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baabamaal
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Joined: 06 Aug 2020
Posts: 4 | TRs | Pics
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Hello
Is anyone planning to do Mount Dickerman anytime soon? I was planning to do it solo, but as an inexperienced hiker after I learned of recent bear sightings, I am thinking of going with a group. Strength in numbers I guess. Let me know if you are headed up there and wouldn't mind me joining you. I can follow you at a socially safe distance.
Thank you
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Kim Brown
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Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 6899 | TRs | Pics
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You won't be alone on Dickerman! It's very popular. You'll be fine.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012
Posts: 7732 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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 Thu Aug 06, 2020 12:44 pm |
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Dickerman is a beautiful hike. There's a meadow starting about halfway up, dramatic views of the Cascades. You'll see a lot of snow and ice on the horizon.
Kim is right, you're in a lot more danger of not finding a parking space than seeing a bear. The entire hike, you won't be more than a few hundred yards from other people, often closer than that. Cascade bears are terrified of humans, they stay away from places that are so full of us.
I'd join or invite you but there are so many great hikes here that I have a long list I need to check off before heading up Dickerman again. Really don't let this stop you. And go on a clear (ish) day to enjoy the views.
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Kim Brown
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Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 6899 | TRs | Pics
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Yes, certainly - Dickerman is gorgeous. You won't be sorry! (well maybe if you're sore the next day you might be!)
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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Kim Brown
Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 6899 | TRs | Pics
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Not sore from a bear bite, I mean sore from the long, steep hike.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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Chief Joseph
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Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 7703 | TRs | Pics
Location: Verlot-Priest Lake |
You would be about as likely to see Bigfoot on Dickerman than a bear, maybe more likely.
Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
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coldrain108
Thundering Herd
Joined: 05 Aug 2010
Posts: 1858 | TRs | Pics
Location: somewhere over the rainbow |
If you look across the valley with binoculars you might be lucky enough to spot a bear in a meadow chowing down on blueberries. Look for a dark black spot in a vast green meadow, watch it for a while to see if it moves.
Since I have no expectations of forgiveness, I don't do it in the first place. That loop hole needs to be closed to everyone.
Since I have no expectations of forgiveness, I don't do it in the first place. That loop hole needs to be closed to everyone.
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Conrad
Meadow bagger
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 2298 | TRs | Pics
Location: Moscow, ID |
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Conrad
Meadow bagger
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Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:17 pm |
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| baabamaal wrote: | | as an inexperienced hiker after I learned of recent bear sightings |
Absolutely no disrespect, but if you're worried about bears on a day hike, you are, yes, inexperienced. Danger from bears on any day hike is essentially zero. Far less than the danger of hypothermia, getting lost, falling, car crash. If you're really lucky you might see a bear.
When backpacking, OTOH, depending on the place, bears attacking your food at night is a real issue, and you need to know about hanging/containering your food.
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lemArts
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Joined: 20 Aug 2018
Posts: 16 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
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lemArts
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Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:33 pm |
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I've been up Dickerman more times than I can count. I've climbed up alone in the dark to catch sunrises. I've climbed down alone in the dark after watching a sunset. And I've camped alone on top.
The bears won't kill you. The switchbacks might. Or the gray jays might. But not the bears.
In fact, in 20 years in the Cascades, I've never been lucky enough to see a bear. Plenty in the Olympics, but that's another story...
Have fun. Stay safe.
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Anne Elk
BrontosaurusTheorist
Joined: 07 Sep 2018
Posts: 2419 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
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Anne Elk
BrontosaurusTheorist
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Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:49 pm |
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| lemArts wrote: | | I've camped alone on top. |
Me too! And not only was I camping alone, I was the ONLY one up there! Ah, those were the days. 
Another bit of advice, especially if it's a hot day: pack more water than you usually do. It's a dry hike.
"There are yahoos out there. It’s why we can’t have nice things." - Tom Mahood
"There are yahoos out there. It’s why we can’t have nice things." - Tom Mahood
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Chief Joseph
Member
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 7703 | TRs | Pics
Location: Verlot-Priest Lake |
| lemArts wrote: | | In fact, in 20 years in the Cascades, I've never been lucky enough to see a bear. Plenty in the Olympics, but that's another story... |
I saw my first bears several years ago just below Goat Flats, just off the trail there was a female black bear and her cub feeding on huckleberries, they paid us no mind.
Then I saw a huge black bear in a valley near Dagger Lake in the N Cascades. It quickly ran away when I yelled.
Then this year I was hiking in the Bob Marshall and saw what looked like a yearling griz near the trail about 50 yards in front of me, I uttered a muffles Hrrph! and he turned tail and ran down the gully from which he came.
Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
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captain jack
Serving suggestion
Joined: 25 May 2004
Posts: 3389 | TRs | Pics
Location: Upper Fidalgo |
| Kim Brown wrote: | | You won't be alone on Dickerman! It's very popular. You'll be fine. |
Pack tupperware, its berry season
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012
Posts: 7732 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:30 pm |
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Never run from a bear, it triggers their predator instinct.
Again you won't even see one on Dickerman, but hopefully it won't be your last hike.
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012
Posts: 7732 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:31 pm |
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| lemArts wrote: | | In fact, in 20 years in the Cascades, I've never been lucky enough to see a bear. Plenty in the Olympics, but that's another story... |
I've seen so many up and down the Cascades, always black not brown. Lady luck has her own rules.
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rbuzby
Attention Surplus
Joined: 24 Feb 2009
Posts: 1011 | TRs | Pics
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rbuzby
Attention Surplus
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Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:47 am |
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| Cyclopath wrote: | | I've seen so many up and down the Cascades, always black not brown. |
I recently decided to make a list of all the bear sightings I can remember. The first one (or 2 ) was on Shannon ridge by Mt Shuksan, a momma and cub ran across the slope in front of us.
I got up to a total of 10 before my memory failed, or maybe 10 was all I have seen.
2 of the 10 were single bears running on a dirt road. The rest were in the backcountry.
One of the 10 was a cinnamon colored bear. That was very cool. The rest were all black, except maybe one brown bear near Hannegan pass. It was the only one of the 10 that seemed to notice me, but it was hundreds of yards away, so I cant be sure.
Most bears ignore you or run away. This was the closest bear encounter, and he was too busy to care that I was there. Of course I did all the reassuring body language. I wasn't facing him directly or looking at him at all, just looking at the back of the camera while shooting him. I think I was maybe 50 feet away from him.
Actually this little guy looks a little brown, but is still a "black" bear.
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