Ok so the boyfriend is on the verge of buying a bear canister because welp he felt they were so useful in the adirondacks against the mini bear. I have always hung my bag in a tree (it's a fun game to entertain after a long day hehe). I have never had the blessing of meeting a bear face to face. and luckily mini bear haven't made their way into my bag. The canister is sturdy but sooo heavy. I'm stuck his weight becomes my weight and I've already done so much work whittling the weight from previous trips from 60-70lbs (just my pack) to 25-30lbs Skin out including boots and trekking poles. So were stuck with the decision for bag or canister. and no the whole chair thing doesn't matter I have a hammock =] I refuse to sleep with my food. any good canisters that aren't ridiculously heavy and expensive? or bear bags which are a better fight against the dreaded mini bear? Suggestions? Also I may have been in the presence of a bear but I just kept telling myself he was a moose and stayed very still and it went away (I was sleeping in a lean to woke up in the middle of the night to some very heavy foot steps passing by, wandered over to the lean to I felt a snort or breeze if you will on the outside of my sleeping bag and then whatever it was continued on ..it had been 4 days with no shower wearing synthetics so I don't blame the snort haha)
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Bear canister how I loathe and love thee
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I agree. A bear canister is too heavy. If your boyfriend wants to have one, make him carry it. If you refuse to sleep with your food and don't have a canister, then you are going to have to hang your food some time. Simple solution: Hang your food PCT method and let your boyfriend do what he wants. Make it clear that if he brings a canister, then he will carry said canister.
For what it is worth, I looked into carrying one myself. I decided it was too heavy and just hung the food. I am not worried about bears though. I am more worried about mice and 'coons.
Now I let the rest tell you the right way to do it. :lol:Non hikers are about a psi shy of a legal ball. -
Wouldn't sleeping with your food attract bears to your tent? That is why I am not comfortable with that idea. I will be bringing my hiking kitty along with me and I know the food can be quite potent smelling. Every time we've had to rent a bear canister I wind up carrying his extra weight to balance it. he wants our weight to be fair. Even though he has this habit of packing extra things we don't need and my extra things are female necessities. Example the underwear he can skip but I can't. The bra etc. at the end of our last trip he realized that my pack wound up being 5lbs heavier than his after he was done pawning extra items on me. Once we got back to the Parkinglot. I'm a woman I don't think I am quite as strong as him. But he did apologize maybe he learned his lesson. that was my 14mile day on a sprained ankle haha. At least he found out I can be a trooper.
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In some parts of the DAKs they are required. There was even a bear that learned to get into them. If not required I sleep with it or hang depending on bear activity. This can be learned by talking to local campers or rangers in the area. Just bear in mind, all rangers have to state company policy. You have to be very specific in what & how you ask questions. A simple, "Should I hang my food?' will almost always get a yes... If you ask has there been any reported bear activity at X campsite(s) you will get a better answer.
Another option instaed of a canister is an ursa sac. Much lighter & bears can't get in. But due to way NPS regulation were written they don't comply in mandatory canister zones. If you hang, pct method is the best. Bears in northeast have learned to cut lines attached to trees. When I hiked the PCT counterbalancing was reccomended method. The bears learned to shake the branches to make them fall or break the branch. PCT hang they have to break the branch. So even that isn't 100%. Many say sleep with your food. I find bears/ like humans to go for what is easiest. I had one friend wake up to the sound of nylon ripping & feeling the warm foul smelling bear breath on his face. He died...just kidding, his scream of shear terror scared it away! He was in a car campground where most people locked food in their trunks.
So...learn about bear activity in the SPECIFIC area you plan to go & do what you feel comfortable with. If you have to carry one, they do make a decent stool! -
"Just bear in mind" I see what you did there lol. I will be on the AT and I believe there really isn't anywhere canisters are required. At least areas I can't just hike through and not worry about it. And how do ursa sacks hold up to the vicious mini bear. those deadly chip n dale chipmunks that seem to chew through anything. I'm looking for balance between resilience, weight and practicality. And if I woke up to bear breath in my face and my tent ripped I would do a little more than scream bloody murder... There may be a trip into town shortly before showering the evidence of my bear encounter off of myself lok
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They make a ursas sac minor I believe it's called for mini bears/mice. Heard great reviews. Bear Cannisters are requred during thru hike season on AT in the 5 miles around Blood Mtn. in GA
http://www.ursack.com/ursack-catalog.htm -
At first I didn't comprehend by you mini bear reference. I rate bear as park bear & wild bears. Park & campground bear have lost most fear of humans & go for anything they can get. In some western parks they have learned how to get into cars by ripping up the doors & trunks! My friend got his tent ripped open in a CA Stat park by a problem Yosemite bear that was relocated. The ursac minor sounds like what you are looking for for your mini bears.
