12 days of food in a Bearikade Weekender?

[Brad Rogers]

I am planning a 12 day trip without resupply in Gates of the Arctic National Park and I have to figure out how I am going to store my food. I have a Bearikade Weekender but I am not sure I could fit 12 days worth of food in the 650ci canister. The park rents BearVault 500's that are half a pound heavier and 50ci bigger, but I am not sure if it would work either. Do you think I have a shot at getting enough food in the Beariakde by using highly packable food like peanut M&Ms?

[Bob Gross]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't see any way that you can get twelve days worth of food into 650ci. If you had an Expedition model, then it might still be a squeeze.

–B.G.–

[Bob Bankhead]

I suppose it all depends on how much and what you're eating for those 3 days, but I'd say "no, you couldn't get 12 day's worth of normal hiker food into even the larger Bearikade Expedition model" (and I have one that I have used for years). Nine days in an Expedition is pushing it.

I suspect you're going to need two bear canisters; perhaps a Weekender and an Expedition.

Given the large creatures inhabiting that area and my perception of how remote it is, I wouldn't think you'd want to take any chances with your food supply.

YMMV

[Bob Gross]

"Nine days in an Expedition is pushing it."

I believe that the standard metric is 100 cubic inches of food per day. Some backpackers can beat that and get down to 80. Lots of backpackers who have not repackaged adequately will be at 150-200. Trying to get below 60 is going to be tough.

–B.G.–

[Brad Rogers]

That's what I am afraid of. I have put 6 days of food into a Bearvault Solo (440ci)before but I thought it was tight. I did have all of my food repackaged in individual serving sizes and Ziplocs. That would indicate I would need 880ci so the expedition would work, but I was hoping to make do with what I already had.

I guess I could just fill the Bearikade with Peanut M&Ms or Peanut Butter :)

[Terry Sparks]

To help solve this problem, i would call Bearakade, tell them your daily food/calorie needs for the trip and if need be, they will make a custom can to fit your needs. I don't see you getting that much food into the weekender from my personal experience. I had to work at getting five days food into the slightly larger Bear Vault 500 last year on the PCT.

Give them a call, they could solve this delima for you.

[Ralph Burgess]

It looks like peanut butter is almost exactly 100 calories per ci.
650ci of peanut butter = 65,000 calories
That's 5,400 calories per day
Cold weather hiking, I don't think you've got much margin to swap out any of the peanut butter for jelly there…

[Bob Gross]

"I guess I could just fill the Bearikade with Peanut M&Ms or Peanut Butter :)"

A friend of mine came up with the best solution, volume-wise. You take about 15 pounds of Robertson's Shortbread Cookies and run them under rolling pin to make crumbs. Fill up the bear canister to the brim with the crumbs. I'll bet you will be sick of the Shortbread within a week.

–B.G.–

[Ralph Burgess]

Alternate layers of shortcake crumb, peanut butter, chocolate?
Life could be worse…

[Billy Ray]

I have used a single Weekender for 9 day trips. Start with the first day's lunches and dinner outside the canister as they will be eaten before retiring for the night, and the rest inside the canister.

But I do seem to eat less than some other people when backpacking.

I can take the scout for 7 day tip no problem.

So I imagine I could do a 12 day trip with the Expedition model.

However, it should be noted that grizzlies have completely shattered/destroyed the Bearikade canisters so not sure they are appropriate for where you are going.

billy

[Lori P]

I can manage 9 days in the Weekender, leaving out the first day and using only very carefully packed and compact food.

I could easily do 12 in the Expedition. A friend has one, and she somehow ekes out 14 days with it. It's easier to manage more if the route is starting outside bear can mandated territory and a few days can be bear bagged – not always possible.

[terry tiedeman]

I have a custom bearikade 18 in. tall which I have to STUFF completely with zero space left to get 14 days of food in there. But I make all my own meals with plenty of dehydrated vegies added so I think my food is kind of bulky compared to freeze dried meals and m&m's.

[Ben H.]

"….However, it should be noted that grizzlies have completely shattered/destroyed the Bearikade canisters so not sure they are appropriate for where you are going….."

I am not sure this has been emphasized enough. Bearikade is not rated for Grizzlies… and it not because they haven't tested with them.

[Brad Rogers]

I know Bearikades are not approved by the IGBC and are not approved in parks such as the Tetons, etc.

I am not sure about the above comment though. I have seen one picture on the internet of a destroyed bearikade supposedly from a grizzly. However Wild Ideas has the following on their website:

Has the Bearikade been tested with bears?

The Bearikade has been subjected to the ultimate test – hungry bears! The Bearikade passed both captive Grizzly and Black Bear testing in 2000. It also passed machine based standardized structural testing in the same year. The Bearikade has been in field service all over North America since 1998. No food has ever been lost to a wild animal from a properly locked Bearikade. That is a test regimen far more rigorous and meaningful than anyone could possibly simulate in the lab or in tests with zoo animals.

