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Posted by Bill S on March 25, 2008 at 12:59:17 pm EDT
In reply to Camp Kitchen Shelter posted by Kapiltranistapidal on March 25, 2008 at 12:10:22 am EDT

If you are in the Sierra, there is very rarely a need for any type of cooking shelter. I don't think in the 50+ years I have been spending time in the Sierra backcountry, I have used or felt the slightest need for a shelter to cook aside from the backcountry ski tours and other winter trips, and even then, only rarely. I would suggest that for your middle of the night needs, 2 or 3 energy bars would do quite well, with no need for cooking. This isn't like the Cascades or Presidentials (or the British Columbia Coast Range, where rains can last for days - Sierra (and Rockies) rains in the April through November season are typically midday through afternoon, hour or two affairs, and you mostly go for days with no rain at all. I won't go so far as Jardine and suggest just using an umbrella (though that works well enough). I do use a Siltarp occasionally, but only in winter, when storms can last for a few days. kutenay's suggestion of a plastic tarp is a good one. However, I will disagree with his comment about hanging bear attractants (GASP! I actually disagreed with kutenay about something!) In much of the Sierra, especially Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, and the Inyo NF, the bears have learned how to get into most of the bear-"proof" methods, including all the hanging methods and the UrSacks, and in one area, even into one of the types of bear canisters. So you will have to use one of the 3 tested and approved bear canisters, and definitely put ALL bear attractants in them, at a distance of at least 100 feet from your sleeping area.

The Coast Range on the Pacific side does get drippy during the night from the fog in summer, and Shasta does get summer storms, as do the Trinity Alps. In these, a simple plastic dropcloth leanto will work just fine.

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