Figuring out how to protect your food from bears in the backcountry is a puzzle that has been debated by backpackers, food storage gear vendors, and agency land managers for decades.
Hanging a bear bag is time-consuming and prone to error, portable hard-sided bear canisters are heavy, soft bags made from bulletproof fabrics are controversial, and permanent food storage lockers are expensive. In this Member Q&A, we discuss the pros and cons of all methods of food storage in bear country, including one that’s practiced by more hikers than you may think: sleeping with your food. You’ll learn a solid base of skills in this webinar that will help you make a good decision about how to manage food storage while backpacking in bear country.
Keynote: Protecting Your Food From Bears (~40 minutes)
- But first, a disclaimer…
- Anecdotes are not appropriate right now
- A case for protecting your food from bears in the backcountry
- Food storage orders and land management agencies
- Food storage methods: pros and cons
- Techniques for mitigating risk
Q&A (~ 20 minutes)
- Why do you need to keep toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, deoderant, sunscreen, lip balm, etc.) in with your food and protect those items from bears?
- Can you use Challenge Sailcloth EPL Ultra 800 fabric for bear bags? How does it compare to the fabric used in Ursacks?
- Is the extra weight of the Ursack Allmitey worth the added critter protection?
- Why are we always told to hang our food if it doesn’t really work? Shouldn’t we just use bear canisters?
- Bear bag vs. Ursack vs. canister – what are your preferences?
- How far do you keep the bear can from your shelter in the Sierras?
- What’s the purpose of food storage in the context of wildlife preservation vs. protecting my food?
- What about sleeping with your food? Or otherwise not worrying about bear-proofing anything? Is this ever OK?
- When black bears are out and about (spring through fall in the Western US), in a place where canisters are not required and trees are not suitable for hanging, what are my options?
About the Event & Access Info
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Live Event Info:
- Event Description: Protecting Your Food From Bears
- Livestream Date and Time: May 26, 2022 6 PM US Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Backpacking Light Member Q&A Sessions are Hour-Long Members-Only Live Events – they are recorded, and the recorded session will be made available below after the live event has ended.
Members-Only: Watch the Recorded Video & Access Additional Resources
- Download the Slide Deck (PDF)
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Discussion
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I know this is tongue in cheek, but with all due respect, Murali, these dystopian futures are not the worlds I dream of.
:-) Bear cans all the way!
One of my greatest fears is people moving to places where bears, wolves and mountain lions live and wanting them exterminated. Maybe the above comment wasn’t serious, but there are many people who believe exactly that- that wild places should be made totally safe by ridding them of predators. Congratulations, those folks have succeeded in most of the lower 48. And they’ll succeed here too when the human population hits 14 billion and there’s nowhere left for wildlife to live.
that’s a joke I just can’t take!
Some good news … wolves are making a return in Colorado.
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