The Wrangall St Elias National Park Bear Resistant Canister page specifically mentions Wild Ideas (Bearikade) Canisters as approved.

Bear Resistant Food Containers include:

PVC plastic or aluminum backpacker canisters (such as those manufactured by Garcia Machine, Wild Ideas, or Purple Mountain Engineering)
steel drums with locking rings
modified military ammo cans or bear resistant metal panniers
metal raft dry boxes

Gates of the Arctic National Park indicates that canisters approved by IBGC or SIBBG are approved for yse in the park.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group approve bear resistant food containers. They are defined as a securable container constructed of a solid nonpliable material capable of withstanding a minimum of 300 foot-pounds of energy.

[Manfred]

Bradford,

Last summer we used Bearikades during our month-long trip through Gates of the Arctic

Our experience is
1) The rangers were fine with us using Bearikades
2) No bear ever touched our bear canisters during four weeks out there. The only animal that got close to the canisters was a fox that checked out our camp during the day
3) We ordered a custom Bearikade that was 16 inch high to have roughly 100 cu inches more volume than the standard Expedition offers which is 14.5 inches high. For 12 days of food I would highly recommend this custom size or at least the Expedition.

Have fun out there! It is beautiful country.

Manfred

[James Marco]

M&Ms?? Wow, you are getting desperate.

I can get my food for a week in a BV450 with no serious problems. But, I do not carry much, rarely more than 1.1-1.2 pounds per day, or, around 2200Cal per day.
I carry coffee, cocoa, rice, spaghetti, butter and/or olive oil, bisquik, a pound of cheese, pepperoni/jerkey/dried beef. The first day is often a steak or other fresh food that will be finished. Snack foods go in last, usually nuts (cashews, peanuts, Peanut M&M) and crushed Fritoes, filling the BV. All this stuff packs pretty good when repacked into quart baggies.

12 days? Probably not unless you go to short rations (50% food) for the duration of your trip. Good for weight loss. Bad for being hungry most of the time.

[Jennifer Mitol]

I always wondered about this – there was a single, solitary photo on the internet of a crushed bearikade, supposedly by a grizzly.

Does anyone have any other info besides this?

[Ben H.]

Here is the applicable post by Greg Meholic:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=60298&startat=80

page 5, the photo is half way down the page. He provides a description near the bottom. I think Wildideas handling of this is a bit disingenuous.

With that said, if the park you are going to specifically allows the bearikade, then I have no problems using it. Not all bears are the same and to some extent all bear canisters are just deterrents.

[D M]

Funny this should come up now…Last year while on the PCT I shipped my Expedition to Kennedy Meadows, then home after I didn't need it…the postal service destroyed it. It arrived at my home with four 2 inch moon shaped sharp edged damage points on the inside and outside. Shipped in it's original box with bubble wrap! When I contacted Wild Ideas they told me it takes over 900 pounds of force to damage one of their cans….I sent it back to them and they said they'd make it good. Two and a half weeks later and I"m still waiting to hear what they think and if they will replace it. Meanwhile I may have to buy another bear canister to make do since I'm getting back on trail soon.

[Justin Miller]

I do remember that post now. What I find funny is that–if my understanding is correct–the Ursack did pass the test that the Bearikade was unable to. Funny, that I've seen quite a bit more hoopla against the Ursack compared to the Bearikade on these forums. I've used an Ursack for almost a decade with no issues, but I do take care in using it properly. Of course, you have to follow what regulations will allow depending upon where you are.

In an area w/o regulations and dealing with grizzlies, I'm not sure I see much difference of an Ursack + Opsack compared to a Bearikade. If you want full proof protection, eat the extra weight of the BearVault(s).

Looking at Gates of the Arctic's site for Bear Safety, they mention both IGBC and SIBBG. The Bearikade is NOT on the list approved by IGBC so I'm unsure if the park would even allow that container. Same can be said regarding the Ursack and Sierra guidelines.

[Jennifer Mitol]

but as I said – it's just the one single internet picture…the one in the post.

There were many stories and photos of user-errors and whatnot leading to mooshed food in ursacks, and there even was Yellow Yellow in the ADKs who could open the bearvault. But other than that one single Bearikade story…I know of nothing else.

Does anyone have any other info besides that single episode???

Because at least to me, a single solitary episode doesn't shake my faith in the bearikade (just as Yellow Yellow didn't make me question the BV). But if there were a pattern of problems…..

I mean, there are a ton of bearikades out there…where are the other stories???

