I leave camp for long periods of time fishing and I typically take my food pack with me wherever we go. I don't like to leave it at camp. I have more peace of mind knowing nothing has happened to it while I am away. Plus, when you want to have a shore lunch while out fishing all day, all of your stuff is right there and you don't have to go back to camp to eat. Another plus is if you want a snack it is always there too.

Anybody else do this?

I don't, but now that you mention it... It is a good idea!

I'm usually traveling anyway, but I don't when I'm not traveling because I use BearVaults/Ursacks. I don't know what I'd do otherwise.

Typically I'm traveling, fishing on the way so the food is with me. If it's a layover day and I'm out fishing the food stays at camp under the supervision of the non-fishers in the group. If everyone is going fishing the food comes along.

That said, if it's a day trip involving more than a little portaging, I confess to risking leaving the food behind. But using Mike's reasoning that probably won't happen anymore. The food pack is coming with!

Yes, I take it with. Peace of mind plus it puts a little ballast in the canoe and makes it behave a little better on breezy days. We are usually just out fishing the lake. If we are day tripping to multiple lakes with portaging involved, then I'll hang it. The other canoe gets the trail pack with the lunch bag, rain gear and first aid kit.

The food absolutely comes with me on day trips. It is easy enough to throw my Ursack into the canoe even if I'm just out fishing nearby. I'm giving the bears no reason to come into my site.

I use a bearvault and it goes with me in the canoe fishing and on daytrips. 90% of my trips are either solo or just me and 1 of the ducklings so it helps with trimming the canoe and lunch/snacks are always with.

I also use Bear Vaults so I don't worry about it either. Like many others I don't keep them together in one spot. I'm more concerned about my tent getting shredded by a bear or chewed through by rodents. If I did carry a food pack, I would take it with me however. If nothing else the weight helps stability. If you go lost or injured you could survive much longer and perhaps even gain a pound or two waiting to be rescued.

Mine stays in camp, always hung except at meal prep. Had a bear come into camp once while I was in process of doing the dishes. So we minimize exposure. That said, I've got a rope system that allows for quick deployment.

quote cowdoc: "Yes, I take it with. Peace of mind plus it puts a little ballast in the canoe and makes it behave a little better on breezy days. We are usually just out fishing the lake. If we are day tripping to multiple lakes with portaging involved, then I'll hang it. The other canoe gets the trail pack with the lunch bag, rain gear and first aid kit."

Good point, I forgot to mention the ballast. The extra weight helps to keep the canoe stable while fishing.

Funny you mention it because I was just thinking how LONG AGO I last used bear ropes. I do like you and bring it with for all the same reasons. At night it goes under the canoe and never had a problem yet in over 30 years.

We base camp, the only food that leaves camp with us is what we need for a shore lunch, have always hung our food and have never had a problem. Why do I think I will live to regret having said that. It's like the football announcer saying so and so has now carried the ball 137 times without a fumble, next touch guess what.

quote mutz: "We base camp, the only food that leaves camp with us is what we need for a shore lunch, have always hung our food and have never had a problem. Why do I think I will live to regret having said that. It's like the football announcer saying so and so has now carried the ball 137 times without a fumble, next touch guess what."

Or the guy who never misses a free throw.......

I hope that doesn't happen to you.

Yes no and some times.

A lot depends on the site and what we are doing

Give a bear enough time and he will make off with your bearvault, ursack or hanging food. I always take my food with.

No way do I take the food pack with when I go fishing. Stays hanging in the trees. As long as I have Rapalas I could eat for months. Protect you bait and your Rapalas at all costs.

Help! My husband left our #4 Duluth pack on the far east side of Ensign Lake on July 6, 2017 and just realized it tonight. It sounds crazy but he was traveling with 5 teenagers and trying to exit in a storm. We reviewed campsite photos from 7-6-17 and see the pack back behind a tree. Anyone traveling on Ensign and able to check the site for us? We think it is site 1220. We have been taking BWCA trips for 30 years and have never left a pack behind. We are desperate to get it back
Jane Hafner
651-261-0562
Stillwater, MN

There's a "lost and found" thread at the top of this forum, Jane. I hope you get your pack back.

quote boonie: "There's a "lost and found" thread at the top of this forum, Jane. I hope you get your pack back."

+1 ...... I hope someone turned in your pack and you get it back.

If I do a day trip I'll take my food pack. No sense advertising for bears.

quote egknuti: "If I do a day trip I'll take my food pack. No sense advertising for bears."

Food pack always goes with.

No reason to allow the "slow" bears, chipmunks or mice to get an education at their leisure.

It is a really good idea...but I rarely do it :)

In August it is so hot and sunny we leave it in the shade all day, plus laziness on my part :)

T

Well, there's food for thought here. I'll probably keep doing what I've always done . . . but maybe not.

I've always just left it stashed outside camp where I would at night and not seen any reason to worry more about it during the day than at night. It's not something I do very often since I'm not a base camper and half the time when I'm not traveling it's because I'm wind bound anyway.

The enjoyment of day trips is traveling light. The Ursacks stay tied to trees around the outside of camp. With multiple hiding spots, I don't worry about losing it all. Don't really worry about losing any of it.

We base camp. We hang our food and only have it down at meal time. When we day trip we take a meal with and leave the rest hang.
~

quote boonie: "Well, there's food for thought here. I'll probably keep doing what I've always done . . . but maybe not.


I've always just left it stashed outside camp where I would at night and not seen any reason to worry more about it during the day than at night. It's not something I do very often since I'm not a base camper and half the time when I'm not traveling it's because I'm wind bound anyway. "

Food for thought here? No pun intended? :)

quote cowdoc: "Yes, I take it with. Peace of mind plus it puts a little ballast in the canoe and makes it behave a little better on breezy days. We are usually just out fishing the lake. If we are day tripping to multiple lakes with portaging involved, then I'll hang it. The other canoe gets the trail pack with the lunch bag, rain gear and first aid kit."

Same here

quote QueticoMike: "

quote boonie: "Well, there's food for thought here. I'll probably keep doing what I've always done . . . but maybe not.



I've always just left it stashed outside camp where I would at night and not seen any reason to worry more about it during the day than at night. It's not something I do very often since I'm not a base camper and half the time when I'm not traveling it's because I'm wind bound anyway. "

Food for thought here? No pun intended? :)"

Absolutely not! Never occurred to me ;).