While people at home invision you battling grizzly bears, mountain lions & rattlesnakes, reality is far different. Ticks, mice, wet roots & rocks are the demise of hikers several hundred times over. In life in general I say don't worry about the little things. On the trail, it'd the opposite! Don't worry about the big things & watch the little things! -
Thank you blood mountain I forgot. and I plan on hiking right through there instead of staying in that area. Thanks for the tip, and better yet its 15$ less than the canister would have been. He was looking at the exact one we was in the adk's the one they replaced the not so bear proof canisters with,( they knew how to open the old ones) ill read up on reviews but the white sac with aluminum liner is at least half the weight of a canister, not sure if we would want the aluminum or not. Those scent proof bags are intriguing though,
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In my opinion mini bear are far worse they have been known to drop from trees to try and knaw through your Pack if your not paying attention. Little devils nothing scares them. At least they don't scare as easily as a curious actual bear. In Allegheny, ny near my house bears are all over. Boar too but not as common as bear. Last year there was a bear ripping off the siding of a camper I try to get inside because of the food. I've never eaten or kept food near where I sleep. For fear of something like that. even in my car everything is air tight, da bears are outsmarting some of us haha
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I see little need for the aluminum liner. Unless you are worried about crackers getting crushed. Most trail food will get beat up in your pack anyway unless you are carefull. I tend to prefer tortillas for long self life or bagels for first few days out of town. On AT I normally sleep with food. In Blood Mt area I'd hang. The bear(s) have been roaming outside can zone & have gotten food bags. Simple solutions. Don't use regular tent sites in the area, don't eat where you sleep & when camping with others. Just hang your bag better than they do!
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Mountain-Mike wrote:
I see little need for the aluminum liner. Unless you are worried about crackers getting crushed. Most trail food will get beat up in your pack anyway unless you are carefull. I tend to prefer tortillas for long self life or bagels for first few days out of town. On AT I normally sleep with food. In Blood Mt area I'd hang. The bear(s) have been roaming outside can zone & have gotten food bags. Simple solutions. Don't use regular tent sites in the area, don't eat where you sleep & when camping with others. Just hang your bag better than they do!
Last year I found many food hangs laughable.
I saw bags hanging less than 3 feet of the ground and on flimsy bushes.
Some people insisted on hanging a bag rather than any other option even when there was no viable place to hang.
I hung my food once (in the Smokys because everyone else did).
Everywhere else I slept with it.
Get one of those odour proof bags. They may not be perfect but they will mask the smell enough that your hiker funk will overwhelm it. The main reason for the odour proof bag is to thwart the rodents. They're the real problem.
There will be so many badly hung bags out there for the bears, they won't want to fight you for it.Resident Australian, proving being a grumpy old man is not just an American trait. -
If you do bring your cat it could be a negative weight issue. Not much need for food for it & charge a protection fee if you sleep in a shelter. A snickers bar per person seem reasonable to me for mice protection gif.014
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Bekki wrote:
Wouldn't sleeping with your food attract bears to your tent? That is why I am not comfortable with that idea. I will be bringing my hiking kitty along with me and I know the food can be quite potent smelling. Every time we've had to rent a bear canister I wind up carrying his extra weight to balance it. he wants our weight to be fair. Even though he has this habit of packing extra things we don't need and my extra things are female necessities. Example the underwear he can skip but I can't. The bra etc. at the end of our last trip he realized that my pack wound up being 5lbs heavier than his after he was done pawning extra items on me. Once we got back to the Parkinglot. I'm a woman I don't think I am quite as strong as him. But he did apologize maybe he learned his lesson. that was my 14mile day on a sprained ankle haha. At least he found out I can be a trooper.
Ha ha ha!! That's awesome right there. Tell him to bugger off and carry his own damn gear. Did he buy into that hope and change bunk too?Of course I talk to myself... sometimes I need expert advice. -
Tuckahoe wrote:
Bekki wrote:
Wouldn't sleeping with your food attract bears to your tent? That is why I am not comfortable with that idea. I will be bringing my hiking kitty along with me and I know the food can be quite potent smelling. Every time we've had to rent a bear canister I wind up carrying his extra weight to balance it. he wants our weight to be fair. Even though he has this habit of packing extra things we don't need and my extra things are female necessities. Example the underwear he can skip but I can't. The bra etc. at the end of our last trip he realized that my pack wound up being 5lbs heavier than his after he was done pawning extra items on me. Once we got back to the Parkinglot. I'm a woman I don't think I am quite as strong as him. But he did apologize maybe he learned his lesson. that was my 14mile day on a sprained ankle haha. At least he found out I can be a trooper.
