Huh. OK, I understand. I got the tip about CloudsRest. We'll be descending from there into LYV, and the *many* times I've already been the route, I've always ducked out of "doing the cables". Well, this time, my brother has asked to come along, and so, since I've never been up there, we're gonna go up.
AT, your advice is "not to leave packs". Is it appropriate to take a pack up the cables? If not, then, well, what? Just not go up, 'cause you can't leave the pack? See how I'm confused about that? But, I've read the threads on this site about the specific bear activities you've mentioned, so I understand *why* you write "don't leave the packs". The assumption becomes, if I follow that (not leave the packs) advice, and I either: can not, or will not, take the pack up the cables, then whats left? Not go up, right?
I get the drill: Open all pockets, remove all stinky things (into the can), no fair having a "good smelling" pack aka soap bar, toothpaste, etc , remove all pack stuff scatter it around (OK, pile neatly), ditch the can separately, in a tree bole if possible (good call, AT), or some place where it wont roll away under a nudging nose or paw, and go have worry-free fun.
Marmots and squirrels have left my pack alone when completely opened. I have left my pack outside the tent at nite for decades, never any problems. They look, sniff, (never seen'em squat), and leave. Good thing they don't have pack rat tendencies. I live with those critters here in the Tucson Sonoran Desert, man I hate them.
OK, there was that one time, when I forgot about the bar of soap in the side pocket. He chewed the pocket to get it, then "coughed" up. (You've eaten soap as a kid right? Pretty awful). We laughed for days about that bear gagging. That had us in stitches! It was O'Dark thirty at nite, and that durned bear grabbed my pack and took off down the mountain, dumping my pack along the way. I chased it in my skivvies, just being rudely awakened out of my bag. My plane ticket, my cash, my stuff! Took me hours to recollect it all. OK, I think my buddies were laughing more at me than the bear gagging. I have a selective memory about that part now
Given the popularity of the ascent, I'm surprised there's no "hang" cable. I was kinda hoping I would be told here, "Oh yeah, just use the hang cable..."