Re: [Paddlewise] Bear Bags

<Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com> wrote:

> Hi all.  The areas that I will be camping in over the next couple years have some Black Bears,
> but not in large numbers. [snip]  I could buy a commercial bear bag and do the "hang
> it from a tree" routine, but I'm not sure if that is necessary.

Rick, the nature of your question suggests that you will not be in "hard core"
black bear country.  Nonetheless, hanging your food is a very good idea.  If
there are bears around, it is your moral duty to protect your food -- mainly so
it is not your food stash that habituates a bear to thinking of people food as
bear food.

Others have detailed various systems for hanging food.  When you hang food,
remember to put it at least 15 feet up (ground to bottom of bag) and 10 feet
out from a tree trunk.  If there are no adequate trees where you plan to camp,
then you'll have to spring for the bear canisters (spendy).

I have always used ordinary drybags for hanging food, and evolved to the
two-line system:  One strung between two trees (over limbs, secured to the
ground at either end -- easy to retrieve), with a pulley secured to the center
of the open section. The second line carries the food.  It goes through the
pulley BEFORE you finish stringing up the first line.  If your food stash is
less than 30-50 lbs in weight, the single pulley is enough.  If it is much more
than that, attach another pulley to the food bag, rigging the second line to
run through both pulleys.  This gives a mechanical advantage of two.  Other
variations with double pulleys can increase this, but are not usually worth the
trouble.

Good luck.  Unless the bears are already habituated to seeking people food, you
should not be harassed.  I've traveled in "dumb bear" country a lot over the
past 35 years, and never had a problem.  In smart bear territory, bear
canisters would be mandated, I think.

Note:  "dumb bear" = one that has not figured out people food is bear food
(yet);  smart bear =  otherwise

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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