Tetons

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MOAK

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Off-Road Ranger I

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Wherever we park it will be home !!
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Donald
Last Name
Diehl
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Hello everybody,

We are in the very early planning stages for next years 6 week tour. We will be leaving home about the middle of August, thru middle of Sept. My daughters family will be meeting us at our first destination and spending about a week with us then heading back to Va Beach, work and school for the boys. As most everyone knows, the Pine Beetle epidemic is causing the grizzly to seek food in much different places than they ever have before. Being experienced back country campers Virginia and I keep a spotless campsite, having very little waste and what waste we do have is immediately looked after and dispensed of properly. We have odor proof boxes for our dry foods, and an odor/bear proof cooler. Nothing comes into the tent with us. Years ago we vowed never to do grizzly country until we got ourselves into a hard sided teardrop.
My daughter is set upon overland camping in the Teton region. However, the boys, aged 10 and 13, along with mom and dad have virtually no back country experience, let alone in bear country. I'm thinking seriously of insisting in a complete change of venue and overlanding the continental divide heading north from Chama NM. to I-70. My question, in case no one has guessed it. Am I being paranoid about this grizzly thing?
 

ASNOBODY

Rank VI
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Advocate II

3,984
Detroit, Michigan
Member #

3270

I've spent some wonderful times in the Tetons and surrounding area camping and snowboarding for the last several years. I've still not seen a bear. They are definitly out there all over the place, just be safe with your food and situational awareness as usual. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the Tetons! :)
 
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Road

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Advocate III

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On the road in North America
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Road
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Dude
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Can't say I'm aware of how the Grizzly's might be moving or where, because of the Pine Beetle problem, and the last time I was in the Tetons for camping was literally decades ago, but I'd say that most folks don't run across them as much with vehicle camping as they might if hiking. I saw more bears (Black bears) in Kings Canyon and Sequoia than I've ever seen Grizzlys anywhere else. I'd check in online with the rangers and local wildlife guys to see what they think, and where they think is currently wise to family camp. I'm sure they're tracking reports and movement.
 

MOAK

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

2,865
Wherever we park it will be home !!
First Name
Donald
Last Name
Diehl
Member #

0745

Ham/GMRS Callsign
WRPN 506
that is good
Can't say I'm aware of how the Grizzly's might be moving or where, because of the Pine Beetle problem, and the last time I was in the Tetons for camping was literally decades ago, but I'd say that most folks don't run across them as much with vehicle camping as they might if hiking. I saw more bears (Black bears) in Kings Canyon and Sequoia than I've ever seen Grizzlys anywhere else. I'd check in online with the rangers and local wildlife guys to see what they think, and where they think is currently wise to family camp. I'm sure they're tracking reports and movement.
Great advice. I love having conversations with rangers and do so often as we are planning our trips. However, I will have to make the call well after their busy season, when they have the time to engage in an extended conversation.
 
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