What do you do with your food packs at night or when you are away?

1.)  Hang from trees.
2.)  Stash away from camp.
3.)  Keep in camp.
4.)  Other

Food is always hung and away from camp. No sense in taking any chances I don't eat fish.

I usually hang mine. But did a canoe trip in Alaska talked with a guide that only uses bear proof containers without smelly food and has never had a problem over the years.

The search police called and you have been issued a forum violation.

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wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2004 at 11:22pm:

The search police called and you have been issued a forum violation.   (You need to Login or Register

LOL

Maybe, this year we should forget about the upcoming football season as the game was already played last season.  Perhaps new research for medical ailments should be dropped since we already know it all.  Since the perfect tent was made already, perhaps we should forget about research and development.

I dunno....just a thought. However, I also agree it is nice to see the Research Police add to a thread.  Better to add then just forget about R & D.... eh Stumpy?

I still hang my bag, but that may all change some day after getting a look at Woods Blue Barrel Food pack this weekend.  I would rather not mention that I had a small issue with my Duluth food pack this weekend, but gonna.... Driving 80 on I 29 headed south wind gust of 45 combined for wind speeds of 125, lifted and hurdled my bag off the back of my truck. Quite a tumble. However only a small rip that can be stiched. :)  Duluth makes a fine product I'd say.

K

Quote:

Maybe, this year we should forget about the upcoming football season as the game was already played last season.  Perhaps new research for medical ailments should be dropped since we already know it all.  Since the perfect tent was made already, perhaps we should forget about research and development.

Perhaps your talking out your rear end again?

Please be sure to let me know when your team of flunkies reinvent the wheel.

Er, uh, I believe wheels are reinvented all the time...More metal these days and less rubber...Something about better milage and acceleration? Or did I miss somthing PJ?

You gotta call off the dogs on this one, PJ.  It's always so much fun when it's an issue like this that is important to everyone and so many people are fanatical that their way is the only way!

Call these topics "phoenix" as they arise from the ashes again and again.

Me?  I quit hanging more'n 20 years ago and have yet to have a problem.  I think choosing the right campsite is the best bear deterrent there is.  If I ever camp in an area that has signs of recent bear activity you can be sure of 2 things:

1.  I will use pots and pans to set up a bear alarm.

2.  There is no better unoccupied campsite that was within reach before full dark set in.

I refuse to hang a pack unless there are trees around that will allow me to hang the requisite distance off the ground, below the tree limb, and away from the tree trunk (10 feet, four feet, and four feet, respectively).  I find such trees only occasionally.  Anything else is a bear pinata.  Hanging also allows maximum odor dispersal by any breeze which can call a bear right into camp.  Then there's the problem of leeches, toothpaste, deodorant, scent-impregnated baits, the landing net, etc., etc., etc.  While  having a bear get into these items is decidedly less catastrophic than a bear in the food, all of these could also attract a bear's interest.  Far better to just pick a campsite that bear are unlikely to visit in the first place.

But that's just me and I'm not out to convert anyone.  Hang 'em if you want to.  I will admit the bear barrells are intriguing, but most are too big or too small to fit with my packing system.

I will try something new this year.  I was able to find for $60 four   (You need to Login or Register.  Those will supplement a
  (You need to Login or Register for a party of 4 for 10 nights.

The previous trip I hung.  Before that, pots and pans.

My reply won't be found under the old, stale, "Bear
Proofing" thread  :-/.

I have always hung my food and have never had a
problem (a good reason not to change). But... from this
year on I will (maybe) always pack my food in surplus,
airtight, aluminum 20 lb. naval powder kegs. Each keg
should hold about 20 lbs. of food and still float (a fetish
of mine). I painted four of them various shades of dark
green, so bears won't be able to see them (but maybe I
will). I will cleverly hide them away from camp and
securely cable them to trees.

Tune back in late August to see if this was a good idea,
or not (I am not sure if bears know about wing nuts  :)).

-aj

You're right.  72 posts would never be enough information for someone to get an idea of how to handle food storage - my mistake.  Call it what you like, I call it redundant.  I don't mind the topic being resurrected from the past but why not use the same thread and then if you have something new - offer it up.

wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2004 at 12:06pm:

I don't mind the topic being resurrected from the past but why not use the same thread and then if you have something new - offer it up.

PJ:  Point well taken, and I agree. That is what I try to do,
but I am weak and lazy and get sucked into new (old)
threads too easily.

If you or db or anyone else wants to move my garbage
about powder kegs to a different, more appropriate,
thread, I would have no complaint.

-aj

Well, I wouldn't call it "garbage" asmjock - It's new info and how "YOU" do it and how someone else might do it thanks to your suggestion and experience.  By doing a search on the topic and posting there you ressurrect the topic and it comes back front and center to the current discussion.  Don't take my critique as me trying to be a** hole - it's just my feeble attempt to keep organized & relative.

My "search police" thing is really done tongue-in-cheek.

wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2004 at 5:35pm:

My "search police" thing is really done tongue-in-cheek.

