we got back from our hike. I have never personally seen a bear in Yosemite in all the times I鈥檝e visited. On the other hand, I have seen many bears in Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes both day and night. The one thing that is noticeable is how much they want to stay away from humans.You are most at risk during the evening and night hours when there are no people out and about. Truly, bears do not want to come in contact with humans so they don%26#39;t hang around when people are around.

One More Bear Question!

I don%26#39;t go to the parks too often but the last time I was in Sequoia (2 yrs ago) there was a bear near the Gen. Grant tree. It didn%26#39;t seem to be bothered by the humans all around. We also saw a mother bear who watched while her two cubs played at the side of the main road. The bears are definitely there and I would do as directed. Better safe then sorry.

You shouldn%26#39;t need to stash your toiletries before heading to Glacier Point, the bear break-ins mostly happen at night when no one is around the cars. The GP parking lot is very busy during the day and it%26#39;s very unlikely a bear would try to break into a car there in broad daylight. Still do as the rangers say, of course and at least keep things in the trunk out of sight.

There are so many people in the Glacier Point parking lot, that the odds of a bear-break in are very, very slim. No problem leaving toiletries in the car, especially if you don%26#39;t park way, way in the back of the lot.

Thanks everyone! I%26#39;m so excited about this trip! I can%26#39;t wait to drive through the tunnel and come out and see that incredible view!

You%26#39;ve already gotten your answers here, but I just wanted to add that when we were in the park this summer, we had to check out of the Lodge before spending the rest of the day hiking to Vernal and then driving up to Glacier Point. We were concerned because our car would be full of our suitcases and a cooler, so we asked at the front desk if we should leave anything behind at the hotel. They said that as long as it%26#39;s full daylight and you%26#39;re in a busy parking lot our things would be fine in the car. And, indeed, they were.

The car break-ins basically occur at night.

Have a great trip- wish I was going!

Phillygirl--

I envy you. And just wanted to say that if you are going to Glacier Point first (a fine plan), you may not be as amazed coming out of the tunnel. Only because you will have already been to Washburn Overlook (on the road to GP) which is AMAZING and Glacier Point itself. Have to say it was one of the highlights of our trip to Yosemite last month.

The tunnel view is gorgeous....it%26#39;s just that you will have already been amazed :)