WOW! Just got the word that bears are running roughshod over the two campgrounds at Shelf Road (where I was headed this weekend, in a tent!) and have been shredding tents and otherwise wreaking havoc. Luckily we have friends with a house nearby, so are still going. But climbers beware! Bears have NEVER been an issue in this high desert climbing area, but have figured out that since everyone leaves their coolers out (because there are NO bears!) it is a great place for a Memorial Day picnic!

This post is a little alarmist! Thanks for the heads up though! Food and anything that smells like food should always be kept out of reach of animals and never in your tent when camping. Bears are not the only animals who get into coolers. Raccoons and marmots and many other species have been known to weasel there ways into coolers, boxes, and closed plastic tubs for food. Yosemite National Park is known not only for its beautiful landscape but also its famous food thieving bears. YNP has 2 helpful sites about recreating in bear habitat.
Re: food storage:
http://www.yosemite.national-park.com/camping.h…
Re: what to do if you meet a bear in developed areas vs back country:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/scarebear…
P.S. Trad Rules!!!!