[Ken Larson]

Greg Mihalik posting (below) and reply to me from Allen DeForrest, Wild Ideas, LLC concerning an email I sent to him concerning Greg's picture….. FOR THE RECORD

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=60298&startat=80

Subject: Re: Bearikade Food Canister

That is not a Bearikade canister. It is indeed the New Zealand company Kilwell Tube's attempt to become a supplier. We invited them to improve their process and try again, but did not hear back. This has been many years ago.

Personnel at IGBC used this image to suggest they had failed a Bearikade even though documentation from us clearly stated the fact it was a Kilwell Tube product in testing. Of course the internet provides an infinite lifetime for such falsehoods.

Allen

[Justin Miller]

Still, the OP is going to Gates of the Arctic. Per that managing agency's guidelines, Bearikade is not amoung those approved by IGBC. They list both IGBC and SIBBG as points of reference. It should be safe to initially assume that any container not approved by both would not be allowed. Since the lists are different, it definitely leaves questions about products on one list but not another.

If the container faild by IGBC was not the Bearikade, I'm curious why Wild Ideas has not sought to rectify the issue and have their container approved by IGBC. Areas such as Alaska and other grizzly regions often constitue trips of longer duration w/o resuply. For this, the Bearikade should be the prime contender but it doesn't appear that Wild Ideas is pushing for it.

Prior post was not to say that Ursack was better than Bearikade but to point out that a failure is just that when it comes to regulations. Both products appear to have astericks in regards to specific areas or bear species and it doesn't appear that the Bearikade is currently holding 'official' acceptance vs grizzlies.

[Ken Thompson]

From the park website. Got to love the govt. way of wording things. Clear as mud.

It is against the law to feed bears in Gates of the Arctic, either on purpose or by carelessly leaving food or garbage where bears can get to it.

Allowing a bear to obtain human food or garbage, even once, will cause it to seek out more human food. Eventually, if the bear becomes a threat to human safety, it may be killed, thus food and garbage must be stored by an approved means.

In most areas of Gates of the Arctic Park and Preserve there are no trees appropriate for hanging food, Bear Resistant Food Containers are the best and easiest way to meet the requirement for overnight visitors in the Park.

Gates of the Arctic ranger stations and visitor centers have BRFCs available for loan, free of charge, on a first come-first served basis. Call ahead to check availability and come by the Bettles Ranger Station or Arctic Interagency Visitor Center before heading into the park and preserve.

The different size and type bear resistant food containers we loan to the public for free.
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group approve bear resistant food containers. They are defined as a securable container constructed of a solid nonpliable material capable of withstanding a minimum of 300 foot-pounds of energy.

When secured and under stress, the container will not have any cracks, openings, or hinges that would allow a bear (or other animal) to gain entry by biting or pulling with its claws. Wood containers are not considered bear (animal) resistant unless they are reinforced with metal.

Please note that most ice chests and coolers, tents, dry bags or stuff sacks, plastic packing boxes (Totes, Action Packers, etc) and unmodified kayaks are not approved Bear Resistant Containers.

Photos and specs of the cans they have

BRFC

[jimmer ultralight]

Denali NP may be the only place in the park system that truly has their act together with regards to a logical bear cannister policy.

Unless you want to borrow one of their 3 to 5 pound Garcia cannisters, you can use any of these-NOTE the inclusion of the URSACK..YESSSSS!

Qoute-
BRFCs Approved for Use in Denali
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) is the authority consulted for what products are and are not permissible in Denali.

If using your own BRFC, be prepared to show it to the BIC staff for approval before a permit is issued.

The following brands of BRFCs are approved for use on backcountry trips in Denali:

The Bare Boxer – Contender Model 101, Champ Model 202
BearVault – BV250 Solo, BV300, BV350 Solo, BV400, BV450 Solo, BV500
Craftsman Tech Composites – Wise Backpack (~3600 cubic in. capacity)
Counter Assault – The Bear Keg
Garcia Machine – Backpackers’ Cache Model 812 (issued to permitted backpackers free of charge by the Backcountry Information Center)
Lighter 1 Bear Bins – Backpacker Cache – Big Daddy Model (2.29 lbs), Lil’ Sami Model ( 1.34 lbs)
Missoula Technical Development Center – Modifications to 50 Caliber Ammo Box
Riley Stove Company – Grain Storage Container, Food Storage Container, Insulated Cooler
UDAP Industries Inc. – “No Fed Bear” Canister
Ursack – Model S29 AllWhite
Vernon Matthews – Greif Bros Steel Drums Part #s: OH10-1R, OH8-1R 10
Wes Mauz – Aluminum Canister
Wind River Products – Backpack Container, Small Pannier
This reflects the December 2014 product list from the IGBC. We periodically review the IGBC site for updates to the approved list. If you feel that the IGBC has updated their list and we have not provided the latest info on our site, please contact us and we'll update our site as necessary.
Learn more about the Interagency Grizzly Bear Council
-Unquote

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