Ha ha ha!! That's awesome right there. Tell him to bugger off and carry his own damn gear. Did he buy into that hope and change bunk too?
I'd be slipping a few things back in his pack. Or better yet, conveniently forget to bring them. Or just tell him to bugger off like Tuckahoe said.
Bekki, can I suggest you really don't need an extra bra and maybe only one extra pair of underwear for a 4 day trip? You really just need the clothes you're wearing, sleep clothes, and extra socks.Lost in the right direction. -
TrafficJam wrote:
Tuckahoe wrote:
Bekki wrote:
Wouldn't sleeping with your food attract bears to your tent? That is why I am not comfortable with that idea. I will be bringing my hiking kitty along with me and I know the food can be quite potent smelling. Every time we've had to rent a bear canister I wind up carrying his extra weight to balance it. he wants our weight to be fair. Even though he has this habit of packing extra things we don't need and my extra things are female necessities. Example the underwear he can skip but I can't. The bra etc. at the end of our last trip he realized that my pack wound up being 5lbs heavier than his after he was done pawning extra items on me. Once we got back to the Parkinglot. I'm a woman I don't think I am quite as strong as him. But he did apologize maybe he learned his lesson. that was my 14mile day on a sprained ankle haha. At least he found out I can be a trooper.
Ha ha ha!! That's awesome right there. Tell him to bugger off and carry his own damn gear. Did he buy into that hope and change bunk too?
I'd be slipping a few things back in his pack. Or better yet, conveniently forget to bring them. Or just tell him to bugger off like Tuckahoe said.
Bekki, can I suggest you really don't need an extra bra and maybe only one extra pair of underwear for a 4 day trip? You really just need the clothes you're wearing, sleep clothes, and extra socks.
This is what i take also.........the bra is multi functionalCheesecake> Ramen -
CoachLou wrote:
TrafficJam wrote:
Tuckahoe wrote:
Bekki wrote:
Wouldn't sleeping with your food attract bears to your tent? That is why I am not comfortable with that idea. I will be bringing my hiking kitty along with me and I know the food can be quite potent smelling. Every time we've had to rent a bear canister I wind up carrying his extra weight to balance it. he wants our weight to be fair. Even though he has this habit of packing extra things we don't need and my extra things are female necessities. Example the underwear he can skip but I can't. The bra etc. at the end of our last trip he realized that my pack wound up being 5lbs heavier than his after he was done pawning extra items on me. Once we got back to the Parkinglot. I'm a woman I don't think I am quite as strong as him. But he did apologize maybe he learned his lesson. that was my 14mile day on a sprained ankle haha. At least he found out I can be a trooper.
Ha ha ha!! That's awesome right there. Tell him to bugger off and carry his own damn gear. Did he buy into that hope and change bunk too?
I'd be slipping a few things back in his pack. Or better yet, conveniently forget to bring them. Or just tell him to bugger off like Tuckahoe said.
Bekki, can I suggest you really don't need an extra bra and maybe only one extra pair of underwear for a 4 day trip? You really just need the clothes you're wearing, sleep clothes, and extra socks.
This is what i take also.........the bra is multi functional
Slingshot for hunting your dinner?Lost in the right direction. -
I knew this subject would attract comments. I won't quote them all, but rather just add my random opinions. Many sleep with there food. MM has good advice there. OZ is correct. If you can't hang your food right, find another method. Tuckahoe is right. Tell him to carry the lead weight. Shared misery? Stand up and tell him to suffer alone. Do not carry a canister on the AT.Non hikers are about a psi shy of a legal ball.
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Mountain-Mike wrote:
At first I didn't comprehend by you mini bear reference. I rate bear as park bear & wild bears. Park & campground bear have lost most fear of humans & go for anything they can get. In some western parks they have learned how to get into cars by ripping up the doors & trunks! My friend got his tent ripped open in a CA Stat park by a problem Yosemite bear that was relocated. The ursac minor sounds like what you are looking for for your mini bears.
While people at home invision you battling grizzly bears, mountain lions & rattlesnakes, reality is far different. Ticks, mice, wet roots & rocks are the demise of hikers several hundred times over. In life in general I say don't worry about the little things. On the trail, it'd the opposite! Don't worry about the big things & watch the little things!
