Most of the Yellowstone info is probably directed at grizzly, something you won't see in CA. Here you will have his smaller cousin, Mr. Black Bear. Far as I know, the general rule of thumb with blacks, in addition to the clean camp stuff, is still to try to run them off with noise, rock throwing, etc. If attacked (a very rare occurance), fight tooth and nail, don't play dead. I have tent camped and backpacked all over CA, much of it in Yosemite National Park (home of the worlds smartest bears), and never had a problem. In fact, I have never even seen a bear in Yosemite, even in the back country! Now Sequoia NP, that is a different story, but you aren't going there. Just take normal precautions like keeping a clean camp, storing food out of sight, etc, and don't worry...