Bear protection options above treeline…

I think Ryan J just uses opsacks if he can't find trees. Pretty sure that's what the methods are for the WTS3 course as well.

Ryan,
Just got back from the Winds and Titcomb Basin area.We used an
ursack with an OP bag. I didn't really see that many decent hanging trees in the area.

Has anyone heard the status of the progress in getting this device approved? The video and specs sure make it an attractive, although pricey, option.

March 2008: SIBBG evaluation complete. Palisade EST denied approval for use in SIBBG managed areas. Approval of the Palisade EST was denied based upon:

1)Palisade EST does not pass SIBBG Visual Inspection.

2)Potential for user error determined to be too great in Palisade EST

3)Safety issues with regard to human use.

Based on SIBBG protocol, the Palisade EST was denied approval without ever being tested by any captive or wild bears.

April 2008: IAGBC begins field test of Palisade EST.

May 2008: IAGBC field tests continue. Results: SUCCESSFUL DETERRENCE.

July 2008: Independent, 3rd Party testing in Central Idaho continues. Extensive Video Documentation collected, and beginning to be reviewed.

http://www.wilderness-solutions.com/faq.htm

Has anyone else gone into bear country just trusting OP sacks? I could double up. :)

Would I be stupid to do this?

At the risk of being chastised again for having views about traveling in bear country counter to those posted here, I’ll say that we have used the OP sack without our Ursacks when we hike here in Southeast Alaska. Most often we do drop them in the Ursack. This is as beary a country as you would find anywhere in the world. Below are the contents of my pack with an OP sack full of food.

John,

Is the SIBGG decision final or will there be a reconsideration of its decision based on another agency's testing and approval?

What does it mean that they failed the Visual Inspection? Couldn't they see it?

Good question Dave. This info came from the Wilderness Solutions website without further explanation. This seems like a dandy way of carrying effective food protection with an unreasonable weight penalty.

I have had great success hanging my food off of large boulders or small cliffs in the winds. I personally wouldn’t use just a bag of any type, particularly in the winds where the bears that you will have problems with are habituated to human food. There are lots of good tall boulders in titcomb basin and around the elbow lake area. Beautiful country in there, have fun.

I hope the EST gets approved, it is an elegant solution. NOLS has been using electronic bear fences for quite a few years now, but they are not really all that light or practical unless in a larger group.

Link:
Bear fence video

If I put my food in food in two OP sacks (one inside the other), would a bear really be able to smell anything? It seems like I could just hide the food sack in some bushes or under a little rock shelter and it would be fine. Am I missing something here?

It's more about approved food storage than what the bear might, or might not smell IMO. OP sacks AFAIK are not approved for food storage by the USFS. Would a bear be able to smell your food? Hard saying not knowing. Bears have an incredible sense of smell. Many have had success with the option you are discussing. Would it end your trip if a bear did get your food? What if the bear decides to check out your shelter w/ you in it? Are you prepared to pay the fine if a USFS Ranger cites you for improper food storage? These are all questions you need to ask yourself. Even Ursacks are not an approved food storage container. I wish I had picks of the one we tested in W. Yellowstone, it hardly slowed the bear down. Ultimately, it is your call, we all choose the level of risk we are willing to expose our selves to. I choose to follow the food storage orders, and find it easy to do with hanging (even above tree line). YMMV.

Ryan brings up an issue I find to be a moral one for me. How I store it in an unregulated area is my choice. But in regulated areas, I either follow the rules or I choose not to hike there. I never consider whether or not I might get "caught" and fined. I simply play life by the rules and if I don't like them I play somewhere else.