Re: [Paddlewise] Bear Bags

<patrick_at_patrickmaun.com> wrote:

> OK, enough about bags. Why don't we discuss some hanging techniques.
> One things that really helped my hanging was a small sack filled 
> with parachute cord I got specifically for the purpose. You fill 
> the sack with rocks which gives it a great throwing heft. The parachute 
> cord is smooth so won't snag on anything and is very static so doens't 
> stretch much.

Parachute cord is about 1/8 inch in diameter, and though smooth, is awfully
small for yarding heavy stuff over a limb (though OK for most pulley systems).

If you use it for hauling food bags, use of a stick or other load spreader to
avoid cutting into your hand is advised.  Is that what you do, Patrick?

The two-pulley, two-line system described in my earlier post has served me well
on a couple two-week trips in bear country, hauling a LOT of food up (we take
fresh vegies and fruit, but no fresh meat).  Sometimes we would string up a
"breakfast bag" on light line just over a limb, to facilitate breaking camp in
the mnorning, but most of our food went up on the two-line system.

One trip, we strung a heavy (1/2 inch, maybe) line between two trees, with
pulleys on loops every 4-5 feet. This allowed us to get two weeks of food for
six of us up on one system.  OK for a camp where you plan to spend some time. 
In our case, after 4 nights, a crowd of hornets set up station on one end. 
Three of us got stung before we decided to cut the line instead of untying it. 
It's still there, on Swan Island, Queen Charlottes, if anybody wants the line.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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