MOJ Camp closed

[paul]

The backcountry status page shows Mokawannis Junction camp as closed. And I'm wondering if it was because of a problem bear.

We encountered a problem black bear at GLH camp. It kept circling the camp and checking all the sites. At one point it was coming into the camp while I was walking out in the opposite direction. I stopped and then had to backup because it didn't stop coming toward me. From then on I carried my bear spray everywhere I went in that camp.

[Jay w]

Earlier this year, it was a juvenile bear that was doing "property damage." (My term.) The bear was coming in and destroying tents. They put up some "decoy" tent and cameras, but no more destruction.

Jay

[orin]

Yeah, the last week of June I was unable to get a permit for GLH (even though I had a reservation and GLH was not officially closed) for two nights because of the tent squishing bear Jay brings up. I would guess it is probably the same animal. Hopefully it will go somewhere else but all it takes is a minor slipup by a camper to get it coming back.

[liketohike]

According to a text message the park sent out on Monday 8/21, the closure in fact is due to bear frequenting.

I agree with Orin, hopefully the bear moves on and it doesn't escalate to a bad outcome.

[sbosecker]

The backcountry status page shows Mokawannis Junction camp as closed. And I'm wondering if it was because of a problem bear.

We encountered a problem black bear at GLH camp. It kept circling the camp and checking all the sites. At one point it was coming into the camp while I was walking out in the opposite direction. I stopped and then had to backup because it didn't stop coming toward me. From then on I carried my bear spray everywhere I went in that camp.

Paul,

Thanks for this report...

I have an itinerary that will take us through this area on September 6th. We are to be in Mokawannis Lake vs. Mokawannis Juncition or Glenns Lake Head but it's good to know that there has been some problems in the vicinity.

Best regards,

Scott

[teapot57]

Was it a cinnamon black bear visiting your camp, Paul? The ranger that warned us about the Mokowanis area bear described that one as such back in July.

[paul]

No, it was a black colored black bear. I remember it having shining black fur because I got such close look at it I think it might be a different bear from the early summer incidents. I heard from a guy I was with that he checked with rangers and our bear had broke into a tent that same week. I think the bear is working a circuit of the camps in that area GLH, MOK and MOL.

It really ticks me off that some people disregard the rules for food storage and prep. It makes it dangerous for everybody. I noticed a facebook post from Glacier NP and it looked like someone was cooking in a backcountry campsite (not the food prep area).

Just checking out the North Cascades NP site and it looks like the have a lot of bear incidents in the backcountry as well. Again, due to people not following the rules.

[paul]

The backcountry status page shows Mokawannis Junction camp as closed. And I'm wondering if it was because of a problem bear.

We encountered a problem black bear at GLH camp. It kept circling the camp and checking all the sites. At one point it was coming into the camp while I was walking out in the opposite direction. I stopped and then had to backup because it didn't stop coming toward me. From then on I carried my bear spray everywhere I went in that camp.

Paul,

Thanks for this report...

I have an itinerary that will take us through this area on September 6th. We are to be in Mokawannis Lake vs. Mokawannis Juncition or Glenns Lake Head but it's good to know that there has been some problems in the vicinity.

Best regards,

Scott

Just keep an eye out for this bear. By the way, there are tons of berries along the trail this year. Especially, Thimble berries and Service berries.

[orin]

A good berry year helps with the bear problems. In late summer bears eat a lot to prepare for winter hibernation. When there are plenty of natural foods they are less troublesome around campsites.