Guess what, look out, I'm going off on yet another rant about (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links).

Now, if the visual I get when I read this is correct, it sounds like the second picture on this page:
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I've seen pictures like this all over and it's JUST PLAIN WRONG! The tree on the left is passable depending on the orientation of the branches. The one on the right is what it sounds like these campers did. It's obviously wrong. Those ropes need to be wrapped AROUND the tree 15 feet high. You only need a tiny nub of a branch and it's best when it's pointing away from the pack and you wrap in the opposite direction. It's friction that supports it, not a branch. The branch is only used to keep the ropes up until you tie off the second one.

The second thing that sounds wrong to me was it doesn't sound like they ever tried to scare the bear off. The second group at least made some noise. Rocks to the face have worked for me in the past. Their fur is so thick hitting the body doesn't matter. One rock to the face worked for me on a solo once. He kept coming back into the campsite with every load I took to the canoe but would retreat when I returned for more stuff, rocks in hand. He once ran off with my spare paddle with me chasing him. (I was laughing as I ran after him.) Another time he ran off with my gas can - pfffft - audible displeasure with the taste... Another memorable moment for both of us I'd guess.

My bear was so persistent he swam to the mainland where I went to repack. It took him 5-10 minutes to swim there. I got him with one last rock about 10 feet from shore. He got out of the water, shook himself off, looked back at me and kind-of groaned before walking into the forest.

Anyway, that's how I dealt with the only persistent one I ever met. I'd do the same thing again and btw - he never even noticed my food pack hanging there. I even chased him a little further away than usual before I took it down. Your mileage may vary...

This has always been a pet peeve of mine because people don't realize they are hanging the food pack wrong.

Seems to me I read recently on one of the posts that one of our members has a way of rigging his food pack rope to alert him if a bear is after his pack.  Can't remember who it was but would be interested in his/her technique.

We hang 'em high.  If a bear is going to get our food, at least he's going to have to work for it!

dlk

Quote:

I'm not sure if I'M the member your talking about, but i DO have a method and while it hasn't actually been tested in the field, i have NO doubt that it would work
i came up with this because as a solo tripper, i don't have then option of having the food pack in sight at all times!
i double portage and anyway you work it, the food pack is going to be out of sight!
in the past i would hang food pack between trips but that's a pain and sometimes there isn't a suitable hanging tree convenient for use.
a couple of years back i came up with this.
i get a lot of "gear" magazines and while looking thru one that sold home security items and personal security items, i found what i think is the answer??
it's a personal security alarm , about the size of deck of playing cards.
it's powered by 9 volt battery and has a short lanyard attached to small pin.
it has a belt clip for attaching to belt or pack strap.
when pin is pulled, a high decibel alarm is activated.
it's easily as loud as a smoke detector and IMO much shriller??
Of course i had to test it so i put it up close to head(like bears head would be) and pulled the pin!!!
i'm not sure how acute a bears hearing is or it's hearing range but if it's anywhere close to a humans, then there is NO way a bear is going to hang on to the pack with this alarm clipped to it!!
that's what i do. i clip alarm to d-ring on shoulder straps and secure lanyard around small tree or whatever is handy??
the idea is for the alarm to STAY with food pack not get pulled free.
i figure even if i get a old DEAF bear, if nothing else i won't have any trouble chasing after my pack with bear spray in hand .
you could easily rig it to a hanging pack if you had bear in area and for whatever reason it wasn't feasible to move your camp??
the alarm was under $20. and to me provides a cheap, simple method of possible deterent or at least a early warning system.
this is all a mute point to the "hiders" and the bear spray is the same way to the "naysayers" .
you can find these alarms on internet under personal security alarms.
I'm with you db, i think it was "how" and possible where he hung pack that was the problem??
i'm wondering if pack wasn't hung in most convenient spot, right in camp, rather than back in woods or down shoreline from camp??
anyway, that's my system, not for everyone i know, but works for me

Sounds like a good idea, Solotripper.  I think we may all have to get a little innovative if the bears continue to figure out our tricks.  A trip to the Q is too special and they're too far apart to have them ruined by a cantankerous old bear out to steal my grub!

dlk

i figure for the few bucks it cost and light weight it was worth adding to gear??
i did mention in previous  post, but you could take it in tent at night if you wanted to and use for "personal" alarm in event of unwanted nighttime visitor??
it's much louder than you could yell and the noise is something the "visitor" would have no knowledge of, so to me it would seem to be that much more effective??
i also can see it as a "signaling" device in event of emergency??
i carry a Fox 40 rescue whistle which is quiet loud, but i think this alarm tops that!!
other than being attacked personally, losing your food especially at start of trip would be a terrible loss of scarce and valuable tripping time!!!