MM, that last paragraph is classic, especially the last sentence. Make sure you get it in the book.The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
Richard Ewell, CSA General -
Mountain-Mike wrote:
If you do bring your cat it could be a negative weight issue. Not much need for food for it & charge a protection fee if you sleep in a shelter. A snickers bar per person seem reasonable to me for mice protection gif.014
Lol genius! he's a savannah cat so should get pretty big. I was actually thinking the last few months on the trail I might invest in one of those harness/dog packs lol make him carry his own food and water maybe pawn some more weight off on him heheh -
I only bring these things when I'm expecting or dealing with the female issues that men so readily don't want to talk about. just so happens I have horrible planning skills and luck when I schedule a vacation lol. At least I can prove that it doesn't attract bears afterall!
TrafficJam wrote:
Tuckahoe wrote:
Bekki wrote:
Wouldn't sleeping with your food attract bears to your tent? That is why I am not comfortable with that idea. I will be bringing my hiking kitty along with me and I know the food can be quite potent smelling. Every time we've had to rent a bear canister I wind up carrying his extra weight to balance it. he wants our weight to be fair. Even though he has this habit of packing extra things we don't need and my extra things are female necessities. Example the underwear he can skip but I can't. The bra etc. at the end of our last trip he realized that my pack wound up being 5lbs heavier than his after he was done pawning extra items on me. Once we got back to the Parkinglot. I'm a woman I don't think I am quite as strong as him. But he did apologize maybe he learned his lesson. that was my 14mile day on a sprained ankle haha. At least he found out I can be a trooper.
Ha ha ha!! That's awesome right there. Tell him to bugger off and carry his own damn gear. Did he buy into that hope and change bunk too?
I'd be slipping a few things back in his pack. Or better yet, conveniently forget to bring them. Or just tell him to bugger off like Tuckahoe said.
Bekki, can I suggest you really don't need an extra bra and maybe only one extra pair of underwear for a 4 day trip? You really just need the clothes you're wearing, sleep clothes, and extra socks. -
Bekki wrote:
I only bring these things when I'm expecting or dealing with the female issues that men so readily don't want to talk about. just so happens I have horrible planning skills and luck when I schedule a vacation lol. At least I can prove that it doesn't attract bears afterall!
TrafficJam wrote:
I'd be slipping a few things back in his pack. Or better yet, conveniently forget to bring them. Or just tell him to bugger off like Tuckahoe said.
Bekki, can I suggest you really don't need an extra bra and maybe only one extra pair of underwear for a 4 day trip? You really just need the clothes you're wearing, sleep clothes, and extra socks.
Gotcha ;). Taboo subject around here. I'm an L&D nurse, pm me if you have questions...I don't give medical advice tho.Lost in the right direction. -
I only bring one bra/slingshot I was just giving example of different necessities without getting too in depth. I bring two sets of socks because I have this bad luck of Lways stepping in a puddle. The spare is for sleeping with, and you're so right! Rocks and roots scare me more than anything when hiking, oh and leaves when you cant see the trail so pretty but not quite as pretty when ya take a tumble [IMG:http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/21/unupy7et.jpg]
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Bekki wrote:
idk how to change my profile picture lol
Click on profile and there are a bunch of functions. PM me if you need help.Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
Dr. Seuss -
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Bekki wrote:
I went to web view and it says profile options aren't available for guests?
Log in on the Web view.Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
Dr. Seuss -
Rasty wrote:
Bekki wrote:
I went to web view and it says profile options aren't available for guests?
Log in on the Web view.
Email me an avatar at
Appalachiantrailcafe@outlook.com
If you need assistanceSometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
Dr. Seuss -
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gypsy97 wrote:
Wow! I didn't realize it would be so easy to change the avatar. This one will have to do until I get something more hiker-like this spring.
Great pictures ladies!Lost in the right direction. -
this is from the bearicade website. this looks nothing like what i bring on a hike. maybe the real food is just under the apples, pears, and all those bars.
[IMG:http://www.wild-ideas.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/800x460-cornucopia.jpg]2,000 miler -
max.patch wrote:
this is from the bearicade website. this looks nothing like what i bring on a hike. maybe the real food is just under the apples, pears, and all those bars.
[IMG:http://www.wild-ideas.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/800x460-cornucopia.jpg]
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You know, I have a bear can someplace.
I don't know the brand or size, as I've never used it.
If I remember right it's brown plastic.
The only reason I have it is a friend, who doesn't hike or camp anymore, was cleaning out his old stuff and thought I could use it.
Maybe I will someday.
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