We're heading into Wood Lake EP 26 on June 19. This will be our 5th year in a row for Mom (me), 3 sons, DDIL and one other friend. The first year it was 2 bear vaults, a waterproof bag and a kitchen pack. Bear Vaults were voted out for the next year. Too hard to carry over portages. I switched to 2 SeaLine 70 l bags and kitchen pack. Things got lost in the SeaLine packs. Next year, came 2 small Vittles Vaults in one bag and kitchen stuff and overflow in the other. The next year I added two larger Vittles Vaults. My sherpas started complaining about how awkward and uncomfortable the Vittles Vaults were to carry. It's hard to find good sherpas these days.
So here is the latest iteration using cheap sleeping pads. Got the idea from drooling over CCS food packs at Canoecopia. I'm hoping this will make them happy. Otherwise they might make me carry the food pack.


I'll use the extra oval pieces to put between layers or add insulation. I'll also line the inside with heavy trash bags. Will that be enough to odorproof it? Any other suggestions you might have?

Why not just use a blue barrel? I put them in a pack and they work well. I have small soft side coolers that fight nicely inside the barrels. OR, I use foam pads on the outside of the barrel and can use them for sleeping when their "insulation" job is completed.



I have taken in a standard Kondos #3 pack to fit.

Thanks, Grandma L. I was trying to avoid buying any more expensive gear. I'm just hoping this will work. I do have 4 12liter GG top zip bags that I think will help organize meals and snacks. Preliminary reaction from my kids was positive, so hopefully this will be the final version. I guess we'll find out in June.

quote mcspin50: "Thanks, Grandma L. I was trying to avoid buying any more expensive gear. "

Hah! We've all been there...I know it's wrong, but I'm weak... :-o

As far as sealing and resealing contractor garbage bags for airtight and scent take a few zip ties. I use a barrel for food, but line sleeping and clothing pack with black contractor bags and tie off with zip tie just in case of a dump. They are not re-usable so you may need a few for the food pack...at least overnight.

I use a smaller Seal line pack and hide it at night. All of my food is bagged in scent lock poly bags and then bagged again by meal. A big, deep, single compartment can be frustrating if you're not organized.

All breakfasts in one bag, dinners in another, snacks, spices & condiments, etc. Nothing worse than being worn out, hungry and not being able to find what you know is in there somewhere!

I did have a mouse chew a hole in my pack last trip but he gave up when he got through the rubber as nothing else was touched. Probably wanted some roofing material.

I doubt that lining the dry bags with trash bags will do much to seal in odors. I'd only do that if you were worried about puncturing the dry bags. The roll-down seal should be good enough for odors; I assume that the food will be in ziplock bags inside the pack. The stuff sack that you have should effectively organize things and prevent them from getting lost in the packs.

I'd agree that the trash bags probably aren't going to add much odor control. If you are concerned about the odor, you could consider some OPSacks.

I have to admit I just don't understand the original problem. Why was it too hard to carry the 2 BearVaults?

I have done it many times. You can only cram so much food in a BearVault, so I know it's not the weight. The 2 of them only weigh about 25 lbs., they fit side-by-side in a medium portage pack, you put a few other things in there, and you're good to go . . . ?

Was the pack just too overloaded with other stuff? Just not a good pack? Do you just need to put something between the vaults and their back? It sounds like maybe that's what you are doing with the SealLine packs now . . . ?

I think your "roll and click" idea will work well.
The odors should be "locked-in" if you put meals in zip locks then in your bag.

Like many others - I have had the most problems with small critters - not bears - getting into and chewing on my soft food packs.
I have also found if I pack from the bottom up - last meal in first. I avoid the digging. I also avoid bulk packing. Each meal is seperate and complete as possible.

I do prefer hard sided food packs-barrels-5 gallon buckets-etc. Things seem to stay put better and get squished around less.

I will be waiting to hear how your new system works. Keep us posted.

Thanks to you all for the input into my new and improved food packs!
I sure will be using OPsaks in each 12 liter GG bag. I plan on organizing each GG bag by meals/snacks/etc. And since they're all blue, I'll come up with some different colored tags for each so we can grab without having to open each one. The dog's food and treats will go in an Opsak in the Ursack. Don't know what I was thinking with the trash bags...senior moment, I guess.
Yeah, boonie, I was very disappointed when they gave a thumbs down to the Bear Vaults, if just for the amount of money I had invested in them! I'll probably sell one and keep one just in case I make it to the High Sierras for a backpacking trip. It's on my Bucket List.
I'll sure let you all know how these packs work out next June.

Mcspin-

If they just didn't like carrying them because they were in SealLine packs (or other packs) with no padding between the vaults and their backs, the foam in there now should alleviate that problem, if they can fit in there. Wasn't sure whether the purpose of the foam was padding or insulation . . . ?

Do you plan to hang the food packs or just stash them? I prefer not having to worry with hanging. Either way the Vaults may be a worthwhile layer of extra protection if they fit.

Good luck with it. Maybe this is the year they don't complain :).

quote boonie: "Mcspin-


If they just didn't like carrying them because they were in SealLine packs (or other packs) with no padding between the vaults and their backs, the foam in there now should alleviate that problem, if they can fit in there. Wasn't sure whether the purpose of the foam was padding or insulation . . . ?


Do you plan to hang the food packs or just stash them? I prefer not having to worry with hanging. Either way the Vaults may be a worthwhile layer of extra protection if they fit.


Good luck with it. Maybe this is the year they don't complain :).


"

Unfortunately, the small VV doesn't quite fit anymore in the 70L SealLine, even sideways. I think their rigidity was the major complaint. The Vaults were a very snug fit anyway without any padding.
We've just been stashing them down the latrine trail for the last few years and no problems with critters large or small...knock wood. I'm still going to want to have a second layer of odor protection (i.e. OPsaks) just for my own peace of mind.
No. 3 Son did stop over tonight and I mentioned your idea that we could use the BV500s (if they fit) now that the pack was nice and soft. He didn't say NO so there's hope that I'll get my money's worth out of them yet. lol

I looked at the SealLine 70's online and it doesn't seem that they have any back panel nor anything other than a simple web belt. If that's the case and they were just in there without any additional padding, I'm sure they would be uncomfortable. At least my pack had a minimal back pad and better hip belt. It looks like it'll probably be a tight fit to get them in there now depending on the thickness of the foam and diameter of the BV's, but if you can get them in there either standing or sideways, you should be good to go.

Oh, btw, part of Cliff Jacobson's stashing protocol involved stashing off of obvious trails. Just a little "food for thought".

quote overthehill: "As far as sealing and resealing contractor garbage bags for airtight and scent take a few zip ties. I use a barrel for food, but line sleeping and clothing pack with black contractor bags and tie off with zip tie just in case of a dump. They are not re-usable so you may need a few for the food pack...at least overnight. "

If you want to "seal" pack liners goose neck twist them up double them over and wrap with small tarp ball strap bungee. No need for multiple zip ties every time you get in the pack. When you open the pack just hook the tarp bungee on the outside of the pack so you always have it when you need it. Just a thought. That's how we do it and it works slick.