I know bears are in the vacinity when I see fresh bear poo! There are lots of places up high in Yosemite where I would not expect to see bears- such as the off-trail, above-timber, upper Lyell Fork of the Merced, right up against Mt. Lyell. Headwaters of Hutchins Creek. Alger Lakes. McClure Lake. Edna Lake. Shepherd Lake. Soldier Lake. Much of the very high country is not bear habitat. Not that you may not ever see a bear, but regular bear encounters are not expected.