Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
Awkray-ven Member
Joined: 13 Feb 2018 Posts: 7 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
It comes to my attention that my pack is missing a means to keep food away from bears (or other smaller critters who chew). The Ursack seems really appealing to me for pack-ability and for size/weight. However I keep hearing about how some places it's not approved, which concerns me a little, as I'm not sure what happens if you use an Ursack when it's not approved, so I have some questions.
When they say that an Ursack isnt approved, is that only for keeping it low on the ground? If you manage to hang it properly, does it not matter what the bag is?
How do people pack hard sided bear canisters? They seem overly bulky and heavy. Is strapping them to the outside of your pack a viable option?
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ski ><((((°>
Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 12829 | TRs | Pics Location: tacoma |
|
Ski
><((((°>
|
Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:06 am
|
|
|
you can get a zip-up bag that holds the hard-sided canister and the bag has provisions on it so it can be strapped to the top of a pack.
I suppose if the pack were large enough you could just insert the whole canister, but they're pretty big.
regulations around here vary from place to place. canisters aren't required everywhere in Washington.
please don't buy into the "bear freak-out" hype. prudence and reasonable caution are in order. obsessing about it isn't necessary.
if you plan to go hiking along the coast, by all means get a canister (because of the raccoons, not bears.) most everywhere else around here hanging works for most people, I think.
... and I think more people here will tell you they've lost food to rodents than the people here who have lost food to bears.
YMMV
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
|
Back to top |
|
|
Awkray-ven Member
Joined: 13 Feb 2018 Posts: 7 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Good to know that hanging is usually enough. Before I moved from the mid west, most of my day hiking and other such trips were usually done in Upper Michigan, and at a relative's cabin we did have a bear steal all the food out of our cooler, off the porch, plus the property had lots of bear sign. Not having had a chance to do a ton of proper scouting/day hikes yet this year, I haven't had a chance to make my own assessment of how much bear sign there is out there in the cascades and such.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Token Civilian Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 590 | TRs | Pics
|
Ursack isn't approved by the Sierra Interagency Bear Working Group.
These are the ones who say what is "approved" or not since many parts of California have mandatory bear safe food storage requirements.
https://www.sierrawild.gov/bears
In Washington, a proper hanging bear bag is usually sufficient for both bears and the snafflehounds that like to chew into your food. If you are intending on going into "real" bear country (California, or grizz country) I'd personally get an approved canister.
I use the BearVault 500 where required since I gear toward the week long trips. The 450 would be a good choice for shorter trips. Around here, I usually just hang the food.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gregory Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2014 Posts: 386 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Gregory
Member
|
Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:04 am
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
moonspots Happy Curmudgeon
Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 2456 | TRs | Pics Location: North Dakota |
|
moonspots
Happy Curmudgeon
|
Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:06 am
|
|
|
Ski wrote: | ... and I think more people here will tell you they've lost food to rodents than the people here who have lost food to bears. |
Yes, and this includes marmots. They are very opportunistic, and sneaky. I was also surprised to see mice digging around for whatever they could find at our camp on a glacier, maybe 1/2 mile uphill from the end of the trail. The only time I've had bears go digging through camp looking for food was about 55 years ago at Crater Lake, Oregon. Not dispersed camping, but a NPS campground which would have been very well known to the critters.
The canisters, while being bulky, usually fit into the pack and you can stuff it full of food, as well as anything else that will fill it. Then it's not really taking up much room. Further, they do make reasonably decent camp seats at the end of the day.
"Out, OUT you demons of Stupidity"! - St Dogbert, patron Saint of Technology
"Out, OUT you demons of Stupidity"! - St Dogbert, patron Saint of Technology
|
Back to top |
|
|
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Awkray-ven wrote: | such trips were usually done in Upper Michigan |
I use to live in NW Ohio and spent time in the upper and lower peninsula hiking,backpacking, and canoeing. The Fall colors were exceptional in the UP, especially the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
moonspots Happy Curmudgeon
Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 2456 | TRs | Pics Location: North Dakota |
|
moonspots
Happy Curmudgeon
|
Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:20 am
|
|
|
Awkray-ven wrote: | I haven't had a chance to make my own assessment of how much bear sign there is out there in the cascades and such. |
Well, they're there, but I've not seen them often. Once on the trail up Rainier from Paradise, but then I'm usually only there hiking a couple weeks or so out of the year with the grandkids, so I don't have a lot of accumulated time in the WA Cascade forests. Take that into consideration.
Saw 'em far more often in Minnesota on a week long Boy Scout camp out one year. I woke up one morning around 5am to some noise. Poked my head out of the tent to see the scoutmaster (6' +) in his underwear, chasing a bear with a stick. The bear had one of our coolers in its mouth, but soon dropped it and left the area. Quite funny, I thought.
"Out, OUT you demons of Stupidity"! - St Dogbert, patron Saint of Technology
"Out, OUT you demons of Stupidity"! - St Dogbert, patron Saint of Technology
|
Back to top |
|
|
Schroder Member
Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 6717 | TRs | Pics Location: on the beach |
|
Schroder
Member
|
Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:45 am
|
|
|
NCNP pushes canisters but they have lots of loaners - you have to leave a deposit.
|
Back to top |
|
|
DIYSteve seeking hygge
Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics Location: here now |
|
DIYSteve
seeking hygge
|
Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:46 am
|
|
|
Tell that to the ONP ranger we saw a few years ago near High Divide with an Ursack
|
Back to top |
|
|
Malachai Constant Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002 Posts: 16092 | TRs | Pics Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon require hard sided NFS vary. Usually use Ursack in Wa and Rockies. Note you do not hang Ursack like a bear bag you tie it to a tree, follow instructions if you do not do it right coons can untie.
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
|
Back to top |
|
|
Awkray-ven Member
Joined: 13 Feb 2018 Posts: 7 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Does properly hanging a bag take the replacement of a hard sided container though? It does sound like for most hiking here in Washington the Ursack is probably sufficient to keep things out, especially the smaller things that aren't bears, but still want to eat my food.
|
Back to top |
|
|
|