Vidal bear bag procedures help

[Nate Ward]

2010 was the last time I was in the Vidal, going back this year.  I know that Philmont has developed a different procedure for hanging bear ropes up there but I can’t find anything…Anyone been up there in the past few years that can enlighten me on how they want the ropes strung out now?

[Edgar M]

Nate, We’ll be in the Valle this June as well.  Third trip to Philmont, but first time this far North.  I found this on Philmont’s web site:

http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/TrekPreparation/Shakedown/LowImpactBearBags.aspx

Looks pretty straight forward but I’m not looking forward to carrying 3 X 150′ lengths of 1/4″ rope.

What’s your arrival date and itinerary?  619 and 29 for us.

[Nate Ward]

Haven’t ran across that, not how we did it in ‘10 but it has the redundancy that they like.

We are 616 Iten 22. I’ll see if we cross at some point. Good luck!

[Steve G]

My crew was in the Vidal in 2016 and it was awesome.  You will love it up there.  Map and compass work is a skill thet Scouts can  really home there.

Edgar has the exact directions that our crew was taught in the Vale.  Getting there bags up to meet Ranger standards is not easy so the Scouts will need some extra time.  The ropes are really not very heavy and it’s easy to toss a rope under the lid of a pack before you blast off in the morning.  Have fun and remember that patience is a virtue in the Vale!  That goes for navigation and for bear bags.  😀

[Kevin B]

I’m an Eagle scout who aged out before my troop drew a Philmont ticket.  So, now ive ventured around the northern NM mountains on my own for the past 20 years.   In the Vidal on foot and bike packing I’ve found a leaning huge aspen half the time for a conventional hang, but the other half of my nights I’ve had to rely on my OP Sacks (that I believe do work with my technique.) Tenkara rod also goes in the OP sack *Note, I freezer bag cook an hour from camp and don’t carry aromatics like salami, smoked salmon.

Anyway, the BSA could do you, and the rest of us, a favor with some metal bear poles if you have required camp locations.

[William Harmon]

I went on trek in 2013 and returned to Philmont as a Ranger in ’15 and ’16. That link provided by Edgar is super helpful! If you still have any questions about the bear bags, feel free to email Philmont. Remember that your Ranger will be required to teach your crew “LNT” bear bags on your first few days, so you don’t have to be an expert before arriving! Kevin those are some great suggestions! However, the Carson National Forest, where the Valle Vidal is located, has pretty strict rules about permanent structures in their area. That’s why Whiteman Vega and Seally Canyon are seasonal yurts that are taken down at the end of the summer. At each camp, you will find trees beginning to show wear from the “LNT” setup, due to the height and tie-off requirements. It’s terribly unfortunate to see concentrated impacts in that area, despite the practices Philmont says they want.

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