Preacher wrote on Nov 7^th, 2011 at 2:34pm:

We have recently settled into a practice that mostly works well for us when in a group of friends.  Dinners are communal, all other food is your own trouble.

My paddling partner and I have been doing that since '05. In fact, we both carry food packs.  Actually, it is an easier arrangement for us since we both paddle solo canoes and occasionally split off.  We also each plan, carry, and prepare half the evening meals.  That way, each of us split the camp duties nearly evenly.  (This is a very close approximation to the process we have used backpacking for nearly the last 30 years.)

I guess this has the additional advantage of splitting our food loads, making it more difficult for a bear to make off with all of it at one time.  However, to-date, we have never had a bear problem (either canoeing or backpacking).  And now, I only carry bear spray when I'm doing a true solo.

dd