bushmaster
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The mountains are calling, and I must go.
Posts: 50
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Post by bushmaster on Dec 21, 2021 2:08:50 GMT -8
How does everyone protect your main pack from weather / critters, during nighttime while hammock camping? ( not talking about food / bear bags )
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Dec 21, 2021 10:23:16 GMT -8
I've used 2 methods, depending on my confidence in the elements and the salt eating critters. One, drop your pack into a contractor's garbage bag and hang the entire thing. This is better at keeping critters off, but it does reduce access to the pack. The second method, and the one I use most often, is to just put the pack under the hammock. Of course, that means I am listening for every rustle, trying to keep things from chewing my straps. So far, no bite marks, and I haven't really lost much sleep.
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on Dec 21, 2021 14:12:23 GMT -8
I'm not a hammocker, but if I'm leaving the pack outside, I remove all food and smellables, of course, then unzip/unbuckle/untie all pouches, pockets, and openings. This lets rodents check it out for the nonexistent food without chewing holes in it. If I expect saltaholics, no way am I leaving it outside unless it's hung way up high.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Dec 21, 2021 14:31:30 GMT -8
I most often hang or wedge my pack in a tree. Sometimes it sits in the vestibule. If it's outside, I double-check that the main hole is well covered. It's full Spectra with waterproof laminate, so not much is likely to happen to it.
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Post by trinity on Dec 21, 2021 15:10:32 GMT -8
I usually hang it off a limb of one of the trees I am hanging from. If it's raining, I usually just place my pack on the ground under my hammock and hope for the best.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Dec 21, 2021 16:32:02 GMT -8
Have a coated nylon rain ex large pack cover for storms. Otherwise don't do anything special and is usually just leaning up against something convenient near my tent. Don't do anything to reduce trivial food odors on my cooking gear if in pack. Over 5 decades of Sierra Nevada backpacking not an issue though might be for some in other regions.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Dec 21, 2021 18:08:19 GMT -8
I bring a short length of paracord (~3') and use it to hang my pack somewhere near by. I gave up on a pack cover. I just let the pack get wet and have kitchen garbage bags or grocery bags inside for things that must stay dry. They are lighter than dry bags.
I would also be interested in what people do with their boots. I have been hanging them with the pack and wearing camp shoes in the meantime. When raining I have put them in a kitchen garbage bag on then hung them.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Dec 21, 2021 18:53:07 GMT -8
My shoes all go under the hammock. They may be cold in the morning, but they're mostly dry.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2021 18:23:13 GMT -8
I learned the hard way - make sure you empty ALL your food out of the pack before stashing it in camp.
I usually empty it, cover it with a pack cover or trash bag and hang it, but this night I was surprised by a squall of very heavy rain and I just threw it in the tent to keep it dry. The Ursack was already stashed outside camp, so I didn't think to check the pack.
The next morning, I hastily packed up. The weather was nasty, I had a potential dangerous stream crossing or a very very long walk to get back to the car. Didn't even eat breakfast. So at some point along the trail I reached into one of the belt pockets on my pack, for some nuts, and several dribbled out onto the ground. What? I felt along the bottom of the pocket, and sure enough some critter chewed a hole to get the goodies. It didn't sink in right away, but as I was walking, it dawned on me - it had to chew through the inner tent as well. So I had to patch holes in both a brand new pack and a brand new tent.
One of those I-know-better things but oh well!
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Dec 23, 2021 18:41:44 GMT -8
make sure you empty ALL your food out of the pack before stashing it in camp Yeah, that's a must. I never keep food anywhere but my Ursack or my pants pocket. I've camped in some high-use areas where neigbhoring campers had packs and other gear destroyed because they contained unsecured food. |
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bushmaster
Trail Wise!
The mountains are calling, and I must go.
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Post by bushmaster on Dec 24, 2021 4:23:16 GMT -8
I watched a you tube, Shug, I think. He was eating while laying in his hammock and I thought it not a good idea. I never eat in the area I sleep. I even advise that children and others to even avoid wiping their hands on their pant legs while eating as some do, as even that can transfer food odors to your clothing. I may be over thinking, but in my opinion, that makes sense. When hanging food bags, even that should be at a reasonable distance from your sleeping area.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Dec 24, 2021 4:48:06 GMT -8
bushmaster In Grizz country, that is very wise, as it can be deadly. In all other instances, it is prudent to not get food smells on your gear, but not as important. Eating in the hammock or tent can be required in a downpour, but otherwise avoided. Shug gives good advice normally, but he doesn't camp in Grizz country. He lives closer to you. Still, in several years of backpacking in grizz country, I've only seen one twice. I'n sure they smelled me and stayed away.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Dec 24, 2021 5:18:02 GMT -8
I never eat in the area I sleep. I even advise that children and others to even avoid wiping their hands on their pant legs while eating as some do, as even that can transfer food odors to your clothing. I may be over thinking, but in my opinion, that makes sense. Ages ago when I went to Glacier NP they had a required hiker orientation video you had to watch. They clearly said that if you spill food on your clothes or even wipe your hands on your shirt you should hang the clothes with your food. I hang anything that could be a scent of interest. Not just food but of course things like toothpaste, lip balm and bug spray. If is has a slight smell to me to critters with their more sensitive noses it is even stronger. I figure although it may not smell like food they may want to investigate a novel scent. To that end and since most of my recent hiking has been solo, if possible, I have been cooking/eating dinner about an hour before finding my camp. I figure no cooking scents in the area I am camping and a chance if I did get food on my cloths for them to air out. If need be I will have a snack some distance from my camp then hang my food following the general triangle method of camp, food hang, food eating areas at the corners. I don't camp where there are grizzlys and with this low odor camp my hang is many times only like 50 yards away.  Courtesy: infographic.tv/visual-the-bear-muda-triangle-setup-for-keeping-bears-away-from-your-campsite/P.S. I have a vigorous policy of no food in my tents or hammock, ever. I don't cook in my vestibules. I go out into the rain to eat even. I want no food smells on my tent and that they just stink of human. |
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Dec 28, 2021 9:32:41 GMT -8
Bear aware for certain. I was backpacking near Aspen CO several years back when a mama bear and cub(s) went on a camp destroying rampage having visually associated camping equipment for foodz. One guy secured his food but hung his pack on a tree. Mama bear ripped the pack to shreds ignoring the food, but went after another couples easy to get food …ignoring their gear. Devastated an entire Boy Scout camp while they were out. Sometimes it’s weird (note they moved the bears and now require canisters).
My “3-season” packs are made to order ultralight roll-tops/“frame optional” (leave it at home usually = rucksack configuration), ..so the contents are emptied, situated for quick retrieval if I need to break camp in the middle of the night (likely a massive storm)/quick AM pack as the caffeine kicks in, and the pack goes below my legs to double as insulation.
Increasingly food storage is dictated or “strongly recommended” by whatever management agency, so I’ll follow those guidelines.
As weather gets colder I can replace the frames back into both my 40L and 55L packs. I will also use a “packing cube” for thicker layers reducing volume where I can, but it all adds weight = frame back in. This makes them able to “stand” outside my shelter. Also with colder weather there’s fewer “bugs” and “crawlies” .. so I’ll leave the inner net tent at home = bigger interior shelter space. That means I can bring the pack inside if need be.
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Image Credit / Coolkat