Just be careful of taking anything tongue-in-cheek from someone wearing, well, lets just not go there.

FWIW - I have had good success with the Ursacks but hang them as well.  I find that, if you are using a two rope system, and you secure the primary (anchor) rope high enough, you can find ample height and separation by securing the second rope to another tree.

TB

wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2004 at 12:29am:

I dunno....just a thought. However, I also agree it is nice to see the Research Police add to a thread.  Better to add then just forget about R & D.... eh Stumpy? I still hang my bag, but that may all change some day after getting a look at Woods Blue Barrel Food pack this weekend.  I would rather not mention that I had a small issue with my Duluth food pack this weekend, but gonna.... Driving 80 on I 29 headed south wind gust of 45 combined for wind speeds of 125, lifted and hurdled my bag off the back of my truck. Quite a tumble. K

Hey K,
After reading that, I don't think it's the "Research" Police that you need be concerned with.

Stumpers.... I aint concerned about the research police... I enjoy their posts.... I just add my thoughts.... unlike you.

Frankly I'm bored with yer inability to share lately.  Have you been hanging by a rope? Yer certainly no diamond.

K

My gosh! Why are things getting heated? Someone needs to take a chill pill or go for a paddle.
I am what I am.
Popeye

I'm with Snowdog on this one. A clean camp is the best deterent there is. I've also been 25+ years away from hanging packs. Too much work, and the entertainment value derived from watching bears swatting at the pack is minimal. I'd rather hang a stringer of fish from a tree. Less work, and it will definitely call the bears to camp, as well as iritate the gulls and any companions foolish enough to stay in camp with you. ;) :D ;D ;D ::) old salt

I've always hung mine, however without the right gear and/or trees, it becomes a time consuming venture. At best, the results might have been a false sense of security. I took the time and copied the system db has documented for this website. It works like a charm and is quick to set. There is still the issue of protecting the pack while you are away from the site and as stated elsewhere on this site, the only for sure way is to take it with you.

A story comes to mind, somewhat related. A company visitor to my desk told me of his bear experience in the BWCA. A novice in his group had left a bottle of blackberry brandy in his tent. The group returned to the campsite to find an adult bear with 2 cubs that had absolutely ravaged the tent and gearpacks. The bears would not leave and the group spent 2 nights separated from their belongings.
-YB

I live in California and backpack a lot and a few years ago Yosemite park made it mandatory for all backcountry travelers to use a bear canister(avalaible at REI and similar stores).There are 2 types,one is plastic and another is aluminum and both resemble a small beer keg.I read a magazing article where a guy had a grizzly bear that he used to test such gadgets and they did their job well but the bear was eventualy able to pop open the l lid on the plastic one.Now this was a semi tame huge 1000lb  grizzly that is an expert at breaking open"new designs" and it took all his strength  and a lot of time to open it.So for black bears it would be great.The only drawback is that they arent very big and for storing eggs and meat and large items it wouldnt be very good but for freeze dried foods and smaller items it would be perfect and you just leave it out.It is to clumsy for a bear to carry and after he fools around with it for a bit they get tired of it and move on.

We stuff fish carcasses in our sleeping bags to keep the bears away from the food packs....

Anyways, rarely hang them. Generally just try to keep a clean camp.

Well said kennedy...but at the moment I must confess I'm a solo tripper.  My fish cut bait and is long gone with the loons singing, but out of reach.  These day's I look north fer good times again perhaps eh? Maybe...someday... I will bring sunshowers along again... I miss them days.

K

PJ I am no lawyer but I believe the search police can kiss my rear.  Now on the other hand maybe the comprehesion police should investigate you for failing to comprehend what my post was about.  I am well aware of the various forms of bear proofing and how to accomplish them.  My post was just a simple poll to see what forms the others use!  And just so everyone knows this is not a hostile message it is just a friendly stab back at PJ! ;D  

Also thanks to everyone that responded to my poll

Well if it was a poll you were after - it's still redundant.

CURRENT SURVEY RESULTS
For 227 entries since 7/17/00
Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding


----------------------------------------------------------

What do you do with your food at night?

Sleep with it  . . . . . . 1%  
One tree  . . . . . . . . .22%  
Two trees  . . . . . . . . 41%  
Out of camp  . . . . . . .13%  
Under canoe  . . . . . . 6%  
Bear barrel  . . . . . . . 5%  
Nothing. . . . . . . . . . 8%  

I searched and didn't find any poll relating to that issue but if there is I guess I am guilty....what is my sentence?  If you would like to arrest me I will be taking out at Nym Lake the 29th.  I will go peacefully then but not before the trip is over!

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Oh ...gosh....this one has got to go to favorite quotes. (My sides are spliting) Thank you so much Pajama Man... I fergives ya.

K

We leave them in the Deluth packs and then wrap them in a tarp and then put the clean pans on top so if a bear gets in we will know to come with the axes :)

Hang 'em and hang 'em high.  The pulley system works great, much easier and faster.