I was up at panther gourge lean-to on 6/20 bivied on the 21st from a hanging tent on the gourge side cliffs of marcy and then in the slant rock lean-to on the 22nd. We then exited over haystack to elk lake via panther gourge trail. While we hiked we did not see any bear sign(prints or scat) and we are looking. This was a little disterbing,I for one enjoy seeing the bears and have not given the Bears food in some time (14 years). The carrying of a bear can will not solve the problem unless the DEC establishes a way for the novice to afix the can to a stationary object, and this must be away from the lean-to The chances are that they will still cook directly in front of the shelter.So then there food scent will be acrosss an even larger area.There is no Final salotion,I,ve often thought bear valts near the lean-tos say 1/4 ml. away onthe trail to the lean-to could help. There are some that would see this as a trash can. I to perfer to camp "at large" and do not bag my food.There are many who frown upon this they have not seen me fight for my food. If you step up to the bully,the bully loses sight of its objective . I will apolojize in advance as I am sure most do not see this as rational behavior I do belive that when the bears stop thinking of us as pray/food source most of the problems will subside.this again is just the abstract ranting of a mad man.