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I will be doing John Muir from Devils Post Pile,in August Any advice would be most welcome,Its my first major hike in years,Also as a anti social hike normaly solo ,will be part of small group.

Mammoth? No, but the Dow Hotel in Lone Pine is a really neat old place, historic, and cheap, too. Love that old place!

Now about that bear canister. Have you checked to see if it is a requirement in the area where you'll be hiking? They can be rented at outdoor stores in the area, also. They are not cheap, but in some areas it is actually illegal to backpack without one. You might also be able to rent or borrow one locally.

I didn't find the use of the bear canister to be a super big problem. I rented it from some people who had just bought two of them, and wanted to get some of the money back they had spent on them. I think they cost about 50 bucks or so to buy, as I recall. Even with my old frame pack I had no trouble fitting the bigger one inside. Plus they make them that are more floppy, instead of being like having this giant Tupperware bucket in your pack! The one I used was the giant bucket type. In addition to your food you are supposed to put everything in there that has an odor, including insect repellent, lotion, etc.

We were told that use of these devices has made a huge difference in cutting down on bear problems in the Sierra. We actually saw no bears. In fact, living here in the White Mountains where we see so many animals all the time, including quite a few bears, that was one disappointing thing about the Sierras, we saw no large wildlife at all.

Don't forget to take some kind of mosquito repellent. The skeeters can be really fierce there, really amazingly awful. And I wouldn't bother with any New-Age Health-Food Super-Duper Herbal Peace-Love-and-Brown-Rice type of mosquito repellent, I would take good old Cutter's or other brand with 100% DEET in it! That is what actually works, after all.

That healthy stuff makes you feel all fine and pure and noble when you put first it on, right up until the mosquitos actually start biting you. Then it doesn't seem so great any more.

Bear Can is Mandatory,i will buy it and sell after use or keep for next trip.Just got home from doing part of Highline as Training trip!

Well shook them bugs they were huge!,will be doing weekly jaunts!