10 Bear Canisters (Read 13005 times)
climbmda
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Bear Canisters
Jan 11th, 2006 at 6:56pm
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I am used to using canisters on backpacking trips, but have always hung food in the BWCA.  This year, for a solo, since my food will easily fit in a bear canister, I am planning on that.

Are there any BWCA regs regarding canisters vs. hanging?  Is there an approved canister list?

Just curious...
  
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Beemer01
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #1 - Jan 11th, 2006 at 8:44pm
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I'm not aware of any, unlike some of the Rocky Mtn. Parks with fairly specific rules and regs on these matters. 

Read any of Cliff Jacobson's books and you'll see that he suggests stashing the food of in the woods, on the ground away from camp in a Canoe Pack.  (Evidently mice don't inhabit Cliff's world).   ???

Most of us here are probably 'hangers', with elaborate and cunning systems utilizing pulleys and mechanical leverage -(though some of us believe that Hope is indeed a strategy and simply leave food in camp with a pot balanced on top of the food pack).  Undecided

I think if you use a vittle vault and place it away from camp on your solo trips your granola bars will be safe.  That's more or less what I plan to do on future solo trips, especially since I forgot my food hanging system up on Insula last September. Cry

If anyone found it, please feel free to call - big reward offered!
  
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climbmda
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #2 - Jan 11th, 2006 at 8:53pm
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Yeah-  I always thought a few of Cliffy's ideas were a little whacked.  I do agree with the theory that the bears know where the good hanging trees are on popular routes, though.  I still would never want to leave food out in just a pack.  However, I figure a Nat'l Park approved bear canister ought to be sufficient.

Thanks for the reply.
  
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The_Beaver
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #3 - Jan 11th, 2006 at 9:31pm
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As long as, when storing the canister for the night, you cinch up the straps real tight, so the bear can't easily slip it over its shoulders...you should be fine.

The Beaver Wink
  
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climbmda
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #4 - Jan 12th, 2006 at 1:08pm
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Good point.  Actually, one of the cardinal rules for backpackers canisters is to make sure there is no fabric or handle of any kind on it that would allow a bear to drag it away.  They are also made in a size that the bear can't pick up.  They will sometimes play a little "bear soccer" with them before they give up, though.

I try to avoid putting them near vertical drops or rivers for this reason.
  
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pigsmoke
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #5 - Jan 12th, 2006 at 5:13pm
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I've done 5 solo's in the past 3 years, and I always pack a bear can.  I can easily get 5 days worth of food into it. I stash it away from my camp, usually under a log or something out of the way. Never had a problem, and it's easy to get to my food. Hanging always seemed like such a pain, and finding a good hanging tree can be problematic at some campsites. The cans are too big for a bear to get it's jaws around, and there is nothing that would allow it to be dragged away. Making sure it wont get rolled off a cliff or into a lake is your only concern. I always vacum seal my food which cuts down on odors and I've found that a Reynolds Oven roasting bag makes the perfect can liner.  I turn it upside down to prevent moisture from creaping in around the lid seams. I keep a washer the size of a quarter with a hole in the center on a leather rope around my neck for opening the can. For longer solos, or with my wife along I carry two and have numbers spray painted on the outside so I'm not constantly opening the wrong can.

"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler" - Albert Einstein.
  
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ab
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #6 - Jan 12th, 2006 at 6:51pm
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I stumbled into the bear barrel strategy last year.  I was at the REI scratch&dent sale and scored a smallish bear vault on the cheap.  I'd always been a 'hang em high' kinda guy, but for the money I thought I'd give it a shot.

1st, let me say it's great on a solo because it holds a weeks supplies nicely.  Also, it is nice to have one less chore on a solo.  I enjoy a lot of the camp work, but the pack hanging can be a hassle.

As for as location, I agree with others that have said to be careful about where it might roll off to.  I would stash it in such a way that it was fairly visable from the direction of camp, just so when I was trying to find it I'd have an easier time.

Here's my question, how far is far enough away?  I've always struggled with this when hanging or stashing.  My rule of thumb has been, go until you think it's far enough, then double that distance.  So far, never had a bear in camp...
  
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db
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #7 - Jan 13th, 2006 at 7:28am
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Quote:
...<SNIP> Here's my question, how far is far enough away?  I've always struggled with this when hanging or stashing.  My rule of thumb has been, go until you think it's far enough, then double that distance.  So far, never had a bear in camp...

Cliff's idea would be great IF people did that instead of the reverse or worse. I KNOW how that goes.

I hang because it works better and is easier than hiding for me IF the campsite warrants either. Some approved sort of barrel sounds great. Really great. No worries beyond it being pawed into the lake which only affects you, not the people who follow you.

The blue (no problems/mice yet) barrels scare me. My $3 RubberMaid food pack is blue (mouse proof) and I hear (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links). (see: Facts>Vision) Plus, I know how lazy and lucky people THINK they are...
  
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arkansasman
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Re: Bear Canisters
Reply #8 - Jan 13th, 2006 at 10:33am
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I use a little different strategy with a lue barrel.  I have two a 10 gallon and a 12 gallon.  Both were able to be placed inside an army duffle bag with backpacking straps to make it easier to carry.  I hide them away from camp, not close to a trailm under brush.  The olive green bag makes hiding easier.  I just make sure no one has touched it after handling food, to keep odors off of the fabric.  I am doing first solo this summer and the barrels are two big for just one person, but I will figure some thing out.  I would like to be able to keep everything for me in one pack, food, clothes, tent, sleeping pad, cook gear, tarp... you know everything  Grin

Bruce
  
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azalea
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Ursack
Reply #9 - Jan 13th, 2006 at 2:03pm
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On my last trip (4 people, 11 days) I used a combination approach, 4 Ursacks and one bear canister.  The Ursacks keep bears (and other critters) out, but are subject to being crushed.  So the Ursacks contained all the stuff that crushing would not hurt which was most things (rice, dried hamburger, etc, etc).  The canister stored anything for which we wanted crush protection (oil, syrup, etc).

Ursacks are nice because they are light and they decrease in size as food is consumed.  Bear attacks are rare (I have been fortunate to never experience one), so as long as the Ursacks protect my food from loss, risking a little crushing is a gamble I consider worth taking (risking total loss by hiding is not a gamble I am willing to take).

Now Ursack sells a liner that provides crush protection as well.  But I question if the liner is worth it.
  
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