balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Feb 7, 2019 6:56:48 GMT -8
I'm with Markskor. We use bear cans everywhere, even where they are not required. They work not only against bears, but also mice and other rodents that have been known to get at some of the other options mentioned here.
As for hanging, although I grew up with this technique, I still remember the study from the Sierra that noted that 93% of the people who were hanging their food we doing it incorrectly and ineffectively--even those who thought they were good.
Finally, while the Ursack may prevent the bear from getting your food, what do you do when the bear is attacking your Ursack and it's time for dinner or breakfast. Do you walk up the to bear, say "excuse me" and take the Ursack away? Or do you just wait until the bear is done...and when exactly is that?
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Feb 7, 2019 9:27:13 GMT -8
What do you do when the bear is attacking your bear canister?
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markskor
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Post by markskor on Feb 7, 2019 10:09:30 GMT -8
What do you do when the bear is attacking your bear canister? Good question - they don't. Unless not latched correctly, (only from my limited backpacking experience now), canister attacks seldom last over a minute or two. Being wise and having insane nose skills, a bear instantly can tell, from afar, just by smell: what food you have, how much, and where exactly you have it stashed. Yes, they will (stealthily?) check things out but, unlike the Ursack, bears quickly learned can-futility - Sierra. |
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Post by hikerchick395 on Feb 7, 2019 10:13:46 GMT -8
Ha...in Yosemite, there's an area that bears have learned to roll a bear can off a cliff. Sometimes it will crack open. Everyone loses though if the can rolls all the way down to Tenaya Creek.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Feb 7, 2019 10:18:27 GMT -8
Bears don't generally bother Ursacks either. I've watched bears walk right past mine without showing any signs of interest. I've used an Ursack for 17 years, almost every bag night in bear country, and I've never had a problem. Maybe it's because I mostly go places where they're less habituated.
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leafwalker
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Post by leafwalker on Feb 7, 2019 11:48:55 GMT -8
For me, I want a rigid container to keep two days food in should something get into the rest of the food. I do hang the non hard contained food a short distance off the ground to slow coons, mice, etc. The small hard case is more for non bear situations. I don't hang the hard container instead "hiding" it a ways from camp in less a less travelled (camp paths) area. On canoe trips where I can take a bigger hard container that holds all food and cooking/smelly stuff I've had several black bears roam through camp and they haven't found the container preferring to use routes into, about, and out of camp that are more easily travelled.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Feb 7, 2019 11:54:48 GMT -8
I put 5 days of food in a Bear Vault once. Unfortunately, I forgot how to open it. Fortunately, I had a big ass knife and hacked my way into it. That's how I was able to survive 12 hours in a 5 acre plot.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Feb 7, 2019 12:17:07 GMT -8
I put 5 days of food in a Bear Vault once. Unfortunately, I forgot how to open it. Fortunately, I had a big ass knife and hacked my way into it. That's how I was able to survive 12 hours in a 5 acre plot.
What you need to do is set out the Bear Vault for the bear to try to open, then ambush the bear with your big ass knife and have fresh meat for dinner.
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RumiDude
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Post by RumiDude on Feb 7, 2019 12:45:26 GMT -8
What do you do when the bear is attacking your bear canister? Exactly! Additionally, a bear can move the bear canister away someplace that is difficult to find. Every method is valid if it keeps the bears and other critters from a food reward. Each method has it's own pros and cons. And every method can be performed improperly, including bear cans. As long as an Ursack is used properly, it denies a bear a food reward. And as the video showed, at least in that particular case, it also keeps the contents safe as well. Rumi |
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Feb 7, 2019 13:22:52 GMT -8
What you need to do is set out the Bear Vault for the bear to try to open, then ambush the bear with your big ass knife and have fresh meat for dinner. Brilliant! And it's not roadkill, so it's safe to eat, right? |
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Feb 7, 2019 13:36:14 GMT -8
I put 5 days of food in a Bear Vault once. Unfortunately, I forgot how to open it. Fortunately, I had a big ass knife and hacked my way into it. That's how I was able to survive 12 hours in a 5 acre plot.
What you need to do is set out the Bear Vault for the bear to try to open, then ambush the bear with your big ass knife and have fresh meat for dinner.
 I'm having a long un-fun day at work today. Thanks you both for a good laugh! |
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RumiDude
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Post by RumiDude on Feb 7, 2019 14:00:27 GMT -8
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Post by bradmacmt on Feb 7, 2019 18:18:14 GMT -8
No Ursack, no Bear Vault. I use a UL dry bag and hang it.
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Post by cweston on Feb 8, 2019 6:38:32 GMT -8
I have never used an Ursack. I use a bear canister where required. Otherwise, I do a conventional bear bag hang PLUS I use OpSak odorproof bags.
I have definitely had bears in my camp before when I had only a traditional bear bag (+ odorproof bags) protecting my food. Never had a problem. (Not with bears, anyway: once, and only once, I had mice get into my food.)
Most of my hiking is in bear country, but not griz country. If I hiked more in Wyoming and Montana, I'd probably have a different strategy. To be honest, marmots pose a far greater threat to food and gear in the places I usually camp than bears. Those buggers are cute but they can be pretty aggressive.
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Post by bradmacmt on Feb 8, 2019 6:58:54 GMT -8
Most of my hiking is in bear country, but not griz country. If I hiked more in Wyoming and Montana Almost all my backpacking is in Grizzly country here in MT... I find a good "hang" the best way to deal with the reality of bears. |
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I'm having a long un-fun day at work today. Thanks you both for a good